By Yvette Putter
In What Remains of Us, Kalsang Doma returns to her native country Tibet for the first time.
With her, she carries a very important message of hope from the Dalai Lama to his people.
“It was quite an exciting time taking us eight years,” said Doma from a premiere of the film in Montreal.
The inspiration for the film came from director Francois Prevost who had made a documentary on Tibet with his partner Hugo Latulippe.
The duo approached Doma to be the translator on that film and she accepted. While working with them the three came up with a new idea, telling the story of Tibet through the eyes of an immigrant returning to her homeland.
The three completed the film, but after a month in the editing room, they once again decided to change concepts.
“There just wasn’t anything special, that’s when we decided to take the message,” Doma recounted.
“Francois is the heart of the film and he wanted to do something about the cause of Tibetans.”
The team requested an interview with the Dalai Lama, and received an invitation after six months. Doma said they discussed many Tibetan issues and in the end asked him if he had a message of hope for Tibetans.
“He looked up to the ceiling and he just started talking for five minutes straight,” Doma said. “And that was the message.”
Doma said the love between the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans were very evident during her journey, and she believed a resolution between China and Tibet needed to come before his passing.
“There will never be one like him again,” she said.
Doma hopes the film will inspire more Canadians to request the Canadian government for their help, to act as mediators, between the two nations.
Those interested in aiding the cause of Tibet can check out www.tibet.ca.
