Buddhism-themed Movies/Documentaries
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- DirectorAndreas HartmannKyaw Kyaw pursues the dream of seeing the punk scene take off in Myanmar, while raising awareness about persistent violations of human rights. His philosophy: A symbiosis of Buddhism and punk that rejects religious and political dogma.
- DirectorClaus MikoschStarsJanna AljetsAlex BerzinAngela HopkinsAnicca is a very personal, honest and inspirational documentary about key issues regarding our struggle with change: fear, courage, trust and the big challenge of accepting reality as it is.
- DirectorDoris DörrieStarsUwe OchsenknechtGustav-Peter WöhlerPetra ZieserTwo very different brothers get together for a temporary stay in a Japanese Zen monastery. The trip from Germany to Japan brings up some unexpected quests they need to manage. Soon both really must leave their ordinary lives behind to embark on a voyage to themselves.
- DirectorDoris DörrieStarsEdward Espe BrownDoris DörrieA Zen priest in San Francisco and cookbook author use Zen Buddhism and cooking to relate to everyday life.
- DirectorMarc J. FrancisMax PughStarsBenedict CumberbatchThich Nhát HanhPháp De'Walk With Me' is a meditative film about a community of Zen Buddhist monks and nuns who have dedicated their lives to mastering the art of mindfulness with their world-famous teacher Thich Nhat Hanh.
- DirectorWerner PenzelStarsSabine TimoteoMuho NölkeYudai HiramaZEN FOR NOTHING tells of the experiences of Sabine Timoteo from Switzerland, as a "Zen novice" in Antaiji in Autumn, Winter and Spring.
- DirectorDoris DörrieStarsRosalie ThomassKaori MomoiNami KamataA young German woman bonds with an elderly Japanese woman while touring the Fukushima region of Japan in the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake.
- DirectorJennifer FoxStarsYeshi Silvano NamkhaiChögyal Namkhai NorbuTibetan Buddhist Master Choogyal Namkhai Norbu watches as his western-born son, Yeshi, who was recognized at birth as the reincarnation of a famous spiritual master, considers departing from tradition to embrace the modern world.
- DirectorBernardo BertolucciStarsKeanu ReevesBridget FondaRuocheng YingAfter the death of Lama Dorje, Tibetan Buddhist monks find three children - one American and two Nepalese - who may be the rebirth of their great teacher.
- DirectorStefan LudwigJános Orsós is of Romani descent, a teacher, and a Buddhist. Inspired by the history of the Dalits or "untouchables" in India, birthplace of both Romani culture and Buddhism, he founded a school in a small Hungarian village with the goal of enabling teenagers from the poorest Romani ghettos to attend universities. The Angry Buddha documents János' resolute battle against the difficulties he faces over three years, while simultaneously painting affectionate yet honest portraits of the Romani youth who use humour and their own vitality to survive in a world of poverty and prejudice.
- DirectorGeorgia WyssWari OMStarsAngelika BaumbachGaura Vani BuchwaldKrishna DasA feature-length documentary, exploring the new music and social phenomenon of chanting, that focuses on the everyday people who are finding healing and a sense of inner peace by singing mantras together with others just like them; it also features the artists who are the focus of this new music-based movement. It's a film about spirituality, not religion, it's about people reconnecting with their true selves and with others.
- DirectorDavid GrubinStarsRichard GereBlair BrownThe Dalai LamaAfter 400 BC, a new philosophy was born in South east Asia, generated from the ideas of Buddha, a mysterious Prince from Nepal who gained enlightenment while he sat under a large, shapely fig tree.
- DirectorDaniel SchmidtStarsPatrick SweeneyThere is one vibratory field that connects all things. It has been called Akasha, Logos, the primordial OM, the music of the spheres, the Higgs field, dark energy, and a thousand other names throughout history.
- DirectorPraveen DamleStarsGeeta AgrawalJyoti BagatGautam DhengareThis movie traces the journey of Gautam Buddha's miraculous birth, marriage & his path towards enlightenment. Based on Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's book, 'The Buddha & His righteousness.
