AsiaLENS: AEMS Documentary Film and Discussion Series at the Spurlock: Paths of the Soul

• Event Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2018
• Time: 3:00 pm (CST)
• Location: Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory St., Urbana, IL
• Cost: Free Admission

• Film

Paths Of The Soul
Directed and produced by Zhang Yang
2016 / 115 minutes / China
Tibetan with English subtitles

Filmmaker Zhang Yang blurs the border between fictional drama and documentary in following a group of Tibetan villagers who leave their families and homes in the small village of Nyima to make a Buddhist "bowing pilgrimage"—laying their bodies flat on the ground after every few steps—lalong the 1,200 mile road to Lhasa, the holy capital of Tibet. Though united in their remarkable devotion, each of the travelers embarks on this near impossible journey for very personal reasons. Stunningly photographed over the course of an entire year, with non-professional actors and no script, Paths of the Soul is a mesmerizing study of faith.

AsiaLENS Film Series

AsiaLENS is a series of free public film screenings and discussion programs—organized by the Asian Educational Media Service (AEMS)/Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies (CEAPS) in collaboration with the Spurlock Museum—presenting recent documentary and independent films on issues reflecting contemporary life in Asia. Local and visiting experts introduce the films and lead audiences in post-screening discussions.