Berlin

Wangdrak’s Rain Boots, directed by Lhapal Gyal, premiered on Feb. 21st at 10am Berlin local time.

Wangdrak’s Rain Boots is Lhapal Gyal’s debut feature film; alongside renowned director Pema Tseden, who executive produces. Wangdrak’s Rain Boots is selected in the Generation of 68th Berlinale, the only Chinese film in this category as well as the only Chinese candidate for Crystal Bear Award of Generation.

Wangdrak’s Rain Boots is based on Tserang Dondrup’s novel of the same name. Wangdrak desires a pair of rain boots, so that he can stomp in the water like other children. His father cannot afford to buy him a pair, but his mother manages to secretly trade sheepskin for a pair. Too excited to sleep that night, Wangdrak has been anticipating and hoping for heavy rain. A storm will likely destroy his father’s wheat crops, so Wangdrak’s father is glad to see that the sky has been clear as the harvest approaches- yet, Wangdrak feels gloomy.

One day, the local weather forecast calls for a storm. The villagers decide to have the Master of Repelling Storm perform rituals to stop the heavy rain and hail. Wangdrak, doubtful about the master’s ability, takes his best friend Lhamo to observe the ritual from a distance. As the clouds march towards the village, he believes the storm is sure to come. The simplest wishes of a child, although honest and pure, sometimes goes against the rational and necessary wishes of adults. 

However, we can still identify with the child across the boundaries of ethnic traditions, and regain our feelings as a child. Bliss over the tiniest of pleasures, and of course the sorrow of a wish ungranted. “To dream could be as simple as to waiting for the rainfall,” says the director.

The world premiere of the film attracted plenty local film-goers to attend the event; completely filling the 1,038 seats of the theater. The viewers, although from completely different cultural backgrounds, were still moved by the sincerity of the film. One local young audience told the journalist, “this film lets me know what the life of Tibetan kids is like. The young protagonist's desire for a pair of rain boots reminds me of my own experience. We are so much alike.” Film critics also gave positive feedback of the debut feature. One journalist from Goethe Institut wrote, “There are so many layers beneath such a simply story, which makes this film a gem of Generation. It is a piece of work that is suitable for audience of all ages.” German critic Oliver Armknecht also praises the film for being enjoyable to watch, stating that “in addition to the sympathetic young actor, it is, above all, the great portrait of the Tibetan mountainous landscape as the film's canvas that captivates you”.

Lhapal Gyal is a young Tibetan director and screenwriter. Born in 1989, Hainan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Qinghai province, China, he graduated from the Beijing Film Academy. During his academic career, he received critical acclaim and recognition for the films he made; among them being documentary film Wang Weibao’s Herding Life (2014), and the short film Masked Girl (2015). Lhapal Gyal has recently been collaborating closely with prominent Tibetan director Pema Tseden, working as his executive director in Tharlo (2016). He is also the executive director in many award-winning films, such as When I Was Eight Years Old (2017), a child’s perspective film directed by Yang Jin, as well as Knife in the Clear Water (2016), by director Wang Xuebo. His debut feature film, Wangdrak’s Rain Boots, is supported by the “New Academic Screenplay Support Project” of the Beijing Film Academy, and the 7th Chinese SAPPRFT Screenplay Support Project.

Prominent director Pema Tseden handles production duties on the film. Like the director, Pema was also born in Hainan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Qinghai province, China, and graduated from the Beijing Film Academy. He is a member of the China Film Directors’ Guild, the China Film Association, and the China Screenwriters’ Guild. He has directed several award-winning films focusing on ethnic minorities in China. Tharlo, for instance, had its world premiere at the Horizons Section of the 72th Venice International Film Festival, and has won 13 awards both home and abroad, including the Best Adapted Screenplay at the 52nd Taipei Golden Horse Festival.

Photographer Lv Songye has been twice nominated for Best Cinematography at the The Golden Horse Awards, and became Lhapal Gyal’s friend in the making of Tharlo. Druklha Dorje plays the little boy Wangdrak, while the boy’s best friend, Lhamo, is played by Pakmo Yangdrom. Jinpa, nominated for the Golden Horse Award for Best New Actor, plays Wangdrak’s father, and Shanma Jyi plays Wangdrak’s mother.

The 68th Berlinale runs from February 15th to 25th. There are four screenings for Wangdrak’s Rain Boots; all are to be followed by a Q&A with the director and actors.

Screenings:

Feb.21 10:00                                            HKW

Feb 22 09:30                                  Zoo Palast 1
Feb 23 09:30      Filmtheater am Friedrichshain
Feb 25 13:30                                  CinemaxX 3

Talents in Berlin:

Dir. Lhapal Gyal

Actors: Druklha Dorje, Shanma Jyi, Sonam Gyal

Please send your interview request to: tamaralui@gmail.com

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