What Remains of Us
Encyclopedia
What Remains of Us is a 2004 Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
exploring the survival of the nonviolent resistance
Nonviolent resistance
Nonviolent resistance is the practice of achieving goals through symbolic protests, civil disobedience, economic or political noncooperation, and other methods, without using violence. It is largely synonymous with civil resistance...
movement in Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
. The documentary was shot over eight years without the knowledge of the Chinese authorities.
Synopsis
A young Tibetan from Québec, Canada, enters her homeland for the first time — carrying a clandestine video message from the Dalai Lama to Tibetans inside Tibet.Security
Released in 2004, the film raised controversy for showing the faces of 103 Tibetans speaking about human rights. Tibetans were informed of the purpose of the filming. The ones who appear made the choice to participate despite the risks.Hoping to enhance individual safety as much as possible, the NFB implemented strict security measures to all screenings of the film: no cameras or cell phones were allowed in the theater and security guards were watching the audience with infrared night-vision equipment. The goal was to prevent copies of the images of the faces to reach Beijing PLA offices, where photos would make it easier to track and arrest participants.
According to co-director Francois Prevost, for four years circulation was limited, but in 2008 a decision was made to release the film more widely. By 2011, the film was available on Google Video and YouTube, as well as distributed as a DVD.
So far, according to a private network of information and monitoring, no participant of the film has been arrested in Tibet.
Credits
Produced by François Prévost, written and directed by François Prévost and Hugo Latulippe.Featuring: Kalsang Dolma, Tibetans from inside Tibet, and the XIVth Dalai Lama of Tibet.
Narrated by Kalsang Dolma.
Camera: François Prévost and Hugo Latulippe.
Music by: Techung, René Lussier, Kalsang Dolma
Editing: Annie Jean. Sound Editing: François Senneville
Distributed initially in Québec by the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
(NFB).
Later distributed in Canada by Films Séville. Despite the growing success of the film, worldwide distribution had been stopped by the NFB in January 2005 due to the raising costs of security measures surrounding the film.
Awards
- Official Selection, Cannes International Film Festival, 2004
- Audience Award, Atlantic International Film Festival, Halifax 2004
- Canadian Award, Best Feature Film, Atlantic International Film Festival, Halifax 2004
- Best International Documentary, Hollywood Film FestivalHollywood Film FestivalThe Hollywood Film Festival is an annual Film festival which is located in Los Angeles, California, USA. The Festival was established in 1997 by Carlos de Abreu and his wife, model Janice Pennington....
, Beverly Hills, 2004 - Most Popular Canadian Film, Vancouver International Film FestivalVancouver International Film FestivalThe Vancouver International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for two weeks in late September and early October...
, 2004 - Canada's Top Ten, Toronto International Film FestivalToronto International Film FestivalThe Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
Group, 2004 - Nomination for Best Documentary, Genie Awards, 2005
- Best Feature Film, Telluride Mountainfilm Festival, 2005
- Best Documentary Film, Prix Jutra, Montreal, 2005
- Audience Award, Festival du Film des Droits de la Personne, Montreal 2006
- First Prize, Grand Prix Sergio Vieira de Mello, Human Rights Film Festival, Geneva 2007
- Special Mention, Norvegian Peace Film Award, Norway International Film Festival, Tromso, 2008