film stills © Shen Xin

Strongholds

digital video, 70:49, 2016

The film follows a Dutch couple’s visit to Samye Ling in Scotland, the oldest and once largest Tibetan Buddhism Temple in Europe. Staying with a local buddhist, the couple explores the surrounding nature, shop and cafe near the temple. They interview the abbot, Lama Yeshe Rinpoche about sufferings concerning their lived experiences, and hold a dance performance in front of the temple. Their visit to Eskdalemuir is also inhabited by lines of texts taken from Dharma websites of posts concerning present sufferings of individuals and collectives.

Cast: Emma Miriam Berentsen, Margriet Kim Nguyen

Choreographers: Emma Miriam Berentsen, Margriet Kim Nguyen

Cinematographers: May Heek, Shen Xin

Writer, Director, Editor: Shen Xin

Original Music: Kristian Møller Johansen

Colourist: Jason R Moffat

Sound Mix: Mark Peter Wright