Highlights from the BFI National Archive's extensive collection of films shot in Tibet prior to the Chinese occupation can now be seen in the BBC/BFI co-production, 'The Lost World of Tibet' (2008). Featuring a potent interview with the Dalai Lama an extended version the documentary is available to buy on DVD from the BFI Filmstore - filmstore.bfi.org.uk This film includes a rare close-up of the young Dalai Lama being carried along in his golden palanquin. This amateur film was made by Major (later Lieutenant-Colonel) James Guthrie who held the post of Medical Officer in Gyantse from 1934 to 1936 and Civil Surgeon of Bhutan and Tibet from 1945 to 1948. He was accompanied by his wife, Joan, during the second tour of duty. The post was primarily to ensure the health of members of the Diplomatic Mission in Lhasa but medical services were also made available to Tibetans and regular clinics were held in Lhasa and the surrounding countryside. Major Guthrie did much to overcome local resistance to western medicine and such was his acceptance that he was entrusted to remove a cyst from the Dalai Lama's peacock as well as advise on many other medical conditions amongst the local populace. (Jan Faull) You can now watch over 20 hours of films made in Tibet between 1922 and 1949 in the Mediatheque at BFI Southbank. These include the films of plant hunter and botanist George Sherriff (his love of nature is reflected in the remarkable jewel-like colours of his films); Frederick Bailey <b>...</b>