Vultures of tibet
dir. Russell Bush
22 min. Documentary, 2011
In the ancient practice of Tibetan sky burial, a human corpse is placed on a mountaintop to be eaten by birds of prey, most commonly vultures. The tradition, a sustainable burial method, symbolizes the impermanence of life for Buddhists. The ceremonies have recently begun to attract tourists, who take photographs and videos of these burials. In this excerpt from Vultures of Tibet, director Russell O. Bush explores the ethics that surround sky burial tourism.