"Dalai Lama Renaissance" Films Stir Controversy

(Here is [the un-edited version, i.e. 'rough draft' of] the article for the Nov. 26, '09 gc issue of the Desert Valley Star. For the 'less-rough draft' please go to desertvalleystar.com & enjoy! -= :0: =-)

“Dalai Lama Renaissance” Films Stir Controversy with Chinese Government-
Director/Producer Darvich Comes to Palm Springs for Premier and to Share His Dalai Lama Experience!

By Sunny Sun-Downer
On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Foundation awarding their prestigious Peace Prize to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, the Director/Producer of the multi-award-winning film called “Dalai Lama Renaissance” and its sequel, “Dalai Lama Renaissance Volume 2: A Revolution of Ideas,” succeeded in “incurring the wrath” of the government of Communist China.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has, over time, successfully suppressed the release of films in Asia and even had an effect on a film’s extended release in the West, if it is perceived to threaten “Chinese Policy.” For example, films that starred such big names as Richard Gere and Sharon Stone were boycotted by China after the actors expressed support for a “Free Tibet.” All Disney films were banned for an indefinite period after the studio released “Kundun” (which translates as “Presence,” the name the Tibetan people address their leader with), Martin Scorsese’s 1997 film based on the life and writings of the Dalai Lama.
Now comes the CCP’s latest criticism of another in the series of films in recent history- “Dalai Lama Renaissance,” which has joined such “Pro-Dalai Lama” films as “Kundun”- “Seven Years in Tibet,” “Under the Vajra Sky,” “Ten Questions for the Dalai Lama,” among others, that have irked the communist regime. After it was released in theaters in Taiwan this last summer and received front page positive press in the Chinese language Taiwanese newspapers, the Chinese government, in its “The People’s Daily,” (the newspaper/media outlet of the “Central Committee” of the CCP) quickly and sharply criticized “Dalai Lama Renaissance.” The article, titled “Western Movies Build Grand and Perfect Image of Dalai Lama,” claims that “in recent years, a wave of ‘Dalai Lama fever’ has appeared in the Western movie industry… describing the Chinese government’s peaceful liberation of Tibet as ‘cruel oppression,’ and depicting the Dalai Lama’s life in India as difficult… Some movies even advocate the Dalai Lama’s concept of [Tibetan] ‘independence.’” Well, gosh, yeah, Chinese government, what’s “cruel” and “oppressive” about “peace-fully” imprisoning, torturing, raping, and killing over 1 million Tibetans over the last 5 plus decades for their political and religious beliefs, not to mention destroying countless monasteries while importing millions of Han Chinese into Tibet to complete the Tibetan genocide by out-numbering the Tibetans in their homeland? “Some movies even advocate… Tibetan ‘independence...’ ” Oh, the horror!
The Communist Party’s criticism after the sold-out premier in Taiwan is apparently a defensive reaction to the positive press that occurred there, to counteract any affect that it may have on readers in mainland China, who often have access to news from Taiwan. In a touch of irony, the CCP apparently felt threatened by the idea brought up in the film regarding economic sanctions against China from the West. In a scene from the movie, despite the near unanimous agreement on this by the Westerners who came to the Dalai Lama’s residence-in-exile to try and develop a new “Synergy,” he discouraged the proposal. The Taiwanese newspaper “The Liberty Times” points out that, in the film, “the Dalai Lama thinks that humanity is the most important thing in the world and economic sanctions might affect many Chinese citizens, thus he is hesitant whether such an approach is right.” But the CCP aparently can’t even stand to hear the Dalai Lama talk, or they might notice how far he is going to reconcile the situation with these oppressors who have forcibly taken over his homeland in a strategic move to not only have a greater political advantage over its neighboring countries to the west, but to (so far un-sustainably) exploit the resources of timber, water, uranium, etc. of the “Land of Snows,” as the Tibetans call their homeland. The People’s Daily also tries to discredit the producer-director of the film, Khashyar Darvich. In its article, the newspaper claims that the director is a “follower” of the Dalai Lama, and supports this assertion by referring to an interview where Darvich mentioned that he produced the film partly for the opportunity to spend time with the exiled Tibetan leader. Darvich responds, “It’s interesting that the Chinese Communist Party refers to me as a follower of the Dalai Lama. Although I respect the Dalai Lama as a man of peace, just as the Nobel Peace Prize Committee did by awarding him the Nobel Peace prize, and as do most governments around the world, I am not a Dalai Lama “groupie.” When I began the film, I was not very familiar with the Dalai Lama’s ideas. I think that his actions, and the respect that he garners around the world, speaks for itself.” Despite the Chinese Communist Party’s attempt to discredit the film, Darvich states that his production company, Wakan Films, has just signed an agreement to release Dalai Lama Renaissance unofficially into China itself, under the radar of the Chinese Government. I hope that announcing it here doesn’t ruin the “surprise!” “My hope,” says Darvich, “is that the film will open a dialog between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama, and that the average Chinese citizen will be able to see that the Dalai Lama is not such a bad guy and is interested in a solution to the Tibet issue that serves the highest good and benefits both the Chinese and Tibetans. I would be happy to attend a screening of the film in China and conduct a Q&A with Chinese audiences as a way to contribute to positive dialog.” In the meantime, valley residents have a chance to experience this amazing film and its sequel, and a rare opportunity to participate n a Q&A with Kashyar, when it premiers at Crystal Fantasy Enlightenment Center in downtown Palm Springs on the actual 20th anniversary of the Dalai Lama’s awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize, December 10th- also, by the way, the anniversary of the U.N.’s establishing of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights!” The “Enlightening” fun doesn’t stop there, as the sequel, “Dalai Lama Renaissance Vol. 2: A Revolution of Ideas,” premiers the following night, Friday December 11th. Both films will be shown after a short meditation beginning at 7p.m., to “settle the mind in preparation for the heart-opening experience” that I personally call “a combination of the movies ’10 Questions for the Dalai Lama’ and ‘What the Bleep Do We Know?’ ” Coincidently, Dalai Lama Renaissance, which is narrated by Harrison Ford, features many of the same “radical thinkers of our time” as are featured in those two revolutionary movies. The Question and Answer Session with Producer-Director Darvich immediately follows the film showing and promises to make this a most memorable night in the history of Freedom-Loving Desert Dwellers. This is also a benefit for the Himalayan Children’s Fund (www.rinpoche.com) and “The Well in the Desert” (Please bring surplus canned or packaged food in this time of need!) Crystal Fantasy is located at 268 N. Palm Canyon Dr. in downtown Palm Springs, 92262. For More info on Dalai Lama Renaissance, go to www.dalailamafilm.com. Tickets are available at an advance discount price by going to www.crystalfantasy.com or www.conchustimes.org/theconch. Also, more info is available by contacting Crystal Fantasy at 760-322-7799 or ConchUs Times at 760-673-7580. This is a joint production of Crystal Fantasy, Desert Karmapa Center and ConchUs Times Productions.
-Sunny Sun-Downer’s blog is www.conchustimes.blogspot.com and he can be contacted at conchustimes@yahoo.com