Khashyar | August 23, 2009

‘Dalai Lama Renaissance,’ the award-winning documentary film narrated by Harrison Ford, has been chosen for a special screening during the Dalai Lama’s Sept 25-26 visit to the Los Angeles area, by one of the coordinators of the Dalai Lama’s visit.

The Tibetan Association of Southern California will screen ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ on the first night of the Dalai Lama’s public talk and teachings in Long Beach, CA on Friday September 25, at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Long Beach.

Producer-Director Khashyar Darvich, as well as Tibetan special guests, will appear after the screening for a Q&A with the audience.

The screening of the documentary film, which Darvich has offered as a fundraiser for the Tibetan Association of Southern California, follows criticism of the film by the Chinese Communist Party, after ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ received front page press in Taiwan after it opened theatrically in that Chinese-speaking country.

In July, the People’s Daily, a daily newspaper and media arm of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, quickly and sharply criticized ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ in an article in its online edition.

Darvich has offered to travel to Mainland China and screen ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance,’ with the intention of listening to the views of the Chinese People and Government, and to foster a constructive dialogue.

For more information about the Long Beach, CA screening of ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance,” please visit www.DalaiLamaFilm.com

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Tags: central committee of the communist party, China, Chinese, Chinese Communist Party, Chinese-speaking, communist party of china, constructive dialogue, Dalai, Dalai Lama, Dalai Lama Renaissance, Darvich, documentary, documentary film, harrison ford, Khashyar, Khashyar Darvich, Long Beach, long beach ca, mainland china, scottish rite cathedral, taiwan, Tibetan

Khashyar | July 28, 2009

China's Communist Party has attacked the "Dalai Lama Renaissance" Documentary Film

 

Chinese government reacts to successful theatrical premiere of Dalai Lama film and positive press in Taiwan

Los Angeles, CA (July 29, 2009) - The Chinese government often has the clout and muscle to prevent Hollywood films from being released in Asia, and can even discourage films from having an extended release in the West if they are perceived to threaten Chinese policy.

Films starring such big name stars as Richard Gere and Sharon Stone were boycotted by China after the actors expressed support for the Tibet Independence Movement. After Disney released Kundun, Martin Scorsese’s 1997 feature film about the Dalai Lama, the studio incurred the wrath of the Chinese government, and Disney films were banned for an indefinite period of time.

Recently, after a theatrical documentary film about the Dalai Lama and narrated by Harrison Ford entitled Dalai Lama Renaissance (www.DalaiLamaFilm.com) was released in theaters in Taiwan this summer and received front page positive press in the Chinese language Taiwanese newspapers, the Chinese government took keen notice.

The People’s Daily, a daily newspaper and media arm of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, quickly and sharply criticized Dalai Lama Renaissance in an article in its online edition.

The article, posted July 14th in the People’s Daily Online entitled “Western Movies Build Grand and Perfect Image of Dalai Lama,” argues that “in recent years, a wave of ‘Dalai Lama fever’ has appeared in the Western movie industry… describing the Chinese government’s peaceful liberation of Tibet as ‘cruel oppression,’ and depicting the Dalai Lama’s life in India as difficult… Some movies even advocate the Dalai Lama’s concept of [Tibetan] ‘independence.’”

Although the title of the article refers to “Movies,” the article exclusively focuses on Dalai Lama Renaissance. Referring to the film, which has been distributed in cinemas around the world, the article criticizes that “the part of the movie related to the peaceful liberation of Tibet was filled with political bias, reflecting the director’s ignorance and misunderstanding of Tibet’s history… The movie transforms the Dalai Lama into an omniscient sage, reflecting a ‘misunderstanding’ of the Dalai Lama’s image in the West… In fact, what these movies depict is just the ‘anesthesia’ given by the Dalai Lama to the West.”

The fact that the Chinese Communist Party’s main media organization has chosen to criticize the film may be a defensive reaction to the very positive press that Dalai Lama Renaissance received in the Chinese language media in Taiwan, where it premiered in front of sold-out audiences on June 1. And it may be an attempt to counteract any effect on readers in mainland China, who often have access to Chinese language news from Taiwan.

