Product Details

• Actors: Jack Perkins, Peter Graves, Harry Smith, Dave Hoffman, Bill Mumy
• Writers: Agnes Nixon
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• VHS Release Date: August 18, 1998
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0767007697
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #310,899 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

One of the world's most admired men, he is the spiritual and secular leader of a nation that exists only in exile. Born Tenzin Gyatso, he is the fourteenth man recognized by his people as Buddha's reincarnation and honored with the title he is known by worldwide the Dalai Lama. Since 1959, when he fled his nation after a failed rebellion against the occupying Chinese, he has lived in exile. Follow the Dalai Lama from his childhood in the "Lost Kingdom" to today. Interviews with Chinese scholars, Tibet activists including actor Richard Gere and His Holiness himself detail the long struggle to free Tibet. And see footage of the defining moments of his life including accepting the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize. From a childhood in "Shangri-La" to a life in exile, BIOGRAPHY presents the journey of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The 14th Dalai Lama as political leader, February 13, 2007

By 

Kim Boykin (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Biography: Dalai Lama - The Soul of Tibet (A&E Archives) (DVD)

This 45-minute program from A&E's "Biography" series is a good introduction to the Dalai Lama's life and leadership of Tibet and to the political situation of Tibet. It incorporates interesting historical footage, including footage I hadn't seen elsewhere of the Dalai Lama as a child and young man.

Naturally, the film sides with the Tibetans regarding the Chinese occupation of Tibet, but it does attempt to be objective. Something I learned from this film is that the Dalai Lama was initially sympathetic to some of Mao's stated goals.

Two other good videos on the Dalai Lama and Tibet are "Heart of Tibet" (available only on VHS, not DVD) and "Compassion In Exile," both of which do a better job than this video of giving a sense of the Dalai Lama as a Buddhist and as a person.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very heartwarming overview of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, December 29, 2011

By 

samten (Michigan) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Biography: Dalai Lama - The Soul of Tibet (A&E Archives) (DVD)

This video, commentated by Diane Sawyer, gives a unique glimpse of the life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama through interviews with scholars as well as politicians. You are given the historical overview of how His Holiness was located and brought to Lhasa and declared the 14th Dalai Lama, the temporal and secular leader of Tibet. The video takes you on the invasion of Tibet by the Chinese, and how he was steadfast in trying to come to common ground with the occupying Communists. This is a very brief but worthwhile historical video for any collection.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative, November 8, 2010

By 

Barbara J. Gerstner (East Hampton, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Biography: Dalai Lama - The Soul of Tibet (A&E Archives) (DVD)

While this video is rather short since there are no TV ads, I found it extremely interesting and informative. It's a great buy...purchased one as a gift and one for myself.