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Reviews
Samsara (2001)
One discovers it himself
Samsara is a graceful, and thought-provoking movie beautifully filmed by Indian film maker Pan Nalin. Although it has been filmed almost two decades ago, screening, editing and framing techniques seem quite modern and advanced. 'Samsara' explores the story of talented, and respected by his sangha, monk Tashi who after living in monastery for twenty years, after spending three years in seclusion what is considered to be an esteemed experience, and after being reverenced by his fellow monks for his 'advanced monastic life', suddenly discovers that he still did not achieve real Enlightenment. This movie showcases a beautifully narrated story, strengthened by fundamental teachings of Buddhism, about the quest to the Enlightened life of a man who is just like every human being is driven by his desires. Samsara is a movie in which everyone would find and see what is close to them, what is bewildering them, and become 'enlightened' about something in their unique perspective.
The story of Lama Tashi is explored in a quite comprehensive way. His feelings, his worries, his thoughts and cravings are depicted explicitly. Work of actors was at the highest level, contributing to the overall cohesion and vividness of movie. Especially those comedic scenes where actors did not say much, or did not speak at all were the most touching, and refreshing. Decorations and picturesque landscape of Himalayan mountains, diversity of climatic periods and geographic locations created a vibrant image about lives of inhabitants of that region. While at certain moments it seemed that some scenes were not needed at all, probably in the vision of film director depiction of cravings has to be showed in a such persistent, and insistent mode. And yet overall the picture of the movie is absolutely brilliant, full of symbolism, mystery, and puzzling Buddhist philosophy that is represented from various and occasionally unexpected perspectives.
Characters of Pema and Tashi - their passion towards each other, their anxiety towards that alliance, stages and development of their relationships - were uncovered in an exceptionally beautiful way. The culmination scene of the movie - dialogue between Tahir and Pema starts from the narrative of the story of Budddha, Siddhartha Gautama since Tahir decided to leave her and their son just as Buddha Sakyamuni did, in absolutely unforeseen way - from the perspective of Yasodhara woman that was left by her man that went to pursue his Enlightenment. Pema says that the figure of Yasodhara, even her name, is not remembered at all, especially on the contrast scale with the Buddha Enlightened One. She says that the Yasodhara may actually had a tremendous influence on the formation of Buddha's personality. There are two particular things about this scene which I would like to highlight - firstly, it shows the basic Buddhist story from a perspective of feminism which is very unusual for this religious tradition, and second is that it is so well balancing the movie storyline so only because of this scene I could claim that Samsara movie is a work of masterpiece.
Although the ending of the film remains quite ambiguous enough, even despite the fact that, in general, Tashi finds the answer to his question, I think that it is the most relevant directorate move as such philosophical movies are better to be non-restrictive to the imagination of the audience. This movie is a decent picture, that I would recommend to view for those who are not really into religious beliefs, who are capable to question and critically assess wisdoms of renowned individuals just as the Tashi did, and for those who want to see a modernized glance to the Buddhism.
Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom (2003)
Tranquil Wisdom
Spring, Sumer, Fall, Winter... and Spring is a South Korean movie about unusual Buddhist monastery that floats on a lake which is surrounded by forest. This movie showcases the life story of a Buddhist monk from his very early childhood till the time of his old age. While the titular seasons - spring, summer, autumn, and winter are really represented in the time in which they were claimed to be, as it probably can be guessed, they are not just associated with the real seasons, but they also are allegorically addressing quite convoluted path of a young monk. There is not much dialogues, or a background narrative voice which would have explained what is happening in the story (while sometimes it would be good to have it), but still scenes are showed in such a way that it definitely grasps the attention of the viewer right till the last minute of the movie. Film is packed with numerous allegories, and cultural peculiarities of South Korea (through which indeed differences in Buddhism practices according to regions can be traced) which would entertain the auditory by their sophisticated, and nuanced exhibition. In my opinion, this movie deserves to be watched at least due to its quite unusual but incredibly exciting style of story representation.
