From the very beginning, the Dalai Lama’s life and times have been marked by drama, as Tibet emerged from its isolation into the modern world, opening up to a world full of trials and tribulations, and dramatic changes.
This very well-done reconstruction of events, which was made in India and in Hindi (with English subtitles), is in two parts, and is much more than the title promises, telling the whole story up and till the Dalai Lama left for India.
It traces his story from life as a peasant boy to being recognised as the reincarnated Dalai Lama, and the perils that unfolded in his childhood as Tibet was gradually incorporated into China, and finishes with his later escape to India.
In the first episode we follow his childhood and early years up to, but not including his escape from Tibet at a time it was feared he was going to be kidnapped by the Chinese, or worse. In this regard it is worth noting that the film is very much slanted against the Chinese who are depicted as the villains of the piece.
(you may need to switch on the subs: click on the cog, then subtitles, then English)
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to see an album of stills click here