Art of Dying - Tibetan Voices from Mustang (Video casette)

This is the story of an ancient culture tucked away among the largest mountains in the world. It is a rugged land, one whose joyful people strive to sustain themselves against great odds. While "The Art of Dying" explores the treatment of death as practised in this ancient Buddhist culture, this film is more a celebration of life! The Danish filmmakers underwent great difficulties to capture present-day Mustang, once part of the hidden Tibetan kingdom. Their creative photography is often startling in detail as it delicately captures the majesty of the landscape to make this absorbing visual record. Tibetan customs can be as astonishing and complex as the immensity of this vast land. The people of mustang are shown here in the modern time warp in which they now live. The slow-moving scenes let one soak up the images of the extraordinary landscape, while the dialogue captures the voice of the local people: simple villagers, the king of Mustang, and Buddhist monks. Both young and old join together in a collective voice. Anyone interested in Tibetan Buddhism and its culture will find this to be a deeply moving film. Its approximate running time: 60 minutes.