Sunrise/Sunset: Dalai Lama XIV

Filmmaker Vitaly Mansky allows viewers to see a personal side of one of the world's most celebrated spiritual and political leaders in this documentary. Mansky and a small camera crew were given unrestricted access to an ordinary day in the life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV, and Sunrise/Sunset follows him from 3 a.m., when he wakes up, to nightfall, when he goes to sleep. During his waking hours, the cameras follow the Dalai Lama as he exercises, meditates, prays, meets with visitors, speaks to members of the press and teaches his students. The Buddhist leader also takes time to answer some questions from Mansky, and he speaks at length about his spiritual beliefs and how he feels the individual can impact the world around him. The film also features an extended sequence in which Mansky traces the route from Russia to India he and his crew traveled in order to make the film. Sunrise/Sunset was an official selection at the 2009 Rotterdam International Film Festival.