This is an award-winning documentary by producer, director and cinematographer Tom Piozet. Filmed over a period of ten years and nine trips to Tibet, Piozet is able to tell the story of this land using the land and people themselves, giving the viewer a firsthand experience of life in Tibet and the changes that have occurred these past decades since the Chinese invasion. Complete with over 30 interviews – including the 14th Dalai Lama, former political prisoners, professor of Indo-Tibetan studies Robert Thurman, Chinese government spokespersons, monks and villagers – the viewer has the opportunity to hear many versions of what has happened to Tibet, and why. Piozet truly takes us inside Tibet in all of its beauty; the landscape at the top of the world is unbelievable. His cinematography is awe-inspiring. This is the first time that I was able to get a feel for what Tibet really is and how life works there. Seeing the creation of the art, the festivals, the monastic life, and the simple life of the villagers emotionally engaged me to such a degree that the changes brought upon the Tibetan way of life by the Chinese government had a more profound effect on me – as is Piozet’s intent, no doubt. I remember a few years ago the “Free Tibet” movement consisted of fairly large rock-n-roll fundraisers and bumper stickers; recently it hasn’t gotten much publicity. I think, unfortunately, the impact of this movie could have been much larger had it been released earlier; however, I do believe it is important that it’s available now. As a visual, musical documentation experience this film is unparalleled. The beauty of the monastic society and the ideology of a civilization so focused on enlightenment is still hard for me to fully understand as an American. This film simply conveys the tragedy of one society attempting to liberate another society from what it sees as oppression, but perhaps simply cannot comprehend. I recommend this film to anyone who has global interests, or spiritual interests, or humanitarian interests or even self-interests. I have no doubt that whoever you are, the struggle these people face will resonate with you, and so will their beauty.
Anyone who thinks this film gives you "the opportunity to hear many versions of what has happened to Tibet" needs to go back and actually watch the film. There was ONE interview with a Chinese official who gave a bunch of nonsense that is hardly even peripheral to the Tibet/China issue, the rest were a collection of Free Tibet supporters like Robert Thurman, and exiled Tibetans. How is that in any way balanced?
Cry of the Snow Lion is an ok film, but don't mistake it for an unbiased documentary. The events that the film center around (the riots of the late 1980s) were one part of the complicated history of the Tibet/China relationship. It may have been relevant 20 years ago, but we need new information, not a rehash of all the talking points by the Tibetan GIE. And we need to actually understand WHY China and Tibet have the relationship they do now, COTSN only barely touches on that.
The truth is, the GIE has its share of blame for the impasse with Beijing, such as the insistence of the creation of a "Greater Tibet" that encompasses many areas that are evenly populated by Tibetans and Han Chinese. The GIE insists China come to the bargaining table free of preconditions, and yet it does not retract its own preconditions.
Cry of the Snow Lion is probably the best documentary about Tibet so far, but that isn't saying much unfortunately.
