What Remains of Us

Shot clandestinely in Tibet between 1994 and 2004, this Canadian documentary follows activist Kalsang Dolma—born in a refugee camp and raised in Montreal—on a journey throughout her Chinese-occupied ancestral homeland, bearing precious smuggled cargo: a portable DVD player with a disc from the exiled Dalai Lama, who conveys a personal greeting and message of steadfast resistance to the six million remaining Tibetan Buddhists, many of whom have been subject to Chinese military and cultural domination since they were born. Although other films have covered similar ground (most notably Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion [VL-1/05]), this offering from directors François Prévost and Hugo Latulippe stands apart, beautifully capturing the stunned and heartfelt reactions of Tibetans as they witness this rare glimpse of their living deity. Some bow to and venerate the DVD screen, while others are moved to tears of devotion and grief over what's been lost since Mao's troops invaded in 1950. The film makes the point that Tibet's language and culture are gradually eroding, while Western powers, held in a hammerlock by their economic ties to China, do virtually nothing. While the philosophy of nonviolence seems to have met its limits here, Dolma and her fellow Buddhists declare they will persist, even if their cause is lost. DVD extras include an interview with the Dalai Lama, conversations with refugees, and a photo gallery. Viewers should be warned of a horrific scene of a protestor lighting himself on fire. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)