Leonard Cohen whispers you through death itself. No, really — pack a sweater.
Narrated by Leonard Cohen, this two-part series explores ancient teachings on death and dying and boldly visualises the afterlife according to Tibetan philosophy. Tibetan Buddhists believe that after a person dies, they enter a state of "bardo" for 49 days until a rebirth. Program 1, The Tibetan Book of the Dead: A Way of Life documents the history of The Tibetan Book of the Dead, tracing the book's acceptance and use in Europe and North America. Program 2, The Tibetan Book of the Dead: The Great Liberation observes an old Buddhist lama and a 13-year-old novice monk as they guide a deceased person into the afterlife.
Direction
Bardo visuals that'll wreck your sleep schedule.
Score
Cohen's voice = ASMR for the soul.
Director
Barrie McLean
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Leonard Cohen's only full documentary narration — he recorded it during his Zen monastery years in California.
The '49 days' bardo concept directly inspired the Beatles' 'Tomorrow Never Knows' and mid-90s psychedelic culture — this film arrived right as that fascination peaked.
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