Taiwan’s best-selling weekly newspaper, E Weekly, gave the film a rating of 82, which is one of the highest ratings that a film has received in the past year in Taiwan. According to its Taiwanese theatrical distributor, Blockbuster of Taiwan (no relation to Blockbuster video in the United States), E Weekly regularly gives films far lower ratings. FTV, a television station in Taiwan, also reported that that the premiere of the film in Taiwan was very successful, with not an empty seat in the cinema, and that “many people were touched after watching the film.” The Taipei Times wrote that “the film rapidly grabs hold of you… an insightful documentary.”

Ironically, the Chinese Communist Party may feel most threatened by the idea brought up in the film regarding economic sanctions against China from the West. But despite this being a near unanimous suggestion by the Westerners in a scene in Dalai Lama Renaissance, the Dalai Lama discouraged the proposal.

The Taiwanese newspaper The Liberty Times points out that, in the film, “the Dalai Lama thinks that humanity is the most important thing in the world and economic sanctions might affect many Chinese citizens, thus he is hesitant whether such an approach is right.”

The People’s Daily also tries to discredit the producer-director of the film, Khashyar Darvich. In its article, the newspaper claims that the director is a “follower” of the Dalai Lama, and supports this assertion by referring to an interview where Darvich mentioned that he produced the film party for the opportunity to spend time with the exiled Tibetan leader.

“It’s interesting that the Chinese Communist Party refers to me as a follower of the Dalai Lama,” Darvich responded. “Although I respect the Dalai Lama as a man of peace, just as the Nobel Peace Prize Committee did by awarding him the Nobel Peace prize, and as do most governments around the world, I am not a Dalai Lama groupie. When I began the film, I was not very familiar with the Dalai Lama’s ideas. I think that his actions, and the respect that he garners around the world, speaks for itself.”

Despite the Chinese Communist Party’s attempt to discredit the film, Producer-Director Khashyar Darvich states that his production company, Wakan Films, has just signed an agreement to release Dalai Lama Renaissance unofficially into China itself, under the radar of the Chinese Government.

“My hope,” says Darvich, “is that the film will open a dialog between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama, and that the average Chinese citizen will be able to see that the Dalai Lama is not such a bad guy and is interested in a solution to the Tibet issue that serves the highest good and benefits both the Chinese and Tibetans. I would be happy to attend a screening of the film in China and conduct a Q&A with Chinese audiences as a way to contribute to positive dialog.”

For more information on Dalai Lama Renaissance, go to www.DalaiLamaFilm.com.

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Tags: Chinese, chinese audiences, Chinese Communist Party, chinese government, Dalai Lama, Dalai Lama Renaissance, documentary, documentary film, harrison ford, Khashyar Darvich, People's Daily, taipei times, taiwan, theatrical documentary, tibet issue, tibetans

Khashyar | February 26, 2009

Dalai Lama official representative to hold Q&A at “Dalai Lama Renaissance” screening in New York on February 28 at 4 p.m. at the Rubin Museum of Art

NEW YORK CITY- The official representative of the Dalai Lama to the Americas, Mr. Lobsang Nyandak, from the Office of Tibet in New York, will be conducting the Q&A session after a screening of “Dalai Lama Renaissance” on February 28 at 4 p.m. at the Rubin Museum of Art.

This follows a very successful opening of “Dalai Lama Renaissance” last weekend (February 21 ans 22), to a full theater, where Producer-Director Khashyar Darvich conducted Q&A’s with audiences.

“Dalai Lama Renaissance,” the award-winning documentary film about the Dalai Lama that is narrated by Harrison Ford, will be playing for 2 more days only on Saturday February 28 and March 1 at the prestigious Rubin Museum of Art.

“Dalai Lama Renaissance” has been released in theaters around the world, including in over 80 cities in the U.S., and has won 12 international awards.

