Dream of Tibet in This Winter: Kong and Jigme, a Film Shortlisted for the 12th BJIFF “Tiantan Award”, Slated for Release on January 11, 2024
The film Kong and Jigme recently released a poster to announce its official release nationwide on January 11, 2024.
Poster of Kong and Jigme
This film, which was once shortlisted for the Competition Section of Tiantan Award during the 12th BJIFF, has not only been highly praised by the industry, but also hailed as the “biggest surprise of Tiantan Award”. Subsequently, it participated in the screening at the Chinese New Wave section of the 13th BJIFF, and gained much popularity among the audience due to its outstanding artistic texture and a novel way of presentation.
▍Come all the way to meet the audience
Kong and Jigme was co-directed by Chen Guoxing and Lhapal Gyal, supervised by Pema Tseden, a pioneer of the “New Wave in Tibetan Films”, starring Song Yang and Jinpa, and participated by Tao Hai and Sonam Wangmo. It tells the story of Kong (played by Song Yang), who came to Tibet for work for the first time, and Jigme (played by Jinpa), a Tibetan man with broad vision, with their relationship changing from misunderstanding to communication, from mutual incomprehension to mutual trust, and from work partners to good friends.
Filming site of Kong and Jigme
In the poster, Kong leans on the rear of a modern pickup truck that parks on the grass, while Jigme stands parallel to him, leading a Tibetan horse in the water, with the former looking back at the past and the latter forging ahead. They don't speak to each other, which seems that they go separate ways, but there is a deep meaning in it. On the blue-and-green Tibetan grassland, Kong’s pickup truck and Jigme’s horse have the same forward direction, and when they go farther and farther, the green grass and the blue lake will finally meet. In a post-screening exchange activity at the BJIFF, director Chen Guoxing explained the film title “Kong and Jigme”. When the film comes to an end, Tibet has become Kong's second hometown, so coming to Tibet for the second time means “returning” for him.
Premiere of Kong and Jigme at 12th BJIFF
Just as director Lhapal Gyal said, the “New Wave in Tibetan Films” is relatively less popular, and there will be more room for genre creation and development. Kong and Jigme gives a brand new idea to broaden expressions of Tibetan films. Through director Chen Guoxing's rich experience in film creation, paired with the unique perspective of young Tibetan director Lhapal Gyal, and with the cooperation of the entire cast and crew, such a sincere film with profound realism and delicate lens language has been thus created.
▍Life in Tibet softens hearts
Kong and Jigme is adapted from a true story, but selectively cuts and reconnects the experiences of real people. This film is also dedicated to Kong and Ngawang Chonyi in heaven (character prototypes in the film). The film adopts the setting of dual male characters with the Han and Zang nationality respectively. The young cadre Kong played by Song Yang was born in a rural family and comes to Tibet for work for the first time, while Jigme played by Jinpa is a straightforward Tibetan man who has received advanced education. “Modern” and “traditional” meet on the vast Tibetan grassland through their encounter. In order to better interpret Kong, Song Yang devoted a lot of energy to field research, and found a teacher to learn Shandong’s Liaocheng dialect before the shooting began. Through the precise control and touching interpretation of the characters by actors Song Yang and Jinpa, such sincere friendship across time and space can be seen on the screen.
Poster of Kong and Jigme
The friendship between Kong and Jigme is displayed in multiple layers, from the everyday language, food and customs to values, which are exactly the process of Kong's gradual integration into the life in Tibet. “This film in expression is more artistic, rather than traditional and conservative, with more emphasis on emotions and feelings,” director Chen Guoxing mentioned in an interview. Kong and Jigme not only presents the beauty of romance in the vast land of Tibet, but also showcases the most ordinary and beautiful life of Tibetan people. At a soothing and restrained pace, the film, without preaching or sensationalizing, touches people with delicate emotions.
Poster of Kong and Jigme
The film is scheduled for release nationwide on January 11, 2024. The tagline “dream of Tibet” on the poster will come alive on the screen from that day. Not only dreaming, we will finally meet.
The volunteer recruitment for the 14th BJIFF was officially launched, and you may apply on the official website, www.bjiff.com (the section of Volunteers on the homepage), or via the BJIFF app (Home-Me-Login).