The Search for Shangri-la (PG)

Extraordinary rare and colourful footage of Tibetan customs filmed between 1922 and 1949

Tibet, 1922 - 1950, 1 hour 20 minutes

Sat 6 March 4.00pm, Tue 9 4.30pm The Courtyard Hereford

Accompanied by a specially commissioned score, life in Tibet from the 1920s to the 1940s is vividly captured in this selection of extraordinarily rare footage from the BFI National Archive. From the 1922 attempt to climb Mount Everest to the home movies of British political officers on diplomatic missions, these poignant images now provide unique evidence of the colourful Tibetan customs lost after the devastation of the Chinese invasion.

Plus Leaving Fear Behind (23 minutes), testimony from ordinary Tibetans about life there now. The director, Dhondup Wangchen has since been imprisoned for making this film.

Jan Faull, curator for the BFI National Archive will introduce the film
on Tuesday 9