Gendun Choephel is a legendary figure in Tibet. Believed to be the reincarnation of a famous Buddhist lama, this promising young monk turned his back on monastic life and became a fierce critic of his country’s religious conservatism, cultural isolationism and reactionary government. After leaving the monastery in 1934, and fueled by his intellectual curiosity and free-spirited nature, Choephel traveled throughout Tibet and India in order to understand the true history of his country.
Both a personal and political portrait of this pioneering and visionary intellectual, Angry Monk features rare archival footage, Choephel’s paintings, and contemporary scenes of sites he visited, along with interviews with Tibetan historians, scholars, writers, and his wife.
Today Choephel is a revered figure in his homeland, and an influential symbol of hope for those seeking political and spiritual reform in a free Tibet. Angry Monk tells his story.
OFFICIAL SELECTION- Sundance Film Festival
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"An eye-opener! Engaging and inspiring."
- San Francisco Chronicle
"A beautifully observed blend of biography, road movie, history and travelogue. Downright bracing!"
- SF Weekly
"A compelling, insightful story, beautifully told." - Amyang Norbu, Novelist & Independence Activist
"Absorbing! A very useful perspective on recent Tibetan history." - The Vancouver Sun
"An exceptional documentary of a fascinating character. Highly recommended!"
- Educational Media Reviews Online
The Madman's Middle Way: Reflections on Reality of the Tibetan Monk Gendun Chopel by Donald S. Lopez Jr.
The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way: Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamakakarika by Nagarjuna
Format: DVD
Release Year: 2005
Running Time: 97 minutes
Color: Color
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