Synopsis:
Action or Apathy? Tibetans choose Action—striving to preserve their culture, language and heritage. Featuring His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other Tibetans exiled from their home and way of life.

Finally, after over 10 years of filming and traveling to Tibet, Nepal and India, Tibet Hope delivers awe inspiring accounts of a nation of people long overdue a return trip home.
  • Learn about the Tibetan people, cast out from their sovereign home.
  • Listen to the Dalai Lama and other Tibetans tell their stories appealing to your understanding of the need for freedom.
  • Witness the current situation on the Tibet-Nepal boarder as Tibetans flee Chinese occupied Tibet only to find Civil war in Nepal.

Crew:
Produced & Directed by: William Bacon III & Brad J Swenson
Camera: William Bacon III
Editor: Brad J Swenson
Music: Dhondup Khorko
Writer: Gale Kurtz
Narrator/Host: Lowell Thomas Jr.

Featuring:
His Holiness the Dalai Lama
With: Bagdro, Dawa, Tenzin Chode, Jimge Jang

Country of origin: USA
Country of filming: Tibet, India & Nepal
Language: English

Tibet Hope chronicles the efforts of the Tibetan people to survive featuring His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama. In the words of His Holiness, "Some form of cultural genocide is taking place." Hear first-hand the struggles of a people striving for freedom and stability. The documentary takes you on a trip to Kodari, Nepal at the Tibet-Nepal border; to Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government in exile; and to what is now, several strongholds of Tibetan culture in India. Witness the spirit of Tibet through its people.

Music for the documentary was played by Dhondup Namgyal Khorko a former envoy to Nepal for the Dalai Lama. Upon hearing of the project, Khorko asked to play the score and flew to Alaska to record the music. Khorko also played on the Phillip Glass soundtrack to the Martin Scorsese film, Kundun.

Tibet Hope is the second film on Tibet by Bacon and Swenson. The first film, Tibet - A Moment in Time was released in 1997. Bacon says it was only natural to have this film, Tibet Hope, narrated by his old friend, former Alaska Lt. Governor Lowell Thomas, Jr. Lowell is the 2005 co-recipient of the "Light of Truth" Award presented by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In 1949, Thomas and his father were invited by the Dali Lama to visit Tibet. They were the 7th and 8th Americans to ever visit Tibet and the last westerners to visit prior to the Chinese invasion.

Proceeds from this film are being donated to the International Campaign for Tibet.

Tibet Hope has received the Accolade Competition 2007 Award of Excellence.
The Accolade Competition recognizes film, television and videography professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change.
Thomas Baker, Ph.D., who chairs the competition, had this to say about the latest winners, "The Accolade is not an easy award to win. It helps set the standard for craft and creativity. The judges were pleased with the exceptionally high quality of entries in this year’s first round of judging. The goal of The Accolade is to help the winners of this coveted award achieve the recognition they deserve."
Co-producers William Bacon III and Brad J Swenson are pleased to see “Tibet Hope” recognized by the Accolades judges. Bacon stated; “whenever one of us is suffering, we are all suffering” Swenson added “the plight of the Tibetan people is a universal story of progress trumping culture.”

A William Bacon Productions and Swenson Media Group film

52 minutes, ©2007

QUOTES FROM THE DOCUMENTARY

1st Dali Lama:
“I feel that as time goes I think things will change – I feel so there is – although at this moment inside Tibet the situation is very, very serious, very serious. The Chinese government’s attitude is very negative.”

***

1st Bagdro:
“This philosophy, that the Tibetan people are very happy, this is not true. The Chinese make it very lying. They lie on the video cassette and the documentary film and the magazine making because the Chinese bus in daily. Also, all Chinese magazines brought to the US and Europe are very lying magazines – this not true. I don’t know Tibetan culture.

Many Chinese Buddhist come to my monastery – official Buddhist people come. They said that the Sera Monastery and the Drepung Monastery very horrible. They said we demonstrators are very bad and then they said that my monastery could not teach or work anymore. No demonstrators no more because Tibetan’s freedom is very bad and the Dali Lama is very bad. Also, the Chinese that are religious persons (Chinese Buddhist) are very bad. Communists, they said is very important. The Chinese communist is very, very important. They teach this in my monastery.

The Chinese government doesn’t think that the Tibetan people are human beings. The Chinese government thinks that Tibet is a weird place. Many Tibetan people are in prison.

Then I lose my monastery and the monastery monks are in prison for 6 months this time. Then on March 6th and 7th 25 trucks with Chinese soldiers come to my monastery and they look in all areas and imprison many monks. 65 to 75 monks are imprisoned. My monastery is closed.

