TIBET IN SONG (USA 2009) ****
Directed by Ngawang Choephel

From the film title TIBET IN SONG and its plot description on imdb: “A look at the life and struggles of the Tibetan people and their culture told through music”, one would expect a fairly relaxed film with lots of folk songs, dances and culture. Wrong!

Writer/director Ngawang Choephel has a message to send and he is an excellent storyteller.  Born in Tibet, exiled to India and educated in music in the U.S., he returns to his Tibetan homeland to record his native folk songs only to be imprisoned for 18 years by the Chinese government without a trial.  His mother’s one woman mission with governments and artists like Paul McCartney, REM soliciting his release and finally gaining it proves that Choephel has a story to tell.  And this Choephel does with great conviction through the music that he loves.

TIBET IN SONG contains lots of songs in Tibetan and Chinese, stunning picturesque images of the country and mountains and a powerful message of the importance of culture.  Propelled by the power of music that can move people the way music only can, TIBET IN SONG deservedly won the Sundance Special Jury prize for Best World Documentary.