Reel Asian kicks off the new year with our first film co-presentation! We’re excited to co-present documentary film Monk With a Camera at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema on Friday January 9, 2015. After abandoning a privileged life and promising photography career to become a Buddhist monk, Nicholas Vreeland – grandson of legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland – renews his artistic pursuit years later to raise funds to rebuild a Tibetan monastery.
Read below for more details.
MONK WITH A CAMERA
Directed by: Tina Mascara and Guido Santi
Friday January 9, 2015 @ 6:30pm*
Bloor Hot Docs Cinema (506 Bloor Street West)
Trailer
*Opening screening date. For full film schedule, please visit here for more.
SYNOPSIS: Nicholas Vreeland, the son of a United States Ambassador and grandson of legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, walked away from a worldly life of privilege to become a Tibetan Buddhist monk in 1972. A photographer by trade, Nicholas’ life changed dramatically after meeting a Tibetan master who was one of the Dalai Lama’s teachers. Soon thereafter, he gave up his glamorous life to live in a monastery in India, where he studied Buddhism for fourteen years. In an ironic twist of fate, Nicholas went back to pursue photography to help his fellow monks rebuild their monastery. Recently, the Dalai Lama appointed Nicholas as Abbot of the monastery, making him the first Westerner in Tibetan Buddhist history to attain such a highly regarded position. Monk with a Camera reflects on the impact of Buddhism in American society, the future of Tibetan communities, and the pursuit of art in a world of impermanence. More…