This documentary, directed by Guido Santi and Tina Mascara, reveals the remarkable journey of Nicholas Vreeland, grandson of the former editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine, who passed away in 1989. Just to note, I remember writing a review of a documentary on her life "The Eye Has to Travel" a couple of years ago on IMDb.
Nicholas Vreeland though chose to give up the glamor and comfort of the life he was living, to eventually become a Tibetan Buddhist monk. He was looking for something more fulfilling to his inner core, and was attracted by the tenets of Buddhism, one of which is selflessness and helping others.
Vreeland began to live and study at the Rato Monastery, in Mundgod, India, which lies amidst a Tibetan refugee camp for those who had to flee their country from Chinese persecution. The film illustrates, as well, Vreeland's love of photography from an early age, and how he often grapples with the concept that this interest may conflict somehow with his vows as a monk. You can see that he has a terrific eye for his photographic subjects, either people or nature (especially trees). We will come to see how his photos eventually helped him and the monastery in completion of a much needed complex.
At the beginning and end of the documentary, it is shown that he has been appointed as the Abbot of the Rato Monastery, by the Dalai Lama himself. Thus, Vreeland would be the first Westerner appointed to such a position at a large Tibetan monastery.
All in all, I found this unique story to be quite fascinating and interesting, and I was engrossed from the beginning of the movie.
Nicholas Vreeland though chose to give up the glamor and comfort of the life he was living, to eventually become a Tibetan Buddhist monk. He was looking for something more fulfilling to his inner core, and was attracted by the tenets of Buddhism, one of which is selflessness and helping others.
Vreeland began to live and study at the Rato Monastery, in Mundgod, India, which lies amidst a Tibetan refugee camp for those who had to flee their country from Chinese persecution. The film illustrates, as well, Vreeland's love of photography from an early age, and how he often grapples with the concept that this interest may conflict somehow with his vows as a monk. You can see that he has a terrific eye for his photographic subjects, either people or nature (especially trees). We will come to see how his photos eventually helped him and the monastery in completion of a much needed complex.
At the beginning and end of the documentary, it is shown that he has been appointed as the Abbot of the Rato Monastery, by the Dalai Lama himself. Thus, Vreeland would be the first Westerner appointed to such a position at a large Tibetan monastery.
All in all, I found this unique story to be quite fascinating and interesting, and I was engrossed from the beginning of the movie.