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For the third convening of Machik Khabda, we were delighted to feature the insightful film Valley of the Heroes or དཔའ་བོའི་ལུང་པ། a feature-length documentary by Khashem Gyal. This film provides a telling view of cultural and linguistic transition in a contemporary Tibetan county in Amdo. Khashem Gyal’s film not only looks at the challenging shifts in Tibetan identity in tandem with language loss, but it also highlights the inspirational response of young Tibetans to work for a future with Tibetan language.
To get involved with Machik Khabda, you can host a Khabda or join a local group, by contacting info@machik.org. You can also join the Khabda mailing list, or follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. |
དཔའ་བོའི་ལུང་པ། |
Valley of the Heroes offers a rare glimpse at a pivotal moment of cultural and linguistic transition among Tibetans and Muslims in Hualong County, a remote community in Amdo, Tibet, part of what is now eastern Qinghai Province, PRC. Over the past several decades, Tibetans living in Hualong have experienced rapid cultural shifts accelerated by language loss – today more than 30% are unable to speak their own native language. The film spends time with village residents and elders who reflect on the changes taking place in their community, and also documents a unique Tibetan language program that is attempting to address the situation.
This film is by Khashem Gyal, in association with the Kham Film Project. Special thanks to the Kham Film Project for this succinct description of the film. |
Selected Readings | Discussion Guide
The following readings and discussion guide offer suggested topics and themes for your Khabda conversation. We hope this will provide some useful framing for your local gatherings, though each conversation is unique and will move in its own direction. The self-generative nature of the program provides an open-ended, exploratory space for continued learning and engagement with the works of contemporary cultural producers and creatives from Tibet. We look forward to hearing more about your local conversations as you share your notes and reflections with the global Machik community (don't forget to tag us!). Have a splendid Khabda!
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| Boundaries_of_Belonging.pdf |
If you are interested in additional learning materials, be sure to check out the Discussion Guide, created by Documentary Educational Resources, a group that works to support and distribute ethnographic film and media to promote cross-cultural understanding.
To purchase a copy of the film, please visit their site. Be sure to select the correct license in order to get the best price for the film!
To purchase a copy of the film, please visit their site. Be sure to select the correct license in order to get the best price for the film!
KHABDA INTERVIEW with Khashem Gyal
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Thank you to Khashem Gyal for his generosity in not only making his film exclusively accessible online for the global Machik community but also extending his time for making this Khabda Interview possible!
We are delighted to share this video with the global Machik community and hope that this piece can bring more insight into Khashem Gyal's pathway into filmmaking/photography and the process of making Valley of the Heroes. In addition, you will hear more about the people who inspire Khashem to continue telling Tibetan stories and the books/music he recommends others to take a look at. Interview was conducted by Dr. Losang Rabgey for Machik Khabda. We hope you enjoy watching and listening to Khashem Gyal and gain new knowledge and perspectives on contemporary Tibetan cultural creatives from the plateau. |
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ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
KHASHEM GYAL TIBETAN FILMMAKER, PHOTOGRAPHER Khashem Gyal is a filmmaker from Amdo region of Tibet working in Tibet and who tells the stories of individual struggles in the midst of social change in Tibet. He has participated in numerous documentary and fiction film productions. His first documentary film, Valley of the Heroes, is a short documentary depicting the complex linguistic and cultural transition in Amdo region of Tibet and has screened at many film festivals and universities around the world. Khashem Gyal’s second film, The Daughter of Light, has received the “Colors of Asia Award” at the 2017 Tokyo Docs. In 2018, he was nominated for the Adeste Gold Medal which recognizes global citizens under 40 who have "excelled beyond their limits in inspiring others to ‘touch the stars’.” Currently, Khashem is working on the post-production of his first feature-length documentary. |
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Be part of the Khabda community
To learn more about becoming a local Khabda host in your community, contact us at info@machik.org.
- Find out where local Machik Khabdas are taking place by contacting info@machik.org
- Contact your local library and ask for Valley of the Heroes by Khashem Gyal (they don't have it? Find out how to have it ordered!)
- Share your thoughts on the film on Instagram and Facebook using hashtag #ValleyoftheHeroes or #machikkhabda
- Blog or write your own review of Valley of the Heroes (don't forget to share it with us @machik_online -- we'd love to hear from you!)
- Check back here for news and updates from the Machik Khabda community watching Valley of the Heroes & more.
To learn more about becoming a local Khabda host in your community, contact us at info@machik.org.