Windhorse
1998 Running Time 97 minutes
Starring Dadon and Jampa Kelsang
Produced and directed by Paul Wagner
Co-directed by Thupten Tsering
Co-produced by Julia Elliott
Written by Julia Elliott, Thupten Tsering and Paul Wagner
Based on true events, Windhorse focuses on the lives of three young Tibetans. As young children in a remote village in western Tibet, sister Dolkar, brother Dorjee and cousin Pema witness the killing of their grandfather by the police. Eighteen years later, the memory of losing their grandfather has affected each of the kids very differently.
On the verge of pop-stardom in the capital city of Lhasa, Dolkar has assimilated herself comfortably into contemporary Chinese culture. Brother Dorjee's hatred of the Chinese government has turned him into an embittered vagrant. Cousin Pema has retreated to the solace of life as a Buddhist nun, living in a nunnery in the mountains several miles from Lhasa. When Pema is arrested for demonstrating against the government, Dolkar and Dorjee are called to join the struggle.
Windhorse was the world's first theatrical feature film shot and edited on digital equipment.