Nobel Peace Prize winner Tenzin Gyatso, known to many as the 14th Dalai Lama, shares a message of hope, inner peace and love, in the new documentary Wisdom of Happiness.
Directed by Manuel Bauer, Philip Delaquis, and Barbara Miller, the film made its world premiere at Zurich Film Festival and opened in theaters on October 16.
As the Dalai Lama, the “Ocean of Wisdom,” Gyatso spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and the political leader of Tibet, he talks to the camera about spreading peace in order to save the 21st century.
Believed to be the reincarnation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, each Dalai Lama continues the spiritual lineage of the one before. Gyatso, has dedicated his life to promoting nonviolence, compassion, and the preservation of Tibetan culture after fleeing Tibet in 1959. He later won the Nobel Prize for negotiating a peaceful resolution for a conflict in Tibet.
The film offers an intimate look as he reflects on finding peace and joy in a troubled world. Through personal stories and archival footage, the film captures his message that happiness is possible even amid chaos and uncertainty.
In a statement, the directors said, “It was essential to capture the Dalai Lama speaking directly to the audience, so everyone could share the closeness we experienced. With his permission, we filmed on his premises with Swiss and Indian film crews, using a special camera accessory that allowed him to converse naturally with us while maintaining his direct gaze. There is an aura of warmth and love that emanates from him– he is straightforward, approachable, affectionate, and always ready for a laugh.”
Executive Producer Richard Gere explained why he decided to join the project saying, “I found the movie to be bold and adventurous in its approach, trying to tell the story of His Holiness, of Buddhism and our questions about creating happiness for ourselves and others. But I also felt that my knowledge of His Holiness and my many decades of involvement with Buddhism could be of some help. So, they asked me, and I said yes.”
The Alliance of Women Film Journalists in their review wrote, “Centered on an intimate encounter with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, offers a rare antidote to the burnout of modern life. It doesn’t lecture but invites you into a luminous, quietly revolutionary true story about a remarkable man that reminds us that the path to joy begins in a more profound connection to the world around us.”
Watch the trailer for Wisdom of Happiness above.
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