Tibetan filmmaker Pema Tseden on self-censorship, Chinese art-house film, and his late start in movies

As a filmmaker you learn about the subject matter you’re allowed to tackle and that which you’re not, says director, whose sixth feature, Jinpa, opened recently

The 49-year-old says he got into filmmaking to give an accurate portrayal of the Tibetan way of life

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Actor Jinpa plays the title role in Pema Tseden’s latest film, Jinpa, about a truck driver who accidentally runs over a sheep.

Published: 7:00pm, 10 Jul 2019Updated: 7:18pm, 10 Jul 2019

He’s Tibetan, and he makes films, yet Pema Tseden has so far avoided trouble with China’s censors, despite the extra scrutiny they give anything concerning the country’s ethnic minorities – so much so that some might say he makes the stringent censorship system look lenient.

Born into a pastoral community in Qinghai province during the Cultural Revolution that ran from 1966 to 1976 in China, the award-winning writer and filmmaker has been a pioneer in presenting a realistic view of Tibetan life in his feature films, which have garnered acclaim overseas. His latest, Jinpa, is no exception.

A metaphysical drama set on Tibet’s Kekexili Plateau, it contemplates life, death and karma through the simple tale of a truck driver who accidentally runs over a sheep.

Produced by independent Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-wai’s company, Jet Tone Films, Jinpa has won several accolades, including the Orizzonti award for best screenplay at the 2018 Venice International Film Festival. It opened in Chinese cinemas in April – in the same week as Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame. That’s not likely to bother Pema, though.

The 49-year-old reflected on his filmmaking in an interview with the Post during a recent visit to Hong Kong.