Then there is a problem because the Chinese government shoots my leg and there is much blood. The Chinese government offers a reward for me and says that if anyone sees me they will give 1,000 Chinese Huan. If anyone sees me in my village they should telephone the Chinese officials in the capital Lhasa.

And then they go to the monastery where the monks were and take us to prison in Lhasa. Then near Lhasa I say to Chinese Buddhist I need to go to the toilet and when I went to the toilet my hands were tied to a tree. I had no clothes on my back and they cut my back with a stick and my back was bleeding. My jacket and everything was covered with blood. Then I was forced to go to prison. My legs were handcuffed and my hands were handcuffed. Everything was handcuffed. Then I went all night without food. In the morning they give very bad food. Very, very dirty. Then the Chinese government interrogates me and asks how much money is given to the Dali Lama. How much money did the American people give to you because you work in politics? How much money did the European people give to you? How many people work together with you politically asks the Chinese government interrogator? I said that no one has given me money because the Chinese live in Tibet and the Tibetan people lost Tibet and their culture.

Then I explain my family stories and that my sister is dead and that I spoke with Chinese who want to be Buddhist and the Chinese government got very angry and gave me the electric strip in my mouth. Then my nose, lips – everything was bleeding. It was very strong electricity – very bad for my body.

Then I walk for three months in the Himalayan Mountains and escaped to India. I walked for three months together with 17 people to India. We walked in the night because we went through Nepal. When I arrived in Nepal my body was only 39 kilos because I was beaten many times and my ribs were broken. Every morning when I went to the bathroom I would pass blood because of the Chinese government beatings. I was also crazy and at night would have very bad dreams.”

***

Dali Lama:
“So…My effort to try and find a mutual solution that is a middle approach is actually helping to achieve meaningful or genuine stability and unity. Stability or unity under gun is not genuine stability or unity. So in the present what the Chinese is following as completely right in using force. This, actually for long term, is counterproductive.”

***

Next Dali Lama:
“Human Intelligence….Now everybody, I think they too much pay attention about human intelligence. Learning, learning, learning - not accurate pay attention about keeping good heart. I think that’s – I think that is one of the main source of today’s problem, I feel. On an individual level or family level or society level or national or international level. So…that’s why I was trying to promote the effectiveness or value of human compassion – not as a religious matter but since humanity needs these basic human values.”

***

Next Dali Lama:
“Actually, whether intentionally or unintentionally, some kind of cultural genocide is taking place. So… there is a real danger of extinction of Tibetan as a unique cultural heritage.”

***

Bagdro part 2:
“The Chinese cut tree. They take the cut trees to China. They are also taking diamonds and then there is this very big change of weather. And the Chinese in Eastern Tibet, Zorkin in Amdo Place they are making nuclear bombs. These nuclear bombs and their waste are polluting Himalayan water. And, then many many women are now having operation – most women operation now – the Tibetan village people. This situation, I think if we were to live for another 25 years – 45 years – I think Tibet will have a very big change because the culture is lost in Tibet – you see a little bit of monk clothes, woman chupa and man chupa – that’s all – mostly they are taking Chinese language in Tibet.

I think now is a very big problem because there is more and more Chinese that come to Tibet. Many Tibetan young people lost jobs – no job.

In Tibet many religious people – monks, nuns, children, women are prisoners. Because prisoners are making those things – many American shoes and many other things that are made in China are made by these prisoners.

I have been to New York City last year in many garment shops and they are made in China. First I see – then I talk. I not see and then I talk – maybe sometime no show up made in China. Then I go to New York City many big shops – jeans, shoes hats look like made in Europe but made in China, made in China, made in China.”

***

Last Bagdro:
“I talk to the Tibetan – no more sleep. Go do something now for Tibetan Freedom. With this Dali Lama’s life we have a very special chance for Tibetan freedom.

Now in Europe many governments and the American government the things made in China is very big business. This is a problem. No one is talking about Tibetan freedom. No one is talking human right.

The Tibetan prisoners are electro-shocked, beat with a stick every time and handcuffed. Also, in China the Chinese people have no freedom and no human right.

No we have the Dali Lama this life. Tibetan freedom very good, very special chance for Tibet because the whole world loves very much the Dali Lama.”

***

Last Dalai Lama:
“So if we humanity becoming more compassionate I think many problems will be reduced at least, I think. Today, I think besides some natural disasters, there are many man made problems that I think ultimately….of course weapons many consider as a trouble maker but the weapon itself will not move so that ultimately our mind. So our intelligence wonderful but this should be balanced with good heart. Then I think humanity will become more human I feel.”