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The Angry Monk

A road-movie in the footsteps of the rebellious Tibetan monk Gendun Choephel

The Angry Monk
The notion of Tibet as an oasis of tranquil spirituality victimized solely by Chinese oppression is challenged by "Angry Monk," Luc Schaedler's Swiss docu. Pic examines legacy of Gedrun Choephel, a Buddhist monk whose writings argued against the perceived fundamentalist stagnation of 1930s-'40s Tibetan culture. His works, lost or banned for decades, are finding new favor in a homeland where nationalism is creeping back in the wake of a slight relaxation of brute autocracy by Chinese authorities. Available in both German and English-language forms, docu also has a broadcast-friendly 52-minute cut in the works.

Born in 1903, Choepel was thought the reincarnation of a famous local monk, at age 4 commencing 30-plus years of religious study. But his brilliant debating skills sprang from an open-minded curiosity and restlessness at odds with the Tibetan leadership's traditional mindset. In 1934, he entered civilian life, traveling in India and returning home a controversial author. Spirit broken after three years in prison, he died as the Chinese invasion of Tibet was complete in 1951. Input from historians and surviving intimates, archival material and handsome latter-day footage retracing Choepel's journeys mix smoothly in polished package. (D. Harvey, Variety)

The Angry Monk

Sun October 15, 2006, 7:00 & 9:00, The Film Studies Theater in ATLAS 102

Switzerland, 2005, in Tibetan, Color, 97 min

recommend

Tickets

10 films for $60 with punch card
$9 general admission. $7 w/UCB student ID, $7 for senior citizens
$1 discount to anyone with a bike helmet
Free on your birthday! CU Cinema Studies students get in free.

Parking

Pay lot 360 (now only $1/hour!), across from the buffalo statue and next to the Duane Physics tower, is closest to Muenzinger. Free parking can be found after 5pm at the meters along Colorado Ave east of Folsom stadium and along University Ave west of Macky.

RTD Bus

Park elsewhere and catch the HOP to campus

International Film Series

(Originally called The University Film Commission)
Established 1941 by James Sandoe.

First Person Cinema

(Originally called The Experimental Cinema Group)
Established 1955 by Carla Selby, Gladney Oakley, Bruce Conner and Stan Brakhage.

C.U. Film Program

(AKA The Rocky Mountain Film Center)
First offered degrees in filmmaking and critical studies in 1989 under the guidance of Virgil Grillo.

Celebrating Stan

Created by Suranjan Ganguly in 2003.

C.U. Department of Cinema Studies & Moving Image Arts

Established 2017 by Chair Ernesto Acevedo-Muñoz.

Thank you, sponsors!
Boulder International Film Festival
Department of Cinema Studies & Moving Image Arts

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