An Officer & His Holiness
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AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS The Dalai Lama’s Secret Escape Into Exile A Major New Film AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS 1 “We can never obtain peace in the world until we have peace within ourselves” th His Holiness 14 Dalai Lama DISCLAIMER: Red Rock Entertainment Ltd is not authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The content of this promotion is not authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA). Reliance on the promotion for the purpose of engaging in any investment activity may expose an individual to a significant risk of losing all of the investment. UK residents wishing to participate in this promotion must fall into the category of sophisticated investor or high net worth individual as outlined by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS The Dalai Lama’s Secret Escape Into Exile CONTENTS 4-7 Background 8-9 Narrator | Joanna Lumley 10-11 Synopsis 12 Tibet | India | China 13 Life Lessons from Ancient Tibet 14-15 Dharamsala 16-19 Original Music Anoushka Shankar | Nicki Wells | Craig Pruess 20-21 Music and Younger Audiences 22-23 The Team 26 Executive Producers 27 Producers 28 United Nations BACKGROUND His Holiness, Dalai Lama The 14th Dalai Lama is respected in the Indian plains in 1959. This to his international popularity, and revered by millions the world film will bring the Buddhist leader, for Tibetans, the Dalai Lama has over. His widely covered visits renowned for peace advocacy, always been the “Most Precious to countries like Canada, the face to face with the Indian official One.” His undisputed, divine status USA, Australia and to Europe and each will relive, separately, as Tibet’s former religious and demonstrate his enduring appeal. those weeks of tension and danger. temporal ruler dates back along 13 Dalai Lamas and several centuries The 84-year old spiritual leader of Access to the officer, Harmander to well before the country was the Tibetan people has featured Singh, is exclusive to the story. The overrun by the Chinese People’s on Forbes’s list of the world’s film will include interviews with him Liberation Army (PLA) in 1950. most powerful and influential and the Dalai Lama. The officer has people, and in 2014 he was one not spoken in detail about his role China invaded because it wanted of Fortune’s top ten world’s in this story before now. complete control of autonomous greatest leaders. Tibet to strengthen its Western For 60 years the Dalai Lama flank, among other reasons to do A critical part of the story of the has campaigned for peace and with minerals and water. Dalai Lama’s escape from China nonviolent political change. He in 1959 has never been told in meets with different religious The Chinese had grown frustrated detail before. This part concerns heads, theologians, country with the power and influence an Indian official who located the leaders, scientists and newsmakers held by the 14th Dalai Lama, so revered Tibetan leader at the Indo- to explore areas of mutual interest. they used various tactics to try Chinese border and smuggled Winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace to isolate and destroy him. They him across the harsh and perilous Prize, the Dalai Lama has over nine decided he was standing in the terrain of the Himalayas to safety million Twitter followers. In addition way of their territorial ambition so 4 AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS BACKGROUND CIA helping Tibetan Guerillas they decided to try to terminate of night with his closest advisors, for the Dalai Lama. In India itself, his lineage. By the late fifties PLA tutors and some family members. vague instructions over a crackling soldiers had flooded Tibetan He was disguised as a soldier, wireless with a poor signal were strongholds. A fearsome network stumbling, nearly blind, as he sent from Delhi to the North- of spies and informers helped its had had to remove his trademark East frontier via an intermediary masters create a vice-like grip on spectacles. He was also scared at outpost. They reached the Political the Tibetan leadership. Finally, that point, he says. Officer in the Indian Frontier the Chinese military advanced Division to which it was thought and encircled the Dalai Lama’s With the help of CIA-trained the Dalai Lama might escape. hilltop summer palace. PLA Tibetan guerillas who had been guns, cannons, tanks and heavy smuggled out to the US to be The officer, Harmander Singh, artillery were aimed directly at his coached and drilled, the Dalai was tasked with working out living quarters. Lama and his retinue fled to the then unknown entry point southern Tibet. But the Chinese for the Tibetan party. He was to By March 1959, Tibetans were so still hunted him, by air and on meet the “Dignitary” as India’s terrified for the life of their leader land, intent on “disposing” of him. emissary, identify and “neutralize” that they mounted a rebellion Neighboring countries refused to any disguised Chinese assassins against the Chinese overlords, accept the Tibetan party, fearing following him, and conduct the surrounding the Dalai Lama’s China’s wrath. With contentious young Buddhist leader to safety in palace and placing themselves border issues and a mightier the Indian plains. Then the wireless between him and the PLA soldiers. neighbour than itself, India too went dead. Riding on ponies, The Dalai Lama was in danger; had been reluctant previously. But Harmander Singh completed an even his trusted wise oracles told now Washington persuaded India’s eight-day journey in three days, him so. He escaped in the dead PM Nehru, to agree to asylum to get to the Dalai Lama who AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS 5 BACKGROUND Called Middle Land, between Tibet and India The Dalai Lama has been reunited with an indian soldier Naren Chandra das who escorted him to safety as he fled from tibet to india in 1959. 6 AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS BACKGROUND His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama disguised as a layman walking down the road, during his escape from Tibet in 1959 was weakened and sick after his deadly flight from capture and Knowing that he was on an Singh will also use photographs likely death. important mission, Singh wrote a taken at the time with his own personal diary of his assignment box camera, explaining the story Guarding him with his own life that needed to be kept secret so behind them; they’re the only throughout the journey, Singh long as he was in active service. A visual evidence of a key moment carefully brought the party private man, he has not revealed in world history. across Indian mountains on foot its contents before but will read and horseback, anxious about from the diary on camera for this spies when devotees, overjoyed film. There is no restriction now at seeing their leader, mobbed on its use and all permissions are him seeking blessings. cleared for use of it in the film. AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS 7 PRESENTER Joanna brings her open an inquisitive style to this film and a natural connection to the material. 8 AN OFFICER & HIS HOLINESS NARRATOR JOANNA LUMLEY Joanna Lumley was born in a generation of British males who Fabulous is regarded as one Kashmir, India, on 1st May 1946. grew up watching her as the high- of the greatest female comic Her father was a major in the kicking action girl. performances ever, earning Lumley Gurkha Rifles and she spent most a stream of awards, including of her early childhood in the Far Other roles followed, most notably several BAFTAs. East where her father was posted. as Sapphire in Sapphire & Steel An aspiring actress, she first came (1979) opposite David McCallum Since Absolutely Fabulous, to fame as a model in London’s -- a sci-fi precursor to The X-Files Lumley has cemented her role as swinging 1960s, where she was (1993) that has gained a cult one of the UK’s most-loved and photographed by the greats, following in recent years, despite respected actresses. She is rarely including her friend, the late the fact it has only ever been off UK TV screens and has also Patrick Lichfield. shown ONCE on terrestrial TV. built a successful film career as a character/ voice-over actress. She was designer Jean Muir’s During the 1980s, Lumley returned muse and house model for several to the theatre, making notable She recently teamed up with the years before carving a career appearances as “Hedda Gabler” writer/director Hugo Blick for the as a freelance model where she and as “Elvira” in “Blithe Spirit” -- a series of acclaimed monologues became one of the top ten most role that seems tailor-made for her. Up in Town (2002), which booked models of the 1960s. Lumley also made appearances in were critically regarded as the several films, including Trail of the performance of a lifetime, and the Lumley’s breakthrough role was Pink Panther (1982), Curse of the recent Sensitive Skin (2005). as Purdey in The New Avengers Pink Panther (1983), and a screen- (1976), a role for which over 800 stealing role in Shirley Valentine It has been announced that she will girls auditioned. Purdey propelled (1989). It was her reinvention as be making a return to the stage Lumley to instant fame and created a comic actress in Absolutely for the first time in over a decade one of the “must-have” hairstyles Fabulous (1992) that shot Lumley in a new production of Anton of the 1970s -- the Purdey bob. to wider international acclaim. Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard” Lumley became a pin-up figure for Her role as Patsy in Absolutely directed by Sir Jonathan Miller.