Digital Dharma
1h 30m
Running Time
Plot.
Gene Smith was born in Utah and raised a Mormon. After studying science and anthropology, Smith relies on an interest and ability in obscure languages to avoid the Vietnam-era draft. While studying Sanskrit and Tibetan at the University of Washington, he takes up Tibetan Buddhism as an academic pursuit and offers to help Tibetan refugees - brought to the U.S. to teach - to assimilate into American life. He is assigned to live with the family of Deshung Rinpoche, one of the most learned lamas to escape Tibet. Smith teaches English to Deshung, and Deshung teaches Smith about Tibetan culture and Buddhism. In 1959, Red Army Soldiers destroy thousands of homes and temples. Tibetan refugees are forced to leave behind countless artifacts, the sole evidence of their culture. A 1500-year literary tradition, in Sanskrit and Tibetan, is in danger of disappearing. Smith travels through India, Bhutan and Nepal..
Where to Watch.
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Cast & Crew.
Timothy Gates
Writer
Dafna Yachin
Director / Writer
Matthieu Ricard
Self
Khyentse Norbu
Self
Michael Aharon
Composer
Details.
StatusReleased
Running Time1h 30m
Last updated:
This Movie Is About.
woman director
Wiki.
Digital Dharma: One Man's Mission to Save a Culture is a 2012 American documentary film directed by Dafna Yachin. The film depicts the 50-year journey by E. Gene Smith to hunt down and digitize over 20,000 missing volumes of ancient Tibetan text.
Digital Dharma premiered at the 2012 Sedona Film Festival and won awards at film festivals while also screening at museums and universities. It later received a theatrical release and was invited to qualify for Academy Award consideration by the International Documentary Association through the 2012 DocuWeeks program.
Digital Dharma has been called "a divinely inspired gift." Its story and Smith's mission have been described as "undeniably fascinating."