Windhorse
1998 Running Time 97 minutes
Starring Dadon, Jampa Kelsang, and an actor whose name must be withheld
Produced and directed by Paul Wagner
Co-directed by Thupten Tsering
Co-produced by Julia Elliott
Written by Julia Elliott, Thupten Tsering and Paul Wagner
Based on true events, Windhorse focuses on the lives of three young Tibetans struggling for freedom under the Communist Chinese regime. As children in a remote village in western Tibet, sister Dolkar, brother Dorjee and cousin Pema witness the killing of their grandfather by the Chinese police. Eighteen years later, the memory of losing their grandfather has affected each of them very differently.
On the verge of pop-stardom in the capital city of Lhasa, Dolkar has assimilated herself comfortably into contemporary Chinese culture. Brother Dorjee's hatred of the Chinese government has turned him into an embittered vagrant. Cousin Pema has retreated to the solace of life as a Buddhist nun, living in a nunnery in the mountains several miles from Lhasa. When Pema is arrested for demonstrating against the government, Dolkar and Dorjee are called to join the struggle.
Windhorse was recognized by American Cinematographer magazine as the world's first feature film shot on digital equipment. The film was shot secretly inside China and Nepal. Windhorse screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, won the Audience Award at the Florida Film Festival, and won awards for Best US Feature and Best Director at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. The film was distributed theatrically by Shadow Distribution and New Yorker Films.