Richard Gere has produced a new film, Wisdom of Happiness, that highlights the life and teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. The 76-year-old actor and longtime friend of the Dalai Lama is executive producer of the feature-length film, which recently began screening in select theaters.
This Richard Gere Dalai Lama film aims to share the spiritual leader’s journey and insights, marking the Dalai Lama’s 90th year celebrated this past July.
A Unique Blend of Biography and Teachings
Wisdom of Happiness is not a traditional documentary but rather a hybrid film, combining archival footage and personal reflections. Gere emphasized the extensive historical content illustrating the Dalai Lama’s life, from his youth in the 1930s to his escape to India during the 1959 Tibetan uprising.
Gere explained on the October 16 episode of Today,
“It’s not really a documentary because it’s kind of a hybrid, which is one of the reasons I like it so much,”
adding,
“I’m proud of it. It’s bringing together this man’s life. This is his 90th year. In July, we just celebrated the 90th year of this extraordinary life.”
The film centers largely on the Dalai Lama’s teachings and his perspective on the chaotic state of the world.
Gere remarked,
“The core of this is him teaching, and his perspective of why this world is so crazy that we’re in right now and how to get out of it,”
demonstrating the message’s urgent relevance.
Gere’s Decades-Long Spiritual Connection
Richard Gere has been a devout Buddhist since meeting the Dalai Lama almost 45 years ago. His relationship with spirituality extends into his personal life, as his wife, Alejandra Silva, converted to Buddhism after marrying Gere in 2018. A source close to the couple told Us Weekly in 2023 that their faith is a vital part of their bond.
The source shared,
“Richard and Alejandra have a very intellectual and spiritual relationship. [They’re both Buddhists] and they’ve bonded over their shared sense of spirituality and strong belief in karma,”
explaining how spirituality strengthens their marriage.
The insider added,
“They’re very happy in their beautiful home and love their family time, but they also enjoy traveling and experiencing new culture together. They’re big on reading, exercising together and meditation. Richard says he and Alejandra just click in a way he’s never experienced with anyone else, and that’s not to put any of his exes down.”
Film Screenings Show Emotional Impact
Since Wisdom of Happiness has been released, Gere has witnessed powerful reactions from audiences, particularly in Europe. He described how the atmosphere changes after viewing the film’s intimate portrayal of the Dalai Lama.
Gere observed,
“At the end of an hour-and-a-half with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the atmosphere of the room radically changes,”
also noting,
“I’ve seen the lights come up and people start to look at each other genuinely like brothers and sisters. This can change our world.”
Amid global turmoil, Gere framed the film as a form of healing medicine that calls society to pause and reevaluate.
He expressed,
“The world has fallen off a cliff — everywhere,”
and
“People are living in a dissonant, crazy reality. So I think the film is actually functioning as medicine, as a corrective of, ‘OK, time out. Let’s look at who we are right now. How did we get here? How can we stop this?’”
Core Message from the Dalai Lama Highlighted in the Film
A clip shared from Wisdom of Happiness shows the Dalai Lama discussing compassion and mental training as vital for peace and happiness. In his words,
“If you have a more serious practice of compassion, that’s the ultimate source of peace of mind. So, according to my own experience, training of mind is the key factor for a happy life.”
This insight reveals the foundation of the film’s message about how to find inner calm amid external chaos.
Film Availability and Anticipated Influence
Wisdom of Happiness, featuring rare footage and personal lessons from the Dalai Lama, is now available in select theaters. Through Richard Gere’s dedication, this film invites viewers to explore the profound wisdom of one of the world’s most revered spiritual leaders during a time of intense global tension.
Gere hopes the film’s transformative experience will inspire audiences to reconnect with compassion and seek solutions to the pressing challenges facing our world today.
