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This film is being brought to television as a result of a BBC/British Film Institute co-production. A recently restored treasure-trove of colour films from the 1940s and 1950s provides the core of this astonishing film, which allows us to see what Tibet was like before its brutal occupation by China. As members of the aristocracy and the Tibetan government in exile recall, the Tibetans world revolved around a series of colourful religious festivals, taking up 68 days of the year. In The Great Prayer Festival, monks take over from the government for a few days and, whilst ceremoniously whipping their subjects, impose fines for such offences as singing in public or having a dirty house. The film includes a revealing interview with the Dalai Lama, who reminisces about how much he missed his mother and his envy for his brother who got to play with all his toys. The Dalai Lama found himself studying from his rigorous final monastic exams which included publicly debating with his elders at the same time that the Chinese were preparing to take over the country. ''We were just so engrossed in our little pond'', recalls one interviewee. ''We knew nothing, what was happening in the world, what could happen. And so we lost our country''. This is the extended 90 min version. Special Features: Original 60 minute BBC version: Booklet containing film notes
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 49 people found the following review helpful
This sympathetic documentary was first shown on BBC TV just when the protests about Tibet and China were in full swing; perfect timing. It provides a fascinating insight into the background to the current situation, and explains how the Dalai Lama comes to be leading a Tibetan government in exile in India. It also provides a window into the lives of Tibetan monks and peasants before the PRC took control of the country, all illustrated with fabulous archive footage plus interviews with the Dalai Lama, and an informed commentary by historian Cruickshank.
You might expect such a documentary, produced by the west in a time of some tension, to be very sympathetic towards to Tibetan cause and indeed it is rarely critical. Cruickshank is obviously horrified at the destruction of the temples and the traditional Tibetan culture which has taken place over the past half century.
But the film does also reveal how the Tibetans lived in a near-medieval society, isolated by choice from the rest of the world. The film explains how it is that 20% of the male population became monks, and how they were supported by the peasants in the fields. It doesn't shrink from showing footage of the less glamorous and less popular aspects of the religious festivals.
This helps to balance, a little, the very gentle and favourable interviews with the Dalai Lama himself. If you can ignore the politics of it all, then the film offers a captivating view of his childhood, his education, and how he recalls and explains his flight to India.
The high point of the film is the old footage, however. There's a good 30 minutes, interwoven with the modern material, of colour archive film showing the Tibet of the 1940s/50s -- huge festivals, amazing costumes, massive palaces, intricate rituals and all. Cruickshank's narration also helps to explain the cultural and religious significance of what's being shown and is, as always, breathlessly enthusiastic and charming.
The DVD also provides an extra 30 minutes of material which wasn't shown on the TV broadcast. So if you saw the TV show then you'd probably still want to watch this, but might prefer to rent rather than buy.
8/10
You might expect such a documentary, produced by the west in a time of some tension, to be very sympathetic towards to Tibetan cause and indeed it is rarely critical. Cruickshank is obviously horrified at the destruction of the temples and the traditional Tibetan culture which has taken place over the past half century.
But the film does also reveal how the Tibetans lived in a near-medieval society, isolated by choice from the rest of the world. The film explains how it is that 20% of the male population became monks, and how they were supported by the peasants in the fields. It doesn't shrink from showing footage of the less glamorous and less popular aspects of the religious festivals.
This helps to balance, a little, the very gentle and favourable interviews with the Dalai Lama himself. If you can ignore the politics of it all, then the film offers a captivating view of his childhood, his education, and how he recalls and explains his flight to India.
The high point of the film is the old footage, however. There's a good 30 minutes, interwoven with the modern material, of colour archive film showing the Tibet of the 1940s/50s -- huge festivals, amazing costumes, massive palaces, intricate rituals and all. Cruickshank's narration also helps to explain the cultural and religious significance of what's being shown and is, as always, breathlessly enthusiastic and charming.
The DVD also provides an extra 30 minutes of material which wasn't shown on the TV broadcast. So if you saw the TV show then you'd probably still want to watch this, but might prefer to rent rather than buy.
