River, the focus of this review, made its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival on 11 February 2015 and was shown at the 18th Shanghai International Film Festival on 28 May 2015. On 10 December 2015 in Lha sa, Zon thar rgyal showed River with his first film, The Sun Beaten Path. "The film has won more than 13 awards domestically and overseas since its completion."5 As of March 2016, River was unavailable online and DVDs were unavailable for purchase. River is the second film directed and written by Zon thar rgyal. It features non-professional Tibetan performers and all the dialogues are in A mdo Tibetan. It was shot in Mtsho lho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture over a three-year period and features all the four seasons. Zon thar rgyal says that inspiration for River came with the arrival of his second child (a son), which made his daughter very uncomfortable. "At first I just wanted to make a simple movie for children as a gift for my daughter,"6 he said during an interview in Lhasa. Later, however, the film became more elaborate with the addition of a grandfather, creating a story that embraces three generations.
From my experience, most Tibetan fathers have little discussion with family members about family affairs. Gu ru is typical,making decisions and telling his wife later, e.g., Gu ru decides to move to the summer place earlier even though the ground is frozen without talking it over with his wife. When Rig sgrol learns Gu ru's decision, she can only acquiesce.
All the actors wear ordinary clothing throughout, A mdo dialect is spoken in the film, and the actors realistically express human emotions in ways that are familiar to me. This gave me a "Tibetan" feeling, which I was glad to experience because there are few such films.
From my experience, most Tibetan fathers have little discussion with family members about family affairs. Gu ru is typical,making decisions and telling his wife later, e.g., Gu ru decides to move to the summer place earlier even though the ground is frozen without talking it over with his wife. When Rig sgrol learns Gu ru's decision, she can only acquiesce.
All the actors wear ordinary clothing throughout, A mdo dialect is spoken in the film, and the actors realistically express human emotions in ways that are familiar to me. This gave me a "Tibetan" feeling, which I was glad to experience because there are few such films.