Other Q&A’s after the film this weekend include:

-Saturday February 28 at 4 p.m. - Q&A with Lobsang Nyandak, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Americas

-Saturday February 28 at 6 p.m. - Q&A with Ven. Bikku Bodhi, Buddhist Global Relief

-Sunday March 1 at 4 p.m. - Q&A with Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Vice-Abbot of the Zen Center of NYC, the city center of Zen Mountain Monastery.

 

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Tags: central tibetan administration, Dalai Lama, Dalai Lama Renaissance, global relief, harrison ford, museum of art new york, office of tibet, rights and democracy, rubin museum, rubin museum of art, rubin museum of art new york city, tibetan centre, zen center, zen mountain monastery

Khashyar | February 9, 2009

 

 

NEW YORK, NY — ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance,’ the feature documentary about the Dalai Lama narrated by Harrison Ford, premieres theatrically in New York City at the prestigious Rubin Museum of Art on February 21, 2009.

‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ tells the story of 40 Western innovative thinkers who travel to India to meet with the Dalai Lama to solve the problem of world peace. What happened was surprising and unexpected, and was captured by a five-camera, 18-person crew.

The film features two of the starring quantum physicists from the hit theatrical documentary ‘What the Bleep Do We Know,’ Fred Alan Wolf and Amit Goswami. Also appearing in ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ are Michael Beckwith (who appears in ‘The Secret’ with Wolf), Air America radio host Thom Hartmann, and other prominent figures.

Screening dates and times for ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ at the Rubin Museum of Art are:
  * Sat., Feb. 21, at 4 and 6 p.m.
  * Sun., Feb. 22, at 4 and 6 p.m.
  * Sat., Feb. 28, at 4 and 6 p.m.
  * Sun., March 1, at 4 p.m.

Producer-Director Khashyar Darvich will attend the screenings on Feb. 21 and 22 to discuss the film with audiences.

This is the first film about the Dalai Lama and Tibet to open theatrically in the United States since the international spotlight placed on China for its firm handling of Tibetan protesters speaking out against Chinese policies in Tibet.

“I narrated ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance,’” says Harrison Ford, “because I believe His Holiness is making a positive influence in our world.  For me, the film represented an opportunity to continue assisting the optimistic efforts of an extraordinary individual.”

John Griffin of the Montreal Gazette calls ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ “a provocative, even enlightening film… fascinating, ravishingly beautiful and sonically soothing.”  Film Threat Magazine’s Rick Kisonak said ‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ is a “comedy sensation,” adding, “I can’t remember the last time a movie made me laugh so hard.”

‘Dalai Lama Renaissance’ is among the top-grossing theatrical documentaries of 2008-2009.  This important film on human rights and world peace has screened in more than 80 cities around the U.S. and is the official selection of 40 film festivals around the world where it earned 12 awards.  The film has attracted record audiences at film festivals and theaters around the U.S. and around the world. The film’s official webite is www.DalaiLamaFilm.com.

Media interviews are available.
ABOUT THE RUBIN MUSEUM OF ART
The Rubin Museum of Art, home to a comprehensive collection of art from the Himalayas and surrounding regions, regularly hosts events featuring luminaries such as Martin Scorsese, Lou Reed, Gloria Steinem, Laurie Anderson, Roseanne Cash and Elvis Costello.  For details, visit www.rmanyc.org.

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Tags: air america radio, Amit Goswami, chinese policies, comedy sensation, Dalai Lama, Dalai Lama Renaissance, feature documentary, film threat magazine, fred alan wolf, harrison ford, international spotlight, john griffin, Khashyar Darvich, michael beckwith, montreal gazette, quantum physicists, rubin museum, rubin museum of art, theatrical documentary, thom hartmann, what the bleep do we know

Khashyar | January 1, 2009

Obama Encourages President to Urge Tibet Resolution

Friday, March 28, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today sent the following letter to President Bush, calling on him to employ every diplomatic tool to persuade Chinese President Hu Jintao to make significant progress in resolving the Tibet issue. Given the recent events in Tibet and the upcoming Beijing Olympics, Obama asks President Bush to encourage the Chinese government to negotiate with the Dalai Lama, guarantee religious freedoms for the Tibetan people, protect Tibetan culture and language, and support the exercise of genuine autonomy for Tibet. Obama also supports Bush’s insistence that foreign press and diplomatic personnel have free access to Lhasa and other Tibetan cities and villages to ensure that repression and human rights violations cannot escape the world’s notice.

