Mission: Joy – Finding Happiness in Troubled Times

The Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu roast each other? Tutu calls the Dalai Lama “naughty” for hogging cookies during tea time? It all happens in this 100% a spiritual palate cleanser.

Thanks to Brad Lensing for recommending this one.

Trailer for “Mission: Joy – Finding Happiness in Troubled Times”

You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up

• The Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu had a five-day joy summit in 2015. They roasted each other nonstop—even as they talked about exile, apartheid, and death threats.
• Tutu called the Dalai Lama “naughty” while scolding him for hogging cookies during tea time.
• This was their final on-camera meeting before Tutu’s death in 2021. They spent part of it laughing so hard they cried.

Watch “Mission: Joy – Finding Happiness in Troubled Times”

You can watch “Mission: Joy – Finding Happiness in Troubled Times” on Amazon and Apple TV.

Ratings:

• My Rating: 95/100
• IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
• Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 100/100 (Users); 83/100 (Critics)

Director’s Note: This documentary was directed by Louie Psihoyos and Peggy Callahan. Psihoyos is best known for “The Cove” (which my colleague Rob Kelly rated 99/100). He brings the same polished, cinematic style here but shifts from environmental crises to emotional resilience.

Release Date: Premiered June 4, 2021 (Tribeca Film Festival). Now streaming globally.

My Review of “Mission: Joy – Finding Happiness in Troubled Times”

The Setup

In 2015, Archbishop Desmond Tutu visits the Dalai Lama at his home in Dharamsala, India. The meeting was filmed for what became both their final public appearance together and a blueprint for how to find lasting joy, even in dark times.

They discuss the heavy stuff—political exile, genocide, cancer, apartheid—but keep returning to one point: joy isn’t the absence of suffering, it’s what you build *because* of suffering.

More Highlights from the Doc

• It’s based on “The Book of Joy,” which came out after this trip and was co-written by Douglas Abrams (he appears throughout the doc as the moderator).
• They share their “8 Pillars of Joy,” blending psychology, spirituality, and lived experience. It’s less preachy, more practical.
• Both leaders faced unimaginable suffering. Tutu under apartheid, the Dalai Lama forced into exile by Chinese communists at age 23. Both found ways to turn pain into purpose.
• The filmmakers mix archival footage with new science—experts explain how joy is teachable and how compassion reduces stress hormones.
• The vibe is part TED Talk, part buddy comedy, part spiritual masterclass. Tutu and the Dalai Lama could easily have co-hosted a late-night show.
• Instead of quoting scripture, they quoted neuroscience. Turns out gratitude and compassion can literally rewire your brain for happiness.

Cameos – Lesser-Known Details from the Doc

• Richard Davidson, a neuroscientist from the University of Wisconsin, breaks down brain scans that show how meditation affects the amygdala.
• Archival clips show Tutu with Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama in Tibet before his exile, adding historical weight to their friendship.
• The Dalai Lama jokes that he considers himself “a simple monk”—moments after dunking on Tutu for being late to breakfast.

Wrap Up

Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc