A Gesar Bard’s Tale
Director: Donagh Coleman &
Lharigtso Finland | Tibetan 2013 | 82min | Colour Subtitles: English
Saturday, Nov 1 TIPA, 3:30 PM
As a boy, Dawa was an illiterate Tibetan nomad, whose life revolved around herding yaks. At 13 his life changed. Through a series of visions, Dawa got the gift of telling Tibet’s King Gesar epic story. Thousands of verses of the world’s longest epic started pouring out of the nomad boy, who became a famous Gesar bard. Now, at 35, Dawa receives a salary from the Chinese Government as a guardian of national cultural heritage, and is regarded as a holy man by his community. Apart from his incredible gift , he is like any other 30-something, interested in cars, music and a comfortable family life in his newly built house. Then, a devastating earthquake hits Dawa’s hometown Gyegu. With the old Tibetan town reduced to rubble, Chinese redevelopment of the region takes a giant leap forward. In the midst of such seismic shifts, Dawa seeks healing from King Gesar and other divine protectors of the land.
Donagh Coleman & Lharigtso
Born in Philadelphia in 1975, Finnish-Irish-American Donagh Coleman holds degrees in Philosophy and Psychology, as well as Music and Media Technologies. Donagh has studied Tibetan Buddhism, and has spent long periods in India and China, where many of his documentary subjects come from. Previous films include Stone Pastures (2008) – an Irish-Finnish-English co-production, with wide festival exposure, and winner of the Grand Prix prize at the 2009 Cervino Cinemountain Festival in Italy. His film Une Année Sur Le Toit Du Monde was commissioned for ARTE’s primetime Découverte-slot. Besides films, Donagh directs radio documentaries for the Finnish and Irish national broadcasters. His Radio Feature “Gesar!” on Tibet’s epic bards was Finland’s entry for the 2012 Prix Italia competition. Donagh also works as a TV and radio journalist and presenter for YLE News.
Born in Amdo, Qinghai Province in Tibet in 1977, Lharigtso graduated from Beijing’s China Women’s University with a BA in Media Studies. She has worked in the art department and Tibetan documentary productions in Xizang TV, Lhasa, as well as in Beijing TV. From 2003, Lharigtso worked with the NGO Tibet Heritage Fund, where she organised projects, photographed, and produced videos, including UN-commissioned programmes. Lharigtso has held art photography exhibitions in China, India, Germany and Finland. Since 2008 Lharigtso has worked with Donagh Coleman, producing programs for the Finnish and Irish broadcasters about Beijing locals and young Beijing Tibetans, among other subjects. Joint projects also include radio feature documentaries as well as travelling photography and film shows on her culture.
Credits
Director: Donagh Coleman, Lharigtso
Producer: Jouko Aaltonen, Venla Hellstedt
Cinematographer: Mika Mattila
Editor: Timo Peltola
Music: Linda Buckley, Irene Buckley
Production Company: Illume Ltd
Festival Appearances & Awards
Montreal First People Festival, 2014
Best Documentary World Film Festival Tartu, 2014
Rubin Museum of Art, 2014
Jean Rouch International Film Festival, 2013
IndieCork Film Festival, 2013