10 Fragen an den Dalai Lama (10 Questions for the Dalai Lama)
U.S.A. 2006

Opening 8 May 2008

Directed by: Rick Ray
Writing credits: Rick Ray

This practically one-man-show by Rick Ray is a timely, thorough documentary on the life and philosophy of the Dalai Lama, including maps of Tibet (which is the size of Europe!).

The rare historical footage is of special interest for those with little knowledge of recent Tibetan history. Industrial filmmaker Rick Ray took a travel film job in India under the conditions that his employer would organize a personal meeting with the Dalai Lama. On arrival, Ray found no one had moved on this part of their agreement. He had to find the way on his own, and – with the critical help of his assigned driver (who helped with the camerawork) – connected with His Holiness via email, procuring a 45-minute appointment on the condition there would be only ten questions, hence the film title, with the warning that His Holiness did not tolerate insincerity and would stop the meeting when sensing such. As the meeting would be in Dharamsala three months after his job concluded, Ray, now “stranded” in India, decided to stay in a monastery to understand more of Buddhism, thus giving himself time to formulate appropriate questions.

More time should have been placed on how he conveyed his message. Too much time is consumed with writer/director/cameraman/editor Ray's personal journey to this meeting, leaving an undesirable home movie quality. And the sound of the sappy, monotonous voiceover drained. (Nancy Tilitz)