The Dialogue (One Night Only!)

A film by Wang Wo, The Dialogue documents the attempt by a group of Chinese intellectuals to circumvent the restrictive measures in place in China that prevent Chinese citizens from having free contact with the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled leader. Using internet technologies they take the first step in establishing such a dialogue.

 This film delves into the hostile fissures that separate nationalities within the modern People’s Republic of China. Most poignantly it includes footage of Uyghur scholar and human rights advocate Ilham Tohti discussing that divide. Appointed a visiting scholar at Indiana University in 2013, Ilham was seized at the Bejing airport before departure and forbidden to leave China. He was subjected to periods of house arrest and harassment until his re-arrest on January 15, 2014. He is accused of separatism and support for terrorism. The charges and ensuing trial are meant to silence him, making his appearance in The Dialogue that much more significant and wrenching.

Elliot Sperling will introduce the film and conduct a Q & A afterwards.