A powerful new collection of short films, created entirely by Tibetan directors living outside their homeland, offers a poignant and intimate look at the enduring pain of displacement. State of Statelessness presents four emotional family dramas that weave together themes of separation, migration, and the fragile future of Tibetan identity.
The Precarious Future of Tibetan Identity
The wrenching experience of exile forms the core of this cinematic project. In two of the films, the presence of the 90-year-old Dalai Lama is felt through photographs placed on household shrines, serving as a constant visual reminder of Tibet's uncertain path forward. This concern is voiced explicitly by one character, who questions what will prevent the erasure of Tibetan culture once its iconic spiritual leader is gone.
Stories of Complicated Happiness and Grief
The first film introduces a Tibetan man building a life in Vietnam. While he loves his wife and their cheerful young daughter, a profound sadness lingers in his eyes. His home sits on the banks of the Mekong River, a geographical thread connecting him to Tibet, its source. This river also symbolises Chinese influence, as dams built for hydropower upstream are blamed for causing droughts in Vietnam, illustrating a far-reaching impact.
Two other shorts focus on Tibetans returning to the refugee community in Dharamshala, India, drawn back by family funerals. However, the most heart-rending narrative follows a Tibetan artist in Dharamshala whose marriage is fractured by tragedy. His anticipation at hosting an old school friend from New York for dinner turns to devastation when the encounter proves disastrous; the friend is brash and impatient to leave. The film concludes with a quietly devastating scene: the artist weeping out of frame, his wife looking on without pity.
A Project Steeped in Profound Sadness
A deep and desperately sorrowful mood permeates the entire quartet. These are not tales of grand political statements, but rather intimate, personal dramas that lay bare the human cost of statelessness and the complex emotional landscapes of those living far from their roots. The films collectively ask urgent questions about preservation, memory, and what home means when you cannot return.
State of Statelessness will be released in UK cinemas from 16 January.
