Producers of first Tibetan-language film in China seeks international release. (Photo : www.tibetantrekking.com)
“Tibet Sky” or “Phurbu & Tenzin,” the first-ever movie with pure Tibetan-language dialogue in China, has been released on Jan. 31 across Tibet.
On Saturday, Chinese movie-goers saw the two-hour movie, filmed on the Tibetan plateau, about the life of Tenzin, the offspring of serf Phurbu and a serf-owner after the Battle of Chamdo in the 1950s.
Also known as the Invasion of Tibet, the event became the inspiration for the film written by Chinese novelist and screenwriter Alai who reportedly was of Tibetan descent.
During this historical event, the People's Republic of China tried to capture the Tibetan army in Chamdo and to demoralize the government of Lhasa in order to exert pressure on Tibetan representatives to agree to sign papers recognizing Beijing's sovereignty over Tibet.
The movie also features an all-Tibetan cast led by actor Lawang Norbu, who explained that the film is a true-to-fact portrayal of Tibet's history.
Norbu also expressed his hopes that the film would further the world's understanding the "real" Tibet.
Meanwhile, film producer Ren Zhonglun explained that they would base improvements to the film on the feedbacks from its Tibetan audience to "better present the history of Tibet" and make other enhancements for the movie to be appreciated all over the world.
"We plan to translate the film into different languages such as German, French, Italian and Japanese and have it released around the world," the Xinhua News Agency quoted him saying.
The film was initially released in several parts of China such as Sichuan, Shanghai and Guangdong with Chinese subtitles in 2014.
