Dalai Lama Renaissance

Related Content

• Are You Textually Challenged?
  December 24, 2010
• That Which Doesn’t Kill Me ...
  August 17, 2011
• Enlightened Humor
  May 4, 2011
• Tashi Delek
  December 1, 2010
• The Top 8 Songs To Listen To While Punching Yourself in the Face
  November 1, 2010

More About

• Dalai Lama
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Events Newsletter: What's happening in town? From underground club nights to the biggest outdoor festivals, our top picks for the week's best events will always keep you in on the action.

Privacy Policy Cancel Continue

Khashyar Darvich's documentary records an intellectual retreat held at the Tibetan spiritual leader’s compound in northern India several years ago. Forty Westerners trying to achieve consensus on the vague, never-really-explained concept of “synthesis” sounds like a recipe for chaos, and it is. By day three of the event, earnest moderators wring their hands helplessly as mighty New Age egos feud. Fortunately, their respect for the sensible precepts of the immensely likable Dalai Lama saves them from themselves, even though the group’s brightest idea is to try and get his support for a worldwide economic boycott of China. While the glimpses one has of the monks are lovely, most of the film is about Tibet's American friends. Much as one sympathizes, this film forces recognition that the Dalai Lama needs savvier allies in the U.S. than this crowd. They’re quite recognizable as the folks who shove you aside to get to the broccoli down at the organic grocery, only to lecture you on matters animal, vegetable, and spiritual.
Feb. 15-16, 2009