UNAFF2007  
Mission
Submission
Films
Schedule
Tickets
Map
Special Screenings
Sponsors
Traveling Festival
Support
Volunteers
Press
Links
Awards
Contact
Home
table_top

film_image

On a Tightrope
(60 minutes) China/Norway
Director: Petr Lom
Producer: Torstein Grude

Description:
In an orphanage in the Chinese province of Xinjiang, children study tightrope walking. The children are Uighurs, the largest Muslim minority in China. Fearing the Uyghurs' separatist movement, China rules with an iron fist in Xinjiang. Youngsters are forbidden to profess their religion, and the regime jumps at every opportunity to glorify the unity of China. Walking the tightrope is an age-old Uyghur tradition, and their feats are spectacular. The children look up to their coach, but his intentions are dubious. After nine months of intense training, most children are told they have failed and will not be able to continue the course. The film follows four children in the orphanage in their struggle to build a better life for themselves. They talk about the frustration of having to practice so hard, only to find out that it was all for nothing. But they also discuss their life in the orphanage and the required loyalty to communism, and their dreams for the future come up on a regular basis. Though not all of them really want a career in tightrope walking, they still feel that they have failed. Then, an elderly retired tightrope walker shows up and becomes their new coach. Lovingly and patiently, he teaches the children to walk the tightrope, this time with success.

Biography:
Petr Lom was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia and grew up in Canada. He is a former academic with a PhD in philosophy from Harvard University. Lom taught at several European universities from 1999-2004 and began making documentaries in 2004, specializing in human rights films. His first film, Bride Kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan, enjoyed great success. It won the UNAFF Grand Jury Prize in 2005.

Contact information:
Toril Simonsen
Norwegian Film Institute
Dronningens Gate 16, PO Box 482 Sentrum
0105 Oslo
Norway
E-mail: ts@nfi.no
Web site: www.onatightrope.org
____________________________________________________
©2007 United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF)
Select a film

Abstaining From Reality
American Soldier
BAM 6.6 Humanity Has No Borders
The Battle of Chernobyl
The Champ
Damage Done: The Drug War Odyssey
The Devil Came on Horseback
The Digital Dump: Exporting Re-use and Abuse to Africa
The Fighting Cholitas
Global Focus IV: The New Environmentalists
Gypsy Caravan
Hidden Wounds
Holy Warriors
Hot House
Journey of the Piano Tuner
Like a Ship In the Night
The Lost Children of Cite Soleil
A Minority Report
Mr. Dial Has Something to Say
My Dreams Never Lie
No Place For You at This Workplace
On a Tightrope
Orange Revolution
Salud!
Saudi Solutions
Soldiers of Conscience
Special Circumstances
Toxic Bust: Chemicals and Breast Cancer
Tsepong: A Clinic Called Hope
USA vs Al-Arian
War/Dance
Willie Francis Must Die Again
  table_bottom