The text of the letter is below:

Dear Mr. President:

The situation in Tibet is deeply disturbing, and requires that all of us, regardless of party, do what we can to try to influence it for the better. I understand that you discussed the subject on Wednesday with President Hu Jintao. The United States has many issues for which China’s cooperation is important, including denuclearization of North Korea, ending Iran’s nuclear program, stopping the genocide in Darfur, confronting repression in Burma, and combating global warming. However, it is important that we give high priority to the plight of Tibetans and make clear to President Hu that the way in which China treats all Chinese citizens, including Tibetans, profoundly affects how China is viewed in the United States and throughout the international community.

Resolution of differences between the Chinese Government and the Dalai Lama is the key to progress in Tibet. The Dalai Lama, as you have said, is “a good man.” He is revered by virtually all Tibetans, and his absence from his homeland creates an incurable wound in the heart of Tibetan Buddhism. Tibet’s unique cultural and religious heritage cannot be preserved if he is demonized and kept at arm’s length. He has accepted Beijing’s precondition for a solution, namely recognition that Tibet is part of China, and has clearly stated that he is seeking religious, cultural and linguistic protection and autonomy for the Tibetan people, not independence. More recently, he indicated his belief that despite recent events, the Chinese people deserve to host the Olympics this summer.

I hope you made clear to President Hu the American view about the importance of the following: a negotiation with the Dalai Lama about his return to Tibet; guarantees of religious freedom for the Tibetan people; protection of Tibetan culture and language; and the exercise of genuine autonomy for Tibet. That is the path to the stability and harmony that the Chinese leaders say they are seeking in Tibet.

In addition to your personal intervention with President Hu, there are other steps I hope you will take to highlight our concern. I support your call for the foreign press and diplomatic personnel to have free access to Lhasa and other Tibetan cities and villages to ensure that repression and human rights violations cannot escape the world’s notice. Beijing has committed to the International Olympic Committee to allow foreign journalists free access to cover stories throughout China, including Tibet. We should hold them to that commitment. The U.S. and our democratic allies and friends should also urge the UN Human Rights Council to send an investigatory team to Tibet. China should be encouraged to allow the International Committee for the Red Cross to visit prisons in Tibet to ensure that detainees are not held under inhumane conditions, tortured, or mistreated.

Like you, I want to take steps that increase the chance of a negotiated solution between Beijing and the Dalai Lama, and that have the best chance of improving the lives of ordinary Tibetans. Therefore, I support your effort to aggressively use your relationship with President Hu to achieve these goals. Should it appear, however, that the Chinese are taking private diplomacy as a license for inaction or continued repression, I would urge you to speak out forcefully and publicly to disabuse them of the notion that they can thus escape international censure.

Despite the high emotions of the present time, I hope you can persuade the Chinese leadership that in this the year of the Beijing Olympics they have a unique opportunity to make dramatic progress in resolving the Tibet issue. Chinese leaders have it within their power to achieve that worthy goal if they take steps to change the situation in Tibet for the better and by reaching an accommodation with the Dalai Lama. Progress in Tibet would profoundly affect the world’s perception of China as it prepares to host the Olympic Games in August.

Sincerely,

 

Barack Obama

United States Senator

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Tags: beijing olympics, chinese government, chinese president hu, Dalai Lama, human rights violations, president hu jintao, senator barack obama, tibet issue, tibetan culture, tibetans

Khashyar | January 1, 2009

The first major popular film reference to the Dalai Lama that I could find is from the 1980 Bill Murray film, Caddyshack.

