Tibet – the mystical roof of the world, peopled with enlightened monks? One of them
wouldn't toe the line: Gendun Choephel, the errant monk who left the monastic life in 1934 in search of a new challenge. A free spirit and multifaceted individual, he was far ahead of his time and has since become a seminal figure, a symbol of hope for a free Tibet. A rebel and voluble critic of the establishment, he kindled the anger of the authorities. This journey through time portrays the life of this unorthodox monk, revealing a face of old Tibet that goes against popular clichés. The film shows for the first time an abundance of unique historical footage. But it does not dwell on the past; rather it oscillates between tradition and modernity. This road movie also tells the story of an outsider who was always open to new things and eventually became a stranger in his homeland and homeless in foreign lands – a wanderer between worlds.

Screenplay Luc Schaedler
Photography (colour) Filip Zumbrunn, Paul Avondet
Editing Martin Witz, Kathrin Plüss
Music Roland Widmer, Heinz Rohrer
Sound Roland Widmer
Production Luc Schaedler, SF DRS, suissmage
Year of production 2005
Running time 97’
Format Mini DV35mm

Luc Schaeddler

Luc Schaeddler was born in 1963 in Zurich. He studied ethnology and film science at the university of Zurich, and gave lectureships in visual anthropology at the same university. He is working since 1986 for Kino Xenix. He realized various film series and articles on Tibet and Buddhism. Between 1988 and 1999 he set out on several trips to China, Tibet and India. During this time is originated the idea of shooting Angry Monk. In 1997 he made his feature film debut with Made in Hong Kong. Angry Monk has been screened in many festivals worldwide.