A film made from the POV of pre-monastic teenagers studying at the Dzongsar Kanishka School in Himachal, 'Gawa' is an anthology of stories which celebrate one of the four immeasurable in Buddhism- that of 'compassionate joy'.
The film depicts 4 stories about boyhood at different stages of life, which brought them together to the place they are now. The film is a remarkable look 'within', depicting the circumstances, challenges, and joys, which the experience of growing up has shown these protagonists.
An intimate, warm look into the life in a Sangha, Gawa is an autobiographical fictional work, and the work of 16 filmmakers learning the craft of telling a story through the camera, and finding their own lens.
(Language: Tibetan, Nepali with English Subtitles)
Gawa (དགའ་བ་)
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Chapter One “Didi”
A new student deals with issues of language, bullying and punishment
when he encounters a female presence in his tough, harsh life -
and struggles with his mates for acceptability.
Chapter Two “Coke Pi’unu?”
Two best friends fight each other, and the world -
through abandonment, homelessness and caste/class barriers -
and (re)find joy in their friendship over a can of Coca Cola.
Chapter Three “Sabun”
A boy wakes up angry,
fumes through the day at his friends and through his anger,
stumbles upon the urge (and the joy) to learn something new.
Chapter Four “A Letter to my Friends”
Childhood friends ask a pensive friend how he is,
listen to his bittersweet story
and express the importance of their friendship in life, through a letter.
F I L M M A K E R S
Jigme lhundup
Karma Rimri
Nyima karsang
Tsering paljor
Jamyang dhondup
Sonam dorjee
Jamyang tsultrim
Choeying Tashi
Tsering Moktan
Tsundue Dorjee
Palchen Wangyal
Sangay Dhondup
Sonam Choejor
Palden Dhondup
Kunga Wangchuk
Passang Geluk
Dolma Palzom
Aditya Sharma
Agnimitra
Dhananjai Sinha
W I T H S U P P O R T F R O M
Kanishka School, Chaunthra and Team
Vikramjit Sinha
Mohammad Shameem