I have been following the idea of 'using film to learn about East Asia' - a notion which I had totally ignored until I started attending the East Asia classes this fall. I must admit that I am getting a lot of information about that part of the world. The other night for example, I was browsing through the different channels on t.v. and came across a documentary talking about China on Link t.v. It was entitled 'Beyond Fear'. The documentary, as narrated by a Tibetan monk nun, gave a very educational and revealing account of the torture that Tibetan monks and nuns went through at the hands of the Chinese government over their beliefs. I found out (finally) who the 'famous' Dalai Lama was, his philosophy about life and I learned a whole lot about this battle between his followers and the Chinese government. It reminded me about struggles in other parts of the world where groups have been arrested, tortured and imprisoned because their beliefs contradicted those of the ruling govenrment. It was a sad, but enlightening documentary. I am glad that it took the Western world to come together over a common cause and support these monks and nuns, because it precipitated their release from prison. I hope they show it again so that I can watch it from the beginning and recommend it to my colleagues who teach Asian History.
