Far From Home

Far From Home

A father’s fading memory and echoes of a free Tibet lie at the heart of this intimate family story. In 1959 the Dalai Lama escaped Chinese occupation to India, followed by thousands of Tibetans. Over six decades later, as TC Tethong—former deputy to His Holiness—begins to lose his memory, remarkable family archives resurface, bringing to life a hopeful love story between TC and Judy, a Canadian volunteer who chose to build a life alongside Tibetans.

TC and Judy Tethong’s shared commitment began with urgent humanitarian work, and grew into a life devoted to the political struggle for Tibet and preserving Tibetan identity. Featuring rare reflections from an aging Dalai Lama and never-before-seen film reels of a fledgling Tibetan settlement carved from the South Indian jungle, the film weaves one family’s story with the history of the last generation to remember a free Tibet.

As TC’s memory fades, old photos and Judy’s meticulously preserved letters reveal the quiet, often unseen ways history is carried forward—by those who safeguard the stories of everyday life. Unfolding in a delicate dance between past and present, loss and hope, Far From Home is an exploration of love, resilience, and the longing for a home out of reach. As one generation begins to disappear, can remembering itself become an act of resistance?

Post-film: Q&A with director Kristi Tethong, co-producer Losel Tethong and Lhadon Tethong.

About the filmmaker Kristi Tethong is a Canadian filmmaker from Toronto whose work explores the transformative power of storytelling and storykeeping. Working with intimate access and across extended periods of time, her films honour the lives and histories of people whose stories might otherwise be forgotten. Her documentary work includes Don’t Pass Me By, My Mother’s Life, Becoming, and Into the Woods. Her music films She Will Transform You and I Will Hold You were commissioned by Juno-nominated Canadian choir The Elora Singers. Her short documentary The Visit, received awards including Best Experimental Short and Best Editor, screening at many international festivals. Far From Home marks Kristi’s feature documentary debut.