While it may be no surprise to many, enlightenment can indeed be found in West Cork, be it surfing in Inchydoney, whale watching off Baltimore, or visiting Dzogchen Beara, a Buddhist centre with a community of members from all over the world.
This documentary tells the story of how hippies Peter and Harriet Cornish established Dzogchen Beara on the Beara Peninsula in 1974, becoming Ireland's first Buddhist retreat. Through archival footage, Peter tells how he and his late wife literally started building by hand. We're brought through the community's growth in the 80s and 90s, which was partially helped by the involvement and guidance of a Tibetan lama, Sogyal Rinpoche. This is cut with more recent scenes showing the building of a temple in the area.
Just when you think this is a pleasantly interesting but overall undramatic story, we're hit with a disturbing revelation - one that shakes and upsets not just the Buddhists of West Cork but the international community too. Faith is tested within many members, some to breaking point. Thankfully, the now elderly Peter carries on.
Chasing the Light is a thoughtful and inspirational story of hope told with a gentle and loving respect for Peter, Harriet, and everything they've achieved, which is a lot. It also, needless to say, has some stunning imagery of the area.
If reincarnation does exist, flying around the Beara Peninsula looks like a fine way to spend the next life.
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