In the film, Murray plays golf course groundskeeper Carl Spackler at the Bushwood Country Club:

“So I jump ship in Hong Kong and make my way over to Tibet, and I get on as a looper at a course over in the Himalayas….So, I tell them I’m a pro jock, and who do you think they give me? The Dalai Lama, himself. Twelfth son of the Lama. The flowing robes, the grace, bald… striking.

So, I’m on the first tee with him. I give him the driver. He hauls off and whacks one - big hitter, the Lama - long, into a ten-thousand foot crevasse, right at the base of this glacier. Do you know what the Lama says? Gunga galunga… gunga, gunga-galunga.

So we finish the eighteenth and he’s gonna stiff me. And I say, ‘Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know.’ And he says, ‘Oh, uh, there won’t be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness.’ So I got that goin’ for me, which is nice.”

Khashyar Darvich
www.DalaiLamaFilm.com

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Tags: bill murray, bill murray film, caddyshack, Dalai Lama

Khashyar | January 1, 2009

by Khashyar Darvich
www.DalaiLamaFilm.com

LOS ANGELES-In an attempt to punish criticism of its policies and of its government, the People’s Republic of China maintains a blacklist, a list of individuals who are not permitted to enter China and/or Tibet.

It is widely reported, for example, that actor Richard Gere is banned from entering China because of his support for the Tibetan independence movement and the Dalai Lama.

Also, after Harrison Ford spoke before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee in support of Tibet, the Chinese government banned Ford from visiting Tibet.

Actress Sharon Stone’s films are banned in China after she made a comment that perhaps the large Earthquake in China that occurred in China in May of 2008 was a result of karma because of the occupation of Tibet by China:

“I’m not happy about the way the Chinese are treating the Tibetans, because I don’t think anyone should be unkind to anyone else,” Stone said in a brief red carpet interview with Cable Entertainment News of Hong Kong. “And then all this earthquake and all this stuff happened, and then I thought, is that karma? When you’re not nice that the bad things happen to you?”

Actor Brad Pitt was reported to be banned from entering the Chinese mainland for life after starring in the film “Seven Years in Tibet,” which presents a sympathetic portrait of the Dalai Lama.

Film Director Martin Scorcese is banned from entering Tibet after he directed the feature film “Kundun,” which is about the early life of the Dalai Lama and the brutal Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950.

Documentary filmmakers like “Dalai Lama Renaissance” producer-director Khashyar Darvich, who have made films that portray the Dalai Lama in a positive light, and that present a view of the Chinese invasion of Tibet that the Chinese government does not agree with, are also probably banned from entering Tibet.

Khashyar Darvich
www.DalaiLamaFilm.com

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Tags: actor brad pitt, actor richard gere, chinese invasion of tibet, Dalai Lama, earthquake in china, film kundun, martin scorcese, senate foreign relations, senate foreign relations committee, seven years in tibet, tibetan independence, u s senate

Khashyar | December 29, 2008

Congratulatory letter from the Dalai Lama to Barack Obama on his election as US President, November 5, 2008

 

Dear President-elect Obama,

Congratulations on your election as the President of the United States of America.

I am encouraged that the American people have chosen a President who reflects America’s diversity and her fundamental ideal that any person can rise up to the highest office in the land.  This is a proud moment for America and one that will be celebrated by many peoples around the world.

The American Presidential elections are always a great source of encouragement to people throughout the world who believe in democracy, freedom and equality of opportunities.

May I also commend the determination and moral courage that you have demonstrated throughout the long campaign, as well as the kind heart and steady hand that you often showed when challenged.  I recall our own telephone conversation this spring and these same essential qualities came through in your concern for the situation in Tibet.

As the President of the United States, you will certainly have great and difficult tasks before you, but also many opportunities to create change in the lives of those millions who continue to struggle for basic human needs.  You must also remember and work for these people, wherever they may be.

With my prayers and good wishes,

Yours sincerely,

THE DALAI LAMA

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Khashyar | December 28, 2008

Photo of President Barack Obama (then, Senator Obama) with the Dalai Lama at a 2005 Senate Foreign Relations Committee event.

 

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Tags: barack obama, Dalai Lama, photo, senator obama