Pawo (Hero) is a 2016

Tibetan-language film A Tibetan-language film is a motion picture where the Tibetan language is spoken significantly. Some Tibetan language films include "Tharlo" and ''Old Dog'', directed by Pema Tseden Pema Tseden (), also called Wanma Tsaidan (; born December 1969), ...

by Marvin Litwak and Sonam Tseten, set in

McLeod Ganj McLeod Ganj, also spelt McLeodganj, (pronounced ''Mc-loud-gunj'') is a suburb of Dharamshala in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is known as "Little Lhasa" or "Dhasa" (a short form of Dharamshala used mainly by Tibetans) because ...

, chronicling the life of a young

Tibetan Tibetan may mean: * of, from, or related to Tibet * Tibetan people, an ethnic group * Tibetan language: ** Classical Tibetan, the classical language used also as a contemporary written standard ** Standard Tibetan, the most widely used spoken dial ...

refugee boy in India after escaping over Himalayas in search of freedom. The film is loosely based on late Jamphel Yeshi who

self-immolated The term self-immolation broadly refers to acts of altruistic suicide, otherwise the giving up of one's body in an act of sacrifice. However, it most often refers specifically to autocremation, the act of sacrificing oneself by setting oneself o ...

in protest against human right violations in

Tibet Tibet (; ''Böd''; ) is a region in East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are some other ethnic groups such as Monpa people, ...

. Pawo was premiered in India in Dharamsala on 7th Tibet Film Festival (TFF).The festival was attended by the Tibetan exile prime minister

Lobsang Sangay Lobsang Sangay (, ; born 5 September 1968) is a Tibetan-American politician who was Kalon Tripa of the Tibetan Administration from 2011 to 2012, and Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration from 2012 to 2021. The Tibetan Administration wa ...

Background

Since 1950, Tibet has been occupied by China. Dorjee, a young Tibetan, grew up in peace 40 years later. After the death of his father, it all comes to a point, where he realizes that his wings are already cut, what it means to be Tibetan in a country which is called "China". Inside Tibet and in exile, a last cry for freedom starts. The narrative of the film is typical of many

Tibetan refugees Tibetan may mean: * of, from, or related to Tibet * Tibetan people, an ethnic group * Tibetan language: ** Classical Tibetan, the classical language used also as a contemporary written standard ** Standard Tibetan, the most widely used spoken dial ...

who annually flee persecution from Chinese authorities and pull a precarious existence of limbo in India. The film was written and directed by Marvin Litwak, and Co-Directed by

Sonam Tseten Sonam is a given name. It is a Tibetan name meaning "merit" (). Separately, it is also a name in various Indo-Aryan languages (Devanagari script: ). People with this name include: Buddhism * Sönam Choklang, 2nd Panchen Lama (1438–1505) * Sona ...

. Shavo Dorjee plays the lead role. ''Pawo'' was nominated as best feature film at

Palm Beach International Film Festival The Palm Beach International Film Festival is a film festival in the United States held in Palm Beach, Florida which showcases over 120 films annually in April for over 20,000 attendees. It was recently ranked by the international movie publicatio ...

and won several categories at International Independent Film Awards Festival including platinum Award for cinematography. Gold Award Best Narrative and Best Score

Awards and nominations

Nominated Best Feature at

Nominated Best Feature at Corto Creativo International Film Festival, Mexico
Nominated Best Drama at I WILL TELL International Film Festival, UK
Nominated Best Feature at Jaipur International Film Festival, I
Winner Best Feature Film at Mediterranean International Film Festival Cannes, F
Winner Best Feature Film at Top Indie Film Festival, US
Nominated Best Writing at Top Indie Film Festival, US
Nominated Best Cinematography at Top Indie Film Festival, US
Nominated Best Sound at Top Indie Film Festival, US
Nominated Best Score at Top Indie Film Festival, US
Winner Best Feature Film at International Planet Film Festival Barcelona, ES
Winner Platinum Award for Cinematography at International Independent Film Awards, US
Winner Gold Award for Best Feature Film at International Independent Film Awards, US
Winner Gold Award for Best Score at International Independent Film Awards, US
Official Selection Portobello International Film Festival , UK
Official Selection Haryana International Film Festival, I
Official Selection International Buddhist Film Festival Europe, NL
Official Selection Orlando Film Festival, US
Official Selection Migration Film Festival London, UK
Official Selection Tibet Film Festival, CH/I
Official Selection Human Rights Film Festival Hong Kong, HK

Soundtrack

Soundtrack was composed by German Composer Sebastian Heinrich in collaboration with JJI Exile Brothers. Part of the film's soundtrack is the song ''The Rose''. This song is vocalized by the leading Tibetan diaspora's rockband JJI Brothers's Tenzin Jamyang.

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 4505670, Pawo Tibetan-language films