THE SUN BEHIND THE CLOUDS: TIBET’S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM
Directed by Ritu Sarin & Tenzing Sonam
Produced by Ritu Sarin
Written by Tenzing Sonam
India/UK. 79 min. Not rated
 

Armchair observers of Tibet’s 50-year struggle for freedom should get off their seats and take in this undated view of the fight. The Sun Behind the Clouds: Tibet’s Struggle for Freedom explores complex efforts to preserve Tibetan social, economic, political, and spiritual identity at risk of extinction from Chinese rule.

The quest for independence is thoughtfully explored in this new documentary, including interviews with activists concerned that the non-violent strategies of Tibet’s spiritual and political leader, the Dalia Lama, are ineffective in gaining autonomy for Tibet. Footage of the Chinese crackdown following the 2008 Tibetan uprising, the largest since China took over the country in 1959, leaves viewers thankful the footage even made it out of the communist State. This film festival favorite touched off a drama of its own at the Palm Springs International Festival when China pulled two entries because the festival organizers screened The Sun Behind the Clouds. 

Filmmakers Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam give us a bird’s eye view of frustrated Tibetan activists as they rally at the foot of the rugged Himalayas for a protest march to their homeland. Additionally, they include us in their one-on-one conversations within the inner-sanctum of the Dalai Lama’s home. Cameras follow the Dalai Lama to his speaking engagements and meetings with world figureheads like Prince Charles.

The pace of the film is slow but steady. There’s limited artistry in the cinematography, which, given the glorious backdrop of Tibet, seems a shame. The focus rambles and becomes repetitive at times, but you do get the sense of Tibetans’ brewing frustration with the lack of progress of their exiled leader’s diplomatic negations. Despite the Dalai Lama’s enormous worldwide popularity, he has sadly been unable to offer his people any real hope of freedom from Chinese oppression—Beijing refuses to negotiate with the Dalai Lama. Even though the title of the documentary suggests that the sun is just behind the clouds, it’s clear the Chinese will continue to overshadow Tibetan cultural and spiritual expression for years to come. Elisa Klein
April 12, 2010