The Lost World Of Tibet [DVD]

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Customer reviews

review by: Miriam date: 2009-07-01 rating:
The Lost world of Tibet
I do like this DVD because it shows the real life and isolation of the elite in Tibet before Chinese occupation, which is difficult to find in other documentaries.


review by: Rowena the Red date: 2008-04-14 rating:
Fascinating glimpse into Tibetan culture
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. br / br /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. br /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. br /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. br /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. br / br /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. br /8/10 br /

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