- DirectorKenji MisumiStarsKôjirô HongôCharito SolisShintarô KatsuAn Indian prince leaves his world of comfort and riches behind to wander and meditate for six years in search of spiritual enlightenment. Siddartha turns his back on the old religion when people are starving needlessly.
- DirectorChandran RutnamSaman WeeramanStarsGagan MalikAnchal SinghRanjan RamanayakeThis is an extraordinary tale from over 2600 years ago, of a Prince who is endowed with everything he needs and more. Luxury, palaces, and all heart's-desires are provided to him by his father, a warrior King of the kingdom of Sakya. The story unfolds dramatically with the Prince leaving all his luxuries and possessions as well as his caring parents, loving wife, and newborn son, to embark on a journey through the unknown to find the end to human sorrow and suffering.
- DirectorFranz OstenHimanshu RaiStarsHimanshu RaiPrafulla Roy GhoshDevi. SitaThis adaptation of Arnold's 1861 Orientalist epic opens with documentary shots of tourists in Bombay watching street performers. Then a white-bearded old man sitting under the bodhi tree tells the tourists the story of Gautama (Rai), son of King Suddodhana (Ukil) and Queen Maya (Bala), who left his consort Gopa (Seeta) and became a wandering teacher credited with founding Buddhism. The religious epic, with its idealized figures, takes up the narrative in flashback and ends with Gopa kneeling before Gautama asking to become his disciple.
- DirectorConrad RooksStarsShashi KapoorSimi GarewalRomesh SharmaThe story of a young Indian who embarks upon a journey to find the meaning of existence. Based on the novel by Hermann Hesse.
- DirectorToshiaki KomuraStarsKiyokazu KanzeKen'ichi MatsuyamaNana Mizuki2500 years ago, in India, Siddhartha was born as a prince of the Shakya clan, but he gives up his position as a prince to see the world. He meets a strange boy named Assaji, who can predict the future, a monk with only one eye and Depa. Siddhartha continues traveling. Siddhartha is overwhelmed by the sufferings he witnesses around him. Meanwhile, Prince Ruri of Kosara begins his attack on the Shakya clan.
- DirectorBanmei TakahashiStarsKankurô NakamuraYuki UchidaRyushin Tei'Zen' Buddhist teacher Dogen Zenji is a very important religious person during the Kamakura period, 750 years ago. After his mother died, he decides to move to China and settle as a Buddhist teacher. One bright morning, enlightened, Zenji returns to Japan as a devoted evangelist of the 'new' Buddhism. However, this new form of Buddhism is not accepted in all communities.
- DirectorEdward A. BurgerA journey exploring the practices of Chinese hermits living in the Zhongnan Mountains.
- DirectorNeten ChoklingStarsOrgyen TobgyalKelsang Chukie TethtongJamyang LodroMilarepa is a tale of greed and vengeance - demons, magic, murder and redemption. It is the story of the man who became Tibet's greatest mystic.
- DirectorPan NalinStarsShawn KuChristy ChungNeelesha BarthelA spiritual love-story set in the majestic landscape of Ladakh, Himalayas. Samsara is a quest; one man's struggle to find spiritual Enlightenment by renouncing the world. And one woman's struggle to keep her enlightened love and life in the world. But their destiny turns, twists and comes to a surprise ending...
- DirectorYukari HayashiBarrie McLeanStarsLeonard CohenThe Dalai LamaRam DassDeath is real, it comes without warning and it cannot be escaped. An ancient source of strength and guidance, The Tibetan Book of the Dead remains an essential teaching originating in the spiritual cultures of the Himalayas. Narrated by Leonard Cohen, this enlightening two-part program explores the sacred text and boldly visualizes the afterlife according to its profound wisdom. Part 1: A Way of Life reveals the history of The Tibetan Book of the Dead and examines its traditional use in northern India, as well as its acceptance in Western hospices. Shot over a four-month period, the film contains footage of the rites and liturgies for a deceased Ladakhi elder and includes an interview with the Dalai Lama, who shares his views on the book's meaning and importance. Watch The Tibetan Book of the Dead - Part 2: The great Liberation