Yartsa Rinpoche (Precious Caterpillar), directed by Dorje Tsering Chenaktsang. (Courtesy of Chenaktsang and Trace Foundation)
The Museum of Modern Art, in partnership with the Trace Foundation, begins a 12-film series of films from Tibet from today until August 31. The series will include talks with several of the films directors, including a roundtable discussion and opening reception today from 6-8pm. Details can be found at the Trace Foundation website.
From the MOMA press release:
Lens on Tibet includes the world premiere of Tashi Chopel’s The Son of a Herder (2014), an unembellished portrait of the life of a plateau herder in eastern Tibet’s remote Zehok region. The film highlights an existence caught between ideals and reality, modernity and tradition, and individual choices. Yartsa Rinpoche (Precious Caterpillar) (2013), directed by Dorje Tsering Chenaktsang, follows Darlo, an elder in the Amdo region, and his family as they journey 800 kilometers to collect Cordyceps sinensis (in Tibetan, Yartsa-gunbu), which has been called “Tibet’s golden worm” and “The Viagra of the Himalayas.” Yartsa Rinpoche—which is presented in a weeklong run—receives its North American premiere along with Jocelyn Ford’s breakout Nowhere to Call Home (2014), Dan Smyer Yu’s Embrace (2011), Khashem Gyal’s The Valley of the Heroes (2013), and Dukar Tserang’s They Are One Hundred Years Old (2014).
Lens on Tibet is organized by Sally Berger, Assistant Curator, Department of Film; and Paola Vanzo, Director of Communications and Development, and Kristina Dy-Liacco, Librarian, Trace Foundation. Presented as part of MoMA’s ContemporAsian series.