10 Questions for the Dalai Lama (2006)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Rick Ray

Writer:

Rick Ray (writer)

Release Date:

1 May 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

One man's journey through the northern Himalayas

Plot:

How do you reconcile a commitment to non-violence when faced with violence? Why do the poor often seem happier than the rich...

Plot Keywords:

India | Dalai Lama | Dharamsala | Tibet | Non Violence

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Dalai Lama	...	Himself (as The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tenzin Tethong	...	Himself (as Tenzin Geyche Tethong)

Runtime:

USA:85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:Unrated | Australia:PG | Taiwan:GP (original rating)

Filming Locations:

India

Company:

Rick Ray Films

Soundtrack:

Surrender

Much more than just questions

This film gives much more than it's title implies. Rick Ray isn't just another seeker wanting answers from the Dalai Lama. He's so intent on not embarrassing himself at his audience with Tibet's spiritual leader that he goes to incredible lengths to prepare himself for this opportunity, such as traveling around India and Tibet to learn all he can about Buddhism and thoroughly researching the 14th Dalai Lama's life story. The result is the best-told (and illustrated) history of the Dalai Lama to date. Weaving in an amazing amount of rare archival footage, Ray gives us an intimate and detailed portrait of "simple monk" who has led anything but a simple life. The loss of his country to the communist Chinese and the struggle of Tibetans in exile are the burden he was born to carry. Turns out the filmmaker didn't need to worry that his meeting with the Dalai Lama would be a flop. His questions are all thoughtful, relevant and universal, just like his entire film.