Artful animation is employed to relate the story of a hero of the Buddhist faith in this docu-drama, the first directorial credit for noted composer Tibor Szemzo. Alexander Csoma de Körös was a learned man from Hungary with a taste for travel and adventure. In 1819, Alexander developed a theory that Hungarian culture had strong ties to Tibet, and he decided to put it to the test by making an epic journey through Iraq, India and Afghanistan to finally arrive in Tibet. When he reached his destination, Alexander was welcomed by a group of Buddhist monks who lived in the mountains, and he became fascinated with their spiritual literature. Wanting to share their message with others, Alexander took up the arduous task of translating the Tibetan writings into Hungarian, creating a comprehensive dictionary in the process. Alexander's efforts to share the fables of Tibet with the world won him the admiration of the Dalai Lama, who declared him a saint, and Buddhist pilgrims visit his final resting place to this day. A Guest of Life blends Alexander's story with the tales he shared with the world; the film is narrated by Susannah York, and received its American premiere at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival.
by Mark Deming
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