Film screening of "A Gesar Bard's Tale" by awardwinning director and anthropologist Donagh Coleman
Dawa was an illiterate yak herder in rural Tibet. Through a series of visions, he gained the ability to recite the story of King Gesar, the world's longest epic.
Info about event
Time
Location
Room: 4206-139 (Foredragssalen Moesgaard)
A Gesar Bard’s Tale
Directors: Donagh Coleman and Lharigtso, 82 min
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/61600226
Tibetan bard Dawa strives to keep an ancient epic tradition alive in a fast modernizing world, until a devastating earthquake strikes.
As a boy, Dawa was an illiterate Tibetan nomad, whose life revolved around herding yaks. At 13 his life changed. Through a series of visions, Dawa got the gift of telling Tibet’s King Gesar epic story. Thousands of verses of the world’s longest epic started pouring out of the nomad boy, who became a famous Gesar bard. Now, at 35, Dawa receives a salary from the Chinese Government as a guardian of national cultural heritage, and is regarded as a holy man by his community. Apart from his incredible gift , he is like any other 30-something, interested in cars, music and a comfortable family life in his newly built house. Then, a devastating earthquake hits Dawa’s hometown Gyegu. With the old Tibetan town reduced to rubble, Chinese redevelopment of the region takes a giant leap forward. In the midst of such seismic shifts, Dawa seeks healing from King Gesar and other divine protectors of the land.
Contact
Christian Suhr, suhr@cas.au.dk