James Absolon explains how this Pope-themed film, despite its risky premise, works
Alex Pollard reviews Hollywood's biopic of the controversial Margaret Thatcher
Joshua Dugdale’s 3 year access to the Dalai Lama does not take sides. The film has little narration: telling us to listen to the words of the Dalai Lama and form our own opinions. All it wants to do is present an intimate portrait of this remarkable figure. As a documentary, “The Unwinking Gaze” says little that is new and is more journalistic than polemical, but it is a sincere attempt to show the man stretched by many opinions and beliefs.
The title refers to Buddha who gazed at the tree he sat under after achieving enlightenment; but could it also refer to how, despite the Chinese publicly ignoring the Dalai Lama, diplomacy continues unwinking behind closed doors? The audience is given (in only a 69 minute film) many contradictory opinions: the Dalai Lama’s desire for an autonomy that brings prosperity to all; the Chinese message that he is a “splittist”; Tibetan independence members who fight against Chinese rule; and the Dalai Clique worrying of the Dalai Lama’s failing health and what will follow his death.
Even the Dalai Lama is torn between his striking pragmatism and his deeply spiritual beliefs. His desire to show strength while not antagonising China or giving false hope to Tibetans. He is adored by the Tibetans, even for having magical powers. One scene shows a father asking the Dalai Lama to heal his child with a broken arm. His response is to order him to take the girl to the hospital regardless of cost.
it is a sincere attempt to show the man stretched by many opinions and beliefs.
Dugdale’s film does come across as rather smug. They know they were extremely honoured to have such access and the attempts to show the small victories and defeats cloud the bigger picture of what is happening in Tibet. The failure of the trip to Belgium, for example, or his successful meeting with George W Bush show the qualities of the man, but loses sight of the message at times.
It is the Dalai Lama himself who makes this documentary so compelling: his childlike, heart-warming laugh, his quick wit, and his engaging speeches. Despite the flaws of the film, it genuinely wants to raise the issue of human rights in Tibet and to bring pressure on China, which is extremely admirable. It may struggle in its goals though as the documentary does not pack a powerful enough punch. It avoids provoking China, so ends up saying nothing we, in the west, did not already know. That is that the Dalai Lama is an extraordinary individual with sincere motives for a brighter future for all.
You must log in to submit a comment.
