Windhorse
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Paul Wagner
Tenzin Pema
Deepak Tserin
Pasang Dolma
Jampa Kelsang
Richard Chang
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
The story of one family's struggles against Chinese oppression in Tibet picks up eighteen years after the murder of a Tibetan freedom fighter. The story focuses on his grandchildren who still live with their parents and grandmother, but have chosen to live very different lives. Dorjee drinks too much, has no job and hates the Chinese; his sister Dolkar speaks fluent Chinese, has a Chinese boyfriend, and is becoming a rising star as a disco singer; and cousin Pema has entered a Buddhist nunnery. Everyone's life changes after the Chinese forbid the displaying of the image of the exiled Dalai Lama. Pema is arrested and beaten to death when she cries out publicly for religious freedom, Dolkar reconsiders her career of singing Chinese propaganda on national television, and Dorjee is moved to join the resistance by submitting a videotape of Pema's story to an American journalist so that Pema's testimony can be smuggled out of Tibet.
Cast
Tenzin Pema
Deepak Tserin
Pasang Dolma
Jampa Kelsang
Richard Chang
Lu Yu
Taije Silverman
Pema Choekyi
Nima Bhuti
Dawa Tsering
Thupten Sherab
Lodoe Namgyal
Sienna Craig
Abraham Zobloki
Tenzin Namgyal
Thupten Choeyang
Sonam Wangdu
Tsering Wangdu
Rado Lama
Tsering Paljor
Dorjee Tsering
Tsering Yangchen
Dawa Dolma
Chimie Tsering
Sonom Wangmo
Nowang Thinlay
Norboo Tsering
Tashi Tsering
Tenzin Palmo
Tenzin Shera
Sonam Tashi
Tashi Dhondup
Crew
Tony Black
Ellen Casey Wagner
Sam Chapin
Sam Chapin
John Dana
John Dana
Catherine Dee
Brian Dunning
Julia Elliot
Julia Elliot
Thomas Grant
Tommy Hayes
Will Kerner
Steven Schecter
Skip Sorelle
Sonam Tashi
Thupten Tsering
Paul Wagner
Paul Wagner
Paul Wagner
The Young Yaks
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Winner of Best Film and co-winner of the Best Director Award at the 1998 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Winner of the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 1998 Florida Film Festival.
Released in United States 1998
Released in United States 1999
Released in United States April 30, 1999
Released in United States February 26, 1999
Released in United States June 1998
Released in United States March 1998
Released in United States November 1998
Released in United States on Video March 7, 2000
Released in United States September 1998
Released in United States Winter February 12, 1999
Originally selected for the 1998 Hawaii International Film Festival, "Windhorse" was withdrawn several days prior to the festival, and director Paul Wagner claims that the HIFF bowed to political pressure from the People's Republic of China by removing the film from competition - controversial for its depiction of the imprisonment and torture of Tibetan Buddhist nuns.
Shown at Aspen Filmfest in Aspen, Colorado September 23-27, 1998.
Shown at Filmfest DC April 22 - May 3, 1998.
Shown at Florida Film Festival (in competition) June 12 - 21, 1998.
Shown at Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival October 20 - November 15, 1999.
Shown at Hawaii International Film Festival (not in competition) November 6-13, 1998.
Shown at Santa Barbara International Film Festival March 5-15, 1998.
Shown at Toronto International Film Festival (Contemporary World Cinema) September 10-19, 1998.
Director Paul Wagner decided at the eleventh hour to allow the film to be shown at the 1998 Hawaii International Film Festival despite the controversy over alleged pressure from the Chinese government.
Feature directorial debut for documentary maker Wagner.
Several actors and technicians are uncredited to protect their identities.
Released in United States 1998 (Originally selected for the 1998 Hawaii International Film Festival, "Windhorse" was withdrawn several days prior to the festival, and director Paul Wagner claims that the HIFF bowed to political pressure from the People's Republic of China by removing the film from competition - controversial for its depiction of the imprisonment and torture of Tibetan Buddhist nuns.)
Released in United States 1998 (Shown at Filmfest DC April 22 - May 3, 1998.)
Released in United States 1999 (Shown at Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival October 20 - November 15, 1999.)
Released in United States Winter February 12, 1999
Released in United States February 26, 1999 (Nuart; Los Angeles)
Released in United States March 1998 (Shown at Santa Barbara International Film Festival March 5-15, 1998.)
Released in United States on Video March 7, 2000
Released in United States April 30, 1999 (New York City)
Released in United States June 1998 (Shown at Florida Film Festival (in competition) June 12 - 21, 1998.)
Released in United States September 1998 (Shown at Aspen Filmfest in Aspen, Colorado September 23-27, 1998.)
Released in United States September 1998 (Shown at Toronto International Film Festival (Contemporary World Cinema) September 10-19, 1998.)
Released in United States November 1998 (Shown at Hawaii International Film Festival (not in competition) November 6-13, 1998.)
