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Wisdom of Happiness

Wisdom of Happiness

Representation Score

5.7/10

Fair

2024

Director

Philip Delaquis, Barbara Miller

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Wisdom of Happiness shifts the intellectual center of gravity away from Western institutions by centering a non-Western spiritual authority. However, the film's narrow focus on a single male figure limits a more diverse exploration of gender or identity-specific advocacy. Ultimately, the documentary disrupts Western-centric hegemony without engaging in modern social justice clichés or explicit identity politics.

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Category Breakdown

Does Wisdom of Happiness have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film focuses on the philosophical teachings of the Dalai Lama and does not depict specific LGBTQ+ identities or narratives.

How does Wisdom of Happiness portray gender?

Fair

The narrative centers on a singular male figure of significant age and authority, maintaining a traditional leadership structure.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Wisdom of Happiness?

Good

The documentary centers a Tibetan figure as the primary source of guidance, elevating a non-Anglo-Saxon perspective to the forefront of global discourse.

How does Wisdom of Happiness represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film prioritizes Eastern spiritual philosophy, challenging the primacy of Western secularism and materialist capitalism through a non-Western lens.

Does Wisdom of Happiness include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no specific information regarding the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities in this work.

Present on Screen

  • Centers a non-Western, Tibetan perspective as a primary source of global wisdom.
  • Challenges Western-centric hegemony and secularist norms through Eastern philosophy.
  • Disrupts conventional narrative expectations by prioritizing spiritual experience over materialist capitalism.

Limited or Absent

  • Lacks explicit representation or engagement with LGBTQ+ identities.
  • Maintains a traditional patriarchal structure by focusing on a single male authority figure.
  • Provides no visible engagement with disability representation or neurodivergent perspectives.

Official Synopsis

A deeply intimate and highly cinematic documentary featuring the Dalai Lama, who, at nearly ninety year of age, offers practical advice for navigating the 21st century's challenges.

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