Sun Beaten Path, Sonthar Gyal (China 2011): San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival

The UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive presents a documentary film as part of the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival.

(Ulam kyi nima). This superb debut feature by the cinematographer of Pema Tseden’s last two films, The Search and Old Dog, suggests that the New Tibetan Cinema is upon us. It’s a sort of road movie, focused on Nyma, an obviously disturbed young man who’s traveling from Lhasa back to his isolated home near Golmud. Nyma’s arduous journey through guilt and grief is also, of course, a spiritual journey: a search for understanding about life and death. Sonthar Gyal (who dedicates the film to his late father) had a nomadic upbringing before teaching art and studying film. He learned his lessons well, including the life lessons. Tony Rayns, Vancouver International Film Festival

Written by Gyal. Photographed by Wang Meng. With Yeshe Lhadruk, Lo Kyi, Kalzang Rinchen, Lhakyed Ma (89 mins, In Tibetan & Mandarin with English subtitles, Color, Video)