By Alexis Madden and Amy Abrams
(August 2008)
Fire Under the Snow is director Makoto Sasa's equally inspiring and horrific documentary about Palden Gyatso, a Tibetan monk who was imprisoned for thirty-three years and endured unspeakable atrocities before escaping to India to live a life in exile. This film, based on Gyatso's own memoirs, is not only the story of how he survived, but a tale of deep faith and never-ending struggle.
Sasa studied at Keio University in Japan before relocating to New York where she has made several short documentaries and worked as an assistant editor on the films Going Under (2004) and Love (2005). Fire Under the Snow premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and is currently screening in New York for the International Documentary Association's Bi-Coastal DocuWeek (the West Coast leg of DocuWeek will be in Los Angeles August 22-28, 2008, at the ArcLight in Sherman Oaks). In-between film festivals, Sasa sat down with Moving Pictures magazine to discuss the documentary that she is so passionate about.
Moving Pictures: Do you get a sense that Palden Gyatso's strength is what he brings to his faith, or is it a strength born because of his faith?
Makoto Sasa: It is both.
MPM: What is the essence or action you hope the viewer will take away from seeing this movie?
Sasa: Firstly, I would like them to be inspired by Palden's story, and, secondly, to realize what's shown in the film is an on-going situation. Thousands of Tibetans under detention/arrest after the March unrest of this year are suffering the same ordeal that Palden endured. Apart from joining Tibet support groups such as Students for a Free Tibet (www.studentsforafreetibet.org), Tibetan Youth Congress (www.tibetanyouthcongress.org) or International Campaign for Tibet (www.savetibet.org) - who have been advocating Tibetan issue to the world - the audience could also write letters to their congressmen to raise concerns about Tibet, because this is the last non-violent struggle that exists in the world.
MPM: Can you talk about the challenges of filming not only the subject matter but also someone who is now living in exile?
Sasa: One of the most difficult challenges we had was telling Palden's story visually, because it all happened in past and there are no footage or pictures available from that time and location.
MPM: What was/is your first-hand experience with Tibet?
Sasa: On the positive side, I [have gotten] so much inspiration from the Tibetan people - seeing their strength and ability to survive. On the negative side, I see their frustrations build as Chinese restrictions tighten every day.
MPM: Was there any particular moment at which you thought you wouldn't be able to tell this story? Was opposition voiced against you telling this story, and if so, from whom?
Sasa: The most difficult part was raising funds. Nobody prevented me from making this film.
MPM: How did you get started in documentary filmmaking? What documentary filmmakers have inspired you?
Sasa: I love filming people more than watching documentaries. I like Andrei Tarkovsky and Kazuo Hara.
MPM: How did making this documentary change you, personally?
Sasa: I definitely became a more patient being!
MPM: It has been said that Gyatso has remained optimistic despite the ongoing sufferings. Can you share your thoughts on the current situation - especially with having all eyes on the Olympics on China's soil?
Sasa: Putting aside my frustrations [at] seeing the Chinese government further legitimize their occupation of Tibet, I think this is a great opportunity for China to step up and finally engage [in] a serious dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. If they do, the Chinese government will gain sincere respect and praise from all over the world! I just don't understand why they are not doing this.
MPM: Did you have any reservations about releasing the film in time with the Olympics?
Sasa: No; the Venerable Palden Gyatso and I are so happy to be able to release the film during the Summer Olympics.
MPM: I understand that Fire Under the Snow is the original title of Gyatso's memoir. Did the memoir act as a basic structure for your film? What does the title mean to you?
Sasa: The book served as a great inspiration for us, but the film is a different media. We had to tell his story visually. We simply could not come up with a better title. The hope that Palden Gyatso and Tibetans have for Tibet is a flame that cannot be turned out. -MPM |
