The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Uncertainty over screening of film

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 11, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Uncertainty over screening of film

Special Correspondent

Dreaming Lhasais the first internationally recognised feature film by Tibetans

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The screening of Dreaming Lhasa, the first internationally recognised feature film by Tibetans, at the International Film Festival of Kerala is hanging in the balance.

The film, directed by Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam, is scheduled for screening in the competition section on Monday evening. However, the censor certificate needed for screening at the festival has not arrived yet. Festival Artistic Director Beena Paul said that no decision had yet been taken on dropping the film from the screening list. A decision on the issue of censor certificate would be communicated later.

Ritu Sarin, when contacted over phone, said that she had been assured of issue of censor certificate on Monday. There was a problem in getting the certificate earlier. This was being resolved.

The film faced a problem with the censors as it explores the contemporary reality of Tibet under Chinese occupation. Although the film is set among the exile community in India, the story it tells has resonance beyond just the Tibetan experience. It touches upon the larger questions of cultural identity, dislocation and loss. Ritu and Tenzing, who were born in India, have been making documentaries on Tibetan subjects for many years. This is their first feature film. Though there has been a debate whether censor certificates should be insisted for films chosen for screening at film festivals, the law mandates it.

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