Click here to learn more about The Thread of Karma and to view clips of the movie.
JB: There are so few films where the filmmaker has the good fortune of having told the beginning of the story fifteen years ago as you and Tenzing did with The Reincarnation of Khensur Rinpoche. What was it like for you to return to the Drepung Monastery and to see the lama as a young man?
RS: After we made The Reincarnation of Khensur Rinpoche in 1990, we maintained our connection with the young Rinpoche and his attendant. Over the years, we visited him in his monastery in South India and also met him several times in other places. We have followed his progress and have, on occasion, even helped to support some of his educational requirements. So, in a sense, we have become almost like family. However, we never felt it was appropriate to make a follow-up film until last year, when we were invited to attend a major ceremony that he was undergoing. On this occasion, the time felt right, and both Rinpoche and his attendant were happy for us to film him again. We’ve been very impressed with the way he has grown up to become a gentle, thoughtful, and happy person who is also doing remarkably well in his Buddhist studies.
JB: What were the biggest challenges for you as a documentary filmmaker shooting in the monastery?
RS: Because we are so familiar with the rhythms of monastic life, and because of our close connection to Rinpoche, we had no serious logistical challenges as such. As a woman, it sometimes feels strange to be in a situation where one rarely sees other women, but at the same time, I never have the feeling that I am out of place or intruding. Filming in the monastery is one of the most rewarding and peaceful experiences one can have!
JB: Do you plan to show The Thread of Karma on television in the United States?
RS: We would be really happy if the film could be shown on television in the States, but at the same time, we do realize that the style of the film—which is gentle and observational—doesn’t readily lend itself to TV. Nonetheless, we will give it a shot.
