Watch Hannah: Buddhism's Untold Journey

Hannah: Buddhism's Untold Journey is a thought-provoking documentary that takes the viewers on a journey through the life of Hannah Nydahl, who together with her husband, Ole Nydahl, played a pivotal role in bringing Tibetan Buddhism to the West. The film portrays their life and their efforts in establishing hundreds of Diamond Way Buddhist centers across the globe.

The movie is a mix of biographical information and historical information. It features interviews with both Ole and Hannah, as well as their friends, followers, and peers. It also includes footage of events and places that Hannah visited during her lifetime. The film explores the influence of Tibetan Buddhism on the Western world and how it has impacted the lives of many individuals.

The documentary begins by introducing the viewers to Hannah and Ole's life before they discovered Buddhism. The couple was living a typical European lifestyle until they were introduced to the teachings of Lama Ole Nydahl in the 1970s. Hannah was fascinated by the teachings and became deeply devoted to the ideas presented by Lama Ole. The couple then traveled to India for their first meeting with the 16th Karmapa, and they started to work closely with him on his teachings together.

Hannah's dedication to learning and practicing Buddhism led her to become one of the first Western students to receive a PhD in Tibetan Studies from the University of Copenhagen. She was an active teacher, translator, and author of several books on Buddhism.

The movie also features interviews with other Western students of Tibetan Buddhism who learned from and were guided by Hannah. These individuals speak with deep reverence about her, calling her a "force of nature." Hannah was known for being very direct in her teachings, but always with a great sense of humor.

Hannah's untimely death from cancer in 2007 is also touched upon in the documentary. The film covers the profound sadness that was felt by her followers around the world, and how the organization she helped create continued following as she intended.

The film's cinematography is well-executed, with beautiful scenes of the Himalayas and of Buddhist teachers and students together. The shots of the Buddhist ceremonies and practices are breathtaking and give the viewer an idea of what it might be like to visit the various temples and shrines around the world.

Overall, Hannah: Buddhism's Untold Journey is a captivating documentary that manages to provide a clear and concise look at the life of Hannah Nydahl, who was an essential figure in the spread of Tibetan Buddhism in the Western world. The film is informative, poignant, and inspiring, providing the viewers with the understanding of the significance of Tibetan Buddhism to the Western world. Anyone interested in exploring this topic more in depth or finding peace and inspiration through Buddhism will find a lot to enjoy about this documentary.

Hannah: Buddhism's Untold Journey is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3.