State of Statelessness

Synopsis

State of Statelessness is the first Tibetan-language anthology feature film, consisting of four short segments directed by Tibetan filmmakers living in exile in India, the United States, and Vietnam. Each story explores the profound themes of statelessness and migration, portraying the moving realities of Tibetans scattered across the world. In one story, a Tibetan father in Vietnam tells his young daughter how the Mekong River, which originates in his homeland, flows into the sea in his country of adoption. In another, two sisters reunite in a bittersweet encounter to cremate their late mother, only to discover that years of separation have woven complex dilemmas they must face. The third story follows Sonam, who is recovering from a family tragedy, when the visit of an old school friend forces him and his wife to confront the fragility of their lives. In the final tale, a son returns to his late father’s house in Dharamshala, where he experiences a strange vision of the past and uncovers a secret that challenges his understanding of inherited identity.