The Non Violence International Film Festival 2008

Nawang, a 13-year-old Buddhist Nun and Bagdro, a 20-year-old Buddhist monk lead freedom demonstrations against the Chinese occupation of Tibet. Following a brutal military crackdown, they endure horrific torture as they struggle to find a way beyond fear.Bagdro and Nawang withstands electric shocks, terrible beatings and are near starvation but refuse to name names of anyone else involved in the democracy movement. Bagdo escapes across the Himalayan mountains, endures temperatures of 40 degrees below zero until he arrives in India and meets the Dali Lama.Nawang repeatedly protest while in prison and receives several extended sentences. They throw her in a dark hole with rats for six months, beat her fellow women inmates to death but can not break her. She and other nuns smuggle out a secret recording of protest songs that galvinizes the international community into action.Bagdro becomes a relentless advocate for politcal prisoners and helps Amnesty International, International Campaign for Tibet and other human right organizations spearhead an international effort that culminates in her release. Nawang was the longest serving female political prisoneer in Tibet. Through the power of a positive mind and inspired by the Dali Lama, Bagdro and Nawang let go of anger and even forgive their former torturers. Today, they continue to work to free their fellow prisoners and countrymen