The Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) is celebrating the extraordinary career of Pema Tseden, the trailblazing Tibetan filmmaker who passed away last year at the age of 53. Known for his unique blend of artful realism and visionary storytelling, Tseden was a pioneering figure in Tibetan cinema. MoMI’s retrospective, which starts tonight, honors his remarkable contributions with a showcase of his most influential works. This celebration offers a chance to revisit the films that defined Tseden’s career and explore the profound impact he had on the global film landscape.
The Silent Holy Stones: A Cultural Commentary
Kicking off the retrospective is Tseden’s seminal 2005 film, The Silent Holy Stones. This film is particularly notable as it was the first feature-length Tibetan film shot entirely in the Tibetan language by a Tibetan filmmaker working in China. The story follows a young Tibetan lama living in a monastery who becomes enamored with a Chinese television series. This humorous and insightful film captures the clash and coexistence of traditional Tibetan life with modern influences.
The narrative of The Silent Holy Stones revolves around the young monk’s experiences as he juggles between his religious duties and the secular joys of contemporary media. His fascination with TV dramas and his interactions with the Tulku, a seven-year-old living Buddha, provide a poignant yet light-hearted exploration of identity and modernity. The film humorously depicts his struggles to balance his traditional upbringing with the allure of modern entertainment, including a comically interrupted traditional Tibetan opera.
Retrospective Schedule and Highlights
The MoMI retrospective kicked off with The Silent Holy Stones screening at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 6, preceded by a program of Tseden’s early shorts, The Silent Manistone and Grassland, at 6:30 p.m. Last Friday’s screenings marked the beginning of an exciting series that will continue through September 15.
Upcoming Attractions and Donations
This week, MoMI will feature Joanna Hogg’s Archipelago and The Eternal Daughter, along with a conversation and book signing with Shonni Enelow about Hogg’s work. Other highlights include seventies classics The Warriors and Young Frankenstein, and a free outdoor street fair, New York on Location, celebrating film production in the City.
MoMI encourages community support through DONATION to sustain its programming and outreach efforts. For more details on how to support or to view the full schedule, visit MoMI’s website.
The MoMI retrospective of Pema Tseden’s films provides a vital opportunity to engage with the groundbreaking work of a filmmaker who brought Tibetan stories to the global stage. By celebrating his contributions, MoMI honors Tseden’s legacy and invites audiences to experience the rich cultural and cinematic traditions he so vividly portrayed. Don’t miss this chance to witness the artistry of Pema Tseden and explore the evolution of Tibetan cinema.
Photo Credits: @ovidtv