Educational Media Reviews Online

What Remains of Us is an extraordinary documentary about modern Tibet. Kalsang Dolma, a Canadian of Tibetan heritage, returned to Tibet (along with documentary film makers Francois Prevost and Hugo Latulippe) with a small DVD player containing a recorded personal message from the exiled Dalai Lama to the Tibetan people. On multiple trips (1996-2004), the team met in secrecy with Tibetans from all walks of life (peasants, monks, shopkeepers, students, etc.) and recorded their reactions to the Dalai Lama's message of peace. Many of the listeners, particularly the elderly, were moved to tears by the brief speech.

Undoubtedly, many mainland Chinese would consider this documentary to be blatant propaganda. China considers Tibet a province of China, as much a part of China as Hawaii or Alaska is part of the United States. Many Chinese also believe that Tibet was a primitive, backward feudal society before “liberation” in 1950. Moreover, they would claim that Tibetans have materially benefitted from Chinese rule.

What Remains of Us presents another viewpoint. Kalsang Dolma calls Tibet “the biggest prison in the world” and many in the West view Tibet as a captive nation subjugated by Chinese Communism. According to the documentary 6,254 Buddhist cultural treasures were destroyed by the occupying Chinese. Tibetans feel that they are rapidly losing both their language and their culture at the hands of the Chinese. Ten million Han Chinese now live among the six million indigenous Tibetans. The Tibetans interviewed in the documentary look to the Dalai Lama as not only their spiritual leader but their political leader as well.

What Remains of Us is an extremely well edited, organized and scripted film. It begins and ends with the civil disobedience of the “Tank Man” in the Tiananmen crackdown. The multiple interviews that form the core of the documentary are juxtaposed with spectacular views of the varied landscape of Tibet. In addition, documentary film from the 1950 invasion and 1988 Tibetan crackdown are presented as historical background material.

Color is breathtaking and although the sound is occasionally muffled, it is always intelligible. The film's English subtitles are clear and easy-to-read. My only technical criticism of the film is that my review copy does not have chapter access, or a choice of language subtitles.

I personally found What Remains of Us to be very moving. Buddhism teaches that all life is suffering that cannot be changed only endured. Certainly, the humble and courageous people of Tibet exemplify that great teaching. Tibetans may live without hope but their resolution “to do no harm” and maintain a compassionate philosophy is at least the path to personal, if not national, salvation. I highly recommend this beautiful film to colleges and universities and even large public libraries. It was a great pleasure to be able to review this unique and tragic film.

Awards

• Award for Best of Festival, Mountain Film Festival
• Award for Best Documentary, Hollywood Film Festival