Renowned film director recalls "Once Upon A Time in Tibet"

　　By Zhang Mingyu

　　Photo shows Zhai Junjie, a well-known movie director in China. (Photo Source: 51tibettour.com)

　　BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Zhai Junjie, 57, a well-known movie director, had served as a soldier in Tibet before shooting the TV series titled "Once Upon A Time in Tibet" in 1999.

　　Entering Tibet at the age of 17, Zhai had witnessed the People‘s Liberation Army‘s suppression of the Tibet‘s armed rebellion and the democratic reformlaunched in 1959.

　　In Zhai‘s eyes, the significant changes that have taken place in Tibet over the past five decades do not carry "any artistic processing."

　　He once was aware of a deep hatred of the serfs at the meeting to denounce the rebels of feudal lards in old Tibet‘s Qamdo in 1960. He also personally sorted out items confiscated from serf-owners such as the bowls made of human skulls, drums made of human skins and the serfs‘ hands or legs cut off by serf-owners.

　　"Looking at those dried hands, we always could not help shedding tears while sorting. What a miserable life the people in old Tibet led!" Zhai recalled.

　　Serf Kelzang, holding a cut-off hand of her husband who was buried alive by serf-owner, denounces the serfdom. (File Photo)

　　Forty years later, he went to Tibet once again, with his crew and filmstrips. For the TV series, Zhai tried to restore a history, a true history he had ever experienced. "I was really amazed when standing in front of the Potala Palace. The changes there were so tremendous that I could not believe my eyes at that moment."

　　"We shot on every site where historic events occurred because I believed that actors and actresses would perform to the best of their ability in such places full of stories. I took photos of every shooting place just to record the scenery of Tibet‘s mountains and rivers forever."

　　Speaking of his new film based on the theme of Tibet, Zhai became excited, "I want to make a movie purely reflecting the Tibetan folklores. Tibet is so amazing. Apart from the high mountains and deep valleys, it has too much charm worth displaying or recording. From extensive and profound Tibetan medicines to wandering weather-beaten artists, each has a touching story to tell. I am duty-bound to present the public the most enchanting Tibet in my heart. I will do my level best to make it."