Educational Media Reviews Online

Exploring Tibetan history, Tibetan-Chinese relations, and the challenges Tibet faced as it entered modernity, Angry Monk traces the path of Gendun Choephel’s life from his upbringing in Tibet to his travels in India, to finally his return to Tibet. Choephel, who eventually left the monastic life to indulge in his own intellectual curiosity, argued against the conservative Tibetan culture that he believed was keeping Tibet from entering the modern world.

Gendun Choephel is believed to be a reincarnation of a Buddhist lama. At an early age Choephel entered the monastery on his path to become a Buddhist monk. He progressed through different monasteries throughout Tibet gaining a reputation as an intellectual able to dominate debates, a practice important to Buddhist monks. Choephel’s training came to an end when he left the monastery and became a vocal critic of the Tibetan government’s resistance to modernity. Choephel believed that the conservative culture in the Tibetan government was weakening the country to a point that Tibetan history was lost to an image of Tibet as a spiritual country. In his early 30s, Choephel traveled to India and spent a number of years exploring the country. During his time in India, Choephel began to write a political history of Tibet meant to educate and influence conservative Tibetan culture. Choephel’s criticism of the Tibetan government and his involvement with the Tibetan Revolutionary Party led to his imprisonment when he returned to Tibet. It was not until China occupied Tibet in the 1950s that the country that had once resisted modernity had modernity thrust upon it.

This film offers a mix of Tibetan history, the conflict with China, and the life of Choephel. The documentary challenges the commonly held impression of Tibet. The filmmaker has a clear agenda in criticizing the conservative culture of Tibet and how it led to Tibet’s occupation by China. This is an exceptional documentary of a fascinating character, a Tibetan monk who drank, smoked, and fraternized with women. The audio and visual qualities are excellent. Narration is in English with occasional English subtitles during interviews. This documentary is highly recommended for most libraries.