What Remains Of Us

As the world watches the Beijing Olympics, the cultural genocide of Tibet continues. Since 1950, China has colonized this remote country, "disappearing” 1.2 million people, plundering her natural resources and forcing countless Tibetans to flee, including its spiritual and political leader the Dalai Lama. Kalsang Dolma, a Tibetan refugee living in Montreal, returns to her father’s homeland and smuggles in a videotaped message of the Dali Lama to show Tibetans. This carried a huge risk for all — just talking about the Dalai Lama can land you in prison in Tibet. But many were eager to hear and see their leader. Their reactions lie at the heart of this film: some weep, many are amazed, a few remain hopeful, while others despair. What Remains of Us is a moving film about a nation fighting cultural genocide. The Chinese regime silences Tibetans and keeps its own citizens ignorant about the occupation. However, the film isn’t only an advocacy piece — it raises the unsettling question of whether pacifism can work against systemic violence. Dolma herself says that many of her countrymen fear they lost their country because they didn’t pray enough, while she feels that the problem is all they have done is pray. The DVD’s special features broaden the discussion by including the Dalai Lama’s unedited message, as well as an interview where he discusses the non-violent struggle. Interviews with Tibetan refugees, including a young boy who fled in the snow, strike home. The filmmakers add a message to explain their ethical dilemma in making a film about Tibet’s plight yet risking the lives of the people who appear in it. For once, a director’s commentary isn’t needed. The film speaks for itself.