When the Iron Bird Flies

The subject of Victress Hitchcock and Amber Bemak's documentary—which takes its title from an ancient prophecy—is how Tibetan Buddhism spread to the rest of the globe, particularly the United States. Archival footage is employed to depict the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950 and the Dalai Lama's flight to exile in India—nine years later—along with thousands of followers. Ironically, that political disaster enabled Tibetan masters to carry their teachings to the wider world just as social changes in the West were instilling in many people a longing for spiritual fulfillment that they found lacking in other religious systems. When the Iron Bird Flies follows that development while also offering insight into the Buddhist view of human existence. The film's strongest elements are the personal testimonies of some adherents—not so much celebrities like Richard Gere, who appears briefly, but rather lesser-known subjects who recount their experiences in detail. Perhaps the most intriguing case involves a man who was drawn to Buddhism while engaging in financial practices that led to a prison term and wound up using his incarceration to teach other inmates about the Buddhist worldview, remaining committed after his release. Another, featuring a woman who joined a Buddhist monastic community, introduces a self-critical element, noting that some Buddhist teachings and accompanying social attitudes are sometimes inimical to Western cultural norms. Despite a strong proselytizing element, this documentary offers a good introduction to Tibetan Buddhism within a historical context. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)