Tibet at the Movies

March is Akira Kurosawa month on Turner Classic Movies, during which they will broadcast a satisfying number of his finest works. We currently have guests at the San Gabriel Valley house -- this was a prior obligation -- after which I must dissolve back into my retreat with flexible boundaries. I will therefore miss Kurosawa month.

In around 1968 or 1969, I accompanied my teacher to a Kurosawa film being shown at the University of California. There was a scene in which, during the course of a sword fight, a samaurai lost an arm. Regardless, he went on fighting. Upon witnessing this scene, the lama slapped me very hard on the back of the head, exclaiming, "That's what I'm talking about! That's Vajrayana!"

This is a fond, fond memory for me.

But, that isn't why I bring up the subject of motion pictures.

At Jamyang Norbu's most excellent Shadow Tibet blog, he has done the world a service by posting "The Happy Light Bioscope Theatre," which is detailed historical overview of the cinema in Tibet. Never have I been so entertained and informed by a blog post.

Did you know that the very first reference in Tibetan to an optical entertainment device comes from Jigme Lingpa? Did you know that Lassie Come Home and Rin Tin Tin were eternal favorites among Lhasa's upper classes?

Thumbs up. You simply must give this article a careful read.