8/10
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Excellent old footage of the Dalai Lama and the people and ceremonies of Lhasa prior to the Chinese invasion
30 Sep 2009
89 minutes. This documentary shows life in Lhasa prior to the Chinese occupation of 1950. The film mixes current scenes in Dharamsala, the home of the Tibetan Government in Exile, recently restored colour video footage from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, and recent interviews with the Dalai Lama and other Tibetans who lived through those times. The old video footage shows Lhasa, including the Potala Palace, the Barkhor and Linkhor, and Norbulingka, the people of Lhasa and their dress and traditional costumes, Buddhist practices like prostration, festivals like Losar New Year, masked dances, horseback riding, picnics, folk dancing at Norbulingka, military performances, wrestling, weight lifting, and foot races.
The Dalai Lama is almost like a giddy schoolboy watching the old footage of his parents and family, and watching himself over those early years. The Dalai Lama is carried in a large procession through the streets of Lhasa between his Winter Potala Palace and his summer Norbulingka Palace. We see the Dalai Lama arriving at Drepung monastery to begin the start of the debates for his doctor of Buddhism exams in front of 8000 monks. He continued his test at Sera monastery, and the final exam went smoothly.
There is black and white video footage of the Chinese invasion of Tibet and on the streets of Lhasa in 1951. We see the Dalai Lama crossing the river in a boat as he departs Lhasa in 1954 to visit China and meet with Mao Tsetung. The situation in Lhasa in 1959 became very tense and the Dalai Lama decided to leave Tibet, filled with (quote) anxiety, fear, a little doubt, hesitation, and sadness all mixed.
DVD extras: Worldwide TV version (59 minutes). Contemporary life in Dharamsala (23 minutes): monks and nuns praying, chanting, eating, and debating, making butter sculptures; the Tibetans, Indians and foreigners on the streets of Dharamsala; a colourful Cham masked dance. There is also some extra old film footage (6 minutes) of a massive butter sculpture being raised on a scaffold, Tibetan wild flowers, Gyantse, and crossing the Tsangpo River in a large barge and a coracle.
The old footage of the Dalai Lama and the people and ceremonies of Lhasa is excellent. The modern interviews give this old footage a freshness as they remember the old times.
The Dalai Lama is almost like a giddy schoolboy watching the old footage of his parents and family, and watching himself over those early years. The Dalai Lama is carried in a large procession through the streets of Lhasa between his Winter Potala Palace and his summer Norbulingka Palace. We see the Dalai Lama arriving at Drepung monastery to begin the start of the debates for his doctor of Buddhism exams in front of 8000 monks. He continued his test at Sera monastery, and the final exam went smoothly.
There is black and white video footage of the Chinese invasion of Tibet and on the streets of Lhasa in 1951. We see the Dalai Lama crossing the river in a boat as he departs Lhasa in 1954 to visit China and meet with Mao Tsetung. The situation in Lhasa in 1959 became very tense and the Dalai Lama decided to leave Tibet, filled with (quote) anxiety, fear, a little doubt, hesitation, and sadness all mixed.
DVD extras: Worldwide TV version (59 minutes). Contemporary life in Dharamsala (23 minutes): monks and nuns praying, chanting, eating, and debating, making butter sculptures; the Tibetans, Indians and foreigners on the streets of Dharamsala; a colourful Cham masked dance. There is also some extra old film footage (6 minutes) of a massive butter sculpture being raised on a scaffold, Tibetan wild flowers, Gyantse, and crossing the Tsangpo River in a large barge and a coracle.
The old footage of the Dalai Lama and the people and ceremonies of Lhasa is excellent. The modern interviews give this old footage a freshness as they remember the old times.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Very interesting with footage from before the Chinese invasion of Tibet, showing the old buddhist traditions, dress, practices etc.
Also the Dalai Lama interviews give an unusual insight into his warm relationship with his parents and family who can be seen in the video. I can recommend it as a unique document about Tibet and the life of the Dalai Lama in his youth and the tremendous responsibility of being the political as well as the spiritual leader of Tibet in such conflictive years with the Chinese.
Also the Dalai Lama interviews give an unusual insight into his warm relationship with his parents and family who can be seen in the video. I can recommend it as a unique document about Tibet and the life of the Dalai Lama in his youth and the tremendous responsibility of being the political as well as the spiritual leader of Tibet in such conflictive years with the Chinese.
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