Kadrin – A Journey to Success: London Screening
By Des Own
London, November 8 – The remarkable and inspiring story of the hardship and challenges faced by exiled Tibetans is seldom told in such a positive and uplifting light. Screening for the first time in the UK on Saturday 4th November at the Kailash Centre, organised by the Tibetan Community in Britain, ‘Kadrin – A Journey to Success’ portrays a real life account of the experiences of an exiled Tibetan growing up in India.
Written and directed by an exiled Tibetan, Topgyal Tsering, the film offered the Tibetan community of London and their supporters an opportunity to share the experience of one Tibetan’s account of living in exile. “The portrayal of the situation seemed very real” said Ugyan Norbu, a Tibetan elder who has been living in exile for than more 45 years. “There needs to be more films like this that portray how Tibetans live in exile and in the west” he added.
Kadrin – A Journey to Success is based on the life story of Ngawang Samdup, Tsering’s younger brother, who made the dangerous escape from the Chinese military in Tibet as a young boy. Like so many Tibetans living in exile the film follows the journey from Tibet to the refugee centre in Nepal, and then to northern India where many young Tibetans are educated and cared for under the guidance of their exiled spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Tsering shows the challenges Tibetans in exile face; from childhood, through adolescence and into adulthood. Often orphaned from their parents and without relatives to support them, many Tibetan children growing up in India choose a highly dedicated and sometimes solitary path of education. On completion of their studies many never return to Tibet and remain part of exiled communities.
Throughout his film Tsering catches the longing desire of exiled Tibetan children to reunite with their family members and follows the journey of one Tibetan back to Nepal some twenty years later to meet his aging mother. “I feel that this film plays a small role in highlighting the difficult challenges facing Tibetans who cross the Himalayas into exile” said Samdup.
For Tibetans in exile discussing and sharing these experiences is a way of building strength within their community as well as promoting awareness of Tibetan issues in the west. “Tibetans have so much to say and it’s good to explore different mediums for doing so. Film can be very moving” explained Sam Wangyal, another Tibetan filmmaker who attended the screening.
‘Kadrin – A Journey to success’ proved to be a successful attempt from Tsering, a first time filmmaker who received praise for his work and encouragement to continue producing films. “It was a worthy effort from a first time filmmaker with a passion” said Wangyal. “I hope to see some more from this filmmaker in the future” he added.
Every year between 2000 and 3000 Tibetans flee from Chinese occupation in Tibet into exile to increase the opportunity for a better education or to attend monasteries and nunneries under the blessing of His Holiness the Dalia Lama. Topgyal Tsering’s film ‘Kadrin – A Journey to Success’, graciously depicts the life of an exiled Tibetan in a warm and sometimes humorous context. Complete with romance and moving scenes Tsering manages to capture the account of one exiled Tibetan’s life in such a positive and truthful light that it leaves the viewer informed and inspired.
The next public screening of ‘Kadrin – A journey to success will be held at the Tibet Festival in Germany from 18 -19 November 2006. For screening in Germany, please contact Tibet Initiative Kempten e.V. (TIK), Bussardweg 21, Kempten 87439, Germany Tel. (0049)-837-98349
