Never Forget Tibet - The Dalai Lama's Untold Story - Coming to Cinemas from April 19th 2023

"Compassionate Films is excited to share the release date for their much anticipated new documentary which will be coming to cinemas across the UK from April 19th. Tickets can be pre-ordered at www.neverforgettibet.com from 16th March."

Short Synopsis:

"One of the most significant moments in 20th Century history, His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama reveals the details of his incredible escape into exile for the first time on film in his own words with the Indian political officer who led him to safety. Featuring the Tibetan community in exile and those with historic ties to Tibet, the film explores the Dalai Lama’s compassion for a world seemingly in crisis today and seeks to find what can be learn't from his inspirational life story, Tibetan culture and its ancient spirituality."

Review

An intriguing documentary following the footsteps of Journalist and Presenter . I felt the documentary was fitting especially in a time when there seems to be so much chaos, the message here was about how to reconnect or connect into our peace, compassion and love for each other. Man's inhumanity to man has reached new levels and yet in the midst of it all, there are people who have had some of the most harmful, painful, impacftul and challenging experiences and yet throughout it all, their humanity to think about the soul of their perpetrator with compassion, got me thinking about my own levels of compassion, my own perception of the world.

"New York Times best selling author and long time friend of His Holiness Dalai Lama, Dr Deepak Chopra, has recorded a special meditation for world peace to celebrate the theatrical release of this historic documentary, which will be shown in cinemas before the film.

Inspired by the book ‘An Officer and His Holiness’ by Rani Singh, the film is narrated by British acting legend Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey, Paddington) and features music from Grammy-nominated artist Anoushka Shankar."

The documentary is a reminder of the depth and strength of who we truly are. I realised that we only ever really touch the surface of what we are truly capacble of, whether that is man's inhumanity to man or as vessels of love, hope, peace, tenancity, strength and compassion. We have the capacity to tap into those deep, rich places of love and compassion and know they are potent places of strength, To reach into the goldmine of our souls through prayer and meditation, to reconnect to the essence of our soul and heart, to natures is truly an incredible magnet for peace, truth, unity, community, strength, empowerment, resistance and power. Power to move mountains, to save lives, to become vessels of hope and movements of resilience, resistance whilst carrying the torch of empathy in order to build a different mindset, to acquire different sets of tools that can harness humanity into a beautiful force for change and where we can see each other as brothers and sisters of humanity and treat each other likewise.

"Never Forget Tibet explores, with His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama, the details of his incredible escape into exile for the first time on film in his own words with the Indian political officer who led him to safety.

Featuring the Tibetan community in exile and those with historic ties to Tibet, the film explores the Dalai Lama’s compassion for a world seemingly in crisis today and seeks to find what can be learnt from his inspirational life story, Tibetan culture and its ancient spirituality."

Never Forget Tibet is an example of the power of self, the power of dedication and resilience, the power of the mind and of faith. So many shared about the atrocities suffered at the hands of the Chinese, we heardstories of nuns who were brutalised mentally, emotionally, sexually whilst imprisioned and yet, through the nurturing care and healing of those who had escaped Tibet, these incredible human souls were able to transmute, transcend to a place of internal peace in India. Not an easy or smooth process, but certainly with the teachings of Buddishm, they had access to tools that touched those deep places of the terror they experienced.

There are leaders amongst all of us. People who were born into positions to lead, and yet that old adage "With great power comes great responsibility" an adage popularized by Spider-Man in Marvel comics, films, and related media introduced by Stan Lee." The Dalai Lama was clearly a man who was chosen, even before birth. More than a leader, he was a spiritually divine activist an inspired soul, a wise soul who was prepared for the road ahead and to know that he touched, inspired, spoke into, so many thousands of lives globally, to know that his story influenced world leaders, shows the power of the human spirit, amidst deprevation and human hostility. He was a symbol of hope and survival. He was a symbol of what it was like to be a spiritual being living a human experience.

I urge you to go see this documentary. It may awaken something in you to your own humanity towards yourself, and allow you to soften into that place of compassion for yourself where you will definitely find strength and your spiritual identify because when you are able to do that authentically for yourself, you will be able to do that authetically for others. And yet there is so much more, such as our connection to nature, and the stories nature can tell us about ourselves and how to operate - the different seasons, the ebb and flow of a river, the warmth of the sun etc. The message and practice of love and peace is the ripple effect that is needed to unburden the world of distrust, hatred, intolerance for another.

Director Bio:

Jean-Paul Mertinez is a producer, writer and director. He is the founder and Managing Director of Compassionate Films, the London-based Production Company.

About Compassionate Films:

Compassionate Films is an Independent Film Production Company in London, U.K. We specialise in making feature documentaries dedicated to environmental subjects and indigenous traditions. We focus on stories that relate to social justice/injustice and ecological conservation. We believe these themes should be boldly discussed in the media and in society, to enable positive changes in the world to take place. This work brings us into contact with the world’s foremost indigenous leaders and spiritual teachers. We are making a series of three new films within the “Compassionate Film Series”. They each explore the inspirational life and message of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tibet, climate change and the direction of world culture. Our films offer a potent and powerful form of storytelling, which are capable of changing public perceptions and aim to stimulate compassionate action on large-scale issues.

Never Forget Tibet - The Dalai Lama's Untold Story will be coming to cinemas nationwide this April 2023. Produced by Compassionate Films & Directed by Jean-Paul Mertinez Executive Producers are Templeheart Films, Lyndon Baldock, Gavin Patterson and Rani Singh. Inspired by the book ‘An Officer and His Holiness’ by Rani Singh. Keep an eye on www.neverforgettibet.com to book your tickets! #NeverForgetTibet