Movie starts with a rather spectacular scene depicting the day-to-day routine of a Buddhist apprentice and his master. What is interesting about these scenes is the strange presence of doors when there are no walls, and right from this moment it starts to seem that movie is going to be a quite capturing one. An apprentice is just a small boy, who seems rather childish and who tries to do everything as his master does. But, once he decided to "play" with a fish, frog, and a snake by tying small stones to them and laughing as they struggle. His master is watching at these three occasions all along the way. Then, in the night, in order to teach his apprentice of his incorrect actions he tied a stone, just proportionate to his size. When the boy wakes up and finds himself tied with a stone, he asks his master for help. But his Master claims that only after he would free the creatures from the torments which boy imposed on them, the master would release him. The boy becomes really surprised and amused when he realizes that his 'game' has tortured the creatures, and that snake, and a fish had died. I think that this scene is on what this movie stresses its focus because it very vividly depicts the danger of ignorance, and pursuit of one's unthoughtful desires.
Later, in the "Summer", the story plot is occurring around the young lady that was brought into the monastery because of her illness, and the love to which a young apprentice would fall with her. After his Master would know about their relationships, and sends apprentice's "girlfriend" back, an apprentice will escape from the monastery leaving his Master alone in order to pursue his love. But, this story does not actually have a "happy ending". In the "Autumn" we see that frustrated and grief-stricken man who is looking for a refuge from the police since he has committed a crime. While the Master helps his apprentice to release his anger, stops him from suicide, and supports him - Master appears to be harshly disappointed. After the police had found the man and took him, we see that Master self-emulates him, which appears to be quite compelling scene because the Buddhist teaching does not accept it, and additionally it is a quite vivid scene.
The "Winter" depicts how a grown man, that had experienced all the "ugliness" of life, comes back to the monastery where has grown up. He spends some time in seclusion, which notably help him to ensure his spirituality before he himself becomes a Teacher to a young boy, that was brought to the temple by a woman that was in sorrow about her action. While some of the scenes seems rather unclear, and hardly understandable in a thorough way to one who is not quite accustomed to the culture of South Korea, and their way of practicing Buddhism, they certainly provoke a wide variety of strong emotions and questioning of these customs.
The film ends in an already "acquainted" scene - boy playing with stones and creatures. But, now it actually is a different boy. This movie unequivocally represents one of those art pieces which not only are worth watching once, but also for the second and third time as well since I believe every time, and every individual would understand it in a discrete way. This arises because of the "room" for imagination which the film cordially provides us for having our own perceptions about the matter of the film, but it simultaneously is depicting the fundamental wisdoms of Buddhism quite concretely.
Buddha's Lost Children (2006)
A bridge to an outstanding culture
This movie certainly provokes a wide variety of emotions - astonishment, respect, appreciation, and remorse. Filmed by Dutch director Mark Verkerk and his team, for a period of one year when they were living together with the Kho Bakh and his sangha, movie provides a viewer with an extremely nuanced depiction of how this outstanding orphanage functions. Scenes of a day-to-day routine of monks, scenes of unusual rituals and customs, scenes of interaction between monks and laymen - offer us to see and understand one of the most interesting culture in the world. Viewing this movie would give a tangible insight into the fundamental philosophy of Buddhism, and provide quite sophisticated point of inquiry into the life of common people living in problematic regions of Thailand.
Kho Bakh represent, or at least at some time represented, a quite widespread type of individual in a Thai society. Man working in a Thai boxing, and being just one of the ordinary fighters. But, one day he become wondering about the impermanence of life, and staring from this point life of his, and life of number of other people have changed, and I hope that will yet change. He decided to devote his life to helping others. Changing life of people who are actually in need, changing their attitudes, behaviors, by spreading knowledge and sharing what he has. Story of Kho Bakh is incredibly inspirational in a way that he used to be an ordinary man for a large part of his life, and one day he chose to make his life meaningful. Meaningful not only to himself, but for whole community.
Life of the monastery, in my opinion, is very vividly showcased in this documentary. It certainly offers a nuanced perspective on what does Kho Bakh in his new career of monk, what changes does he bring into the society, and what way of living those children living in his orphanage-monastery have. While almost all of the parts of the movie unveil significant portion of information regarding the monastery life, some of the scenes were crucially thought-provoking. For instance, scenes of how Kho Bakh goes into different villages where a significant part of citizens subsist on drug-dealing industry, and tries to share the knowledge that this is a wrong way of living. However, he does not simply explain it to them, but also helps them to undergo this obstacle by providing them jobs, and sometimes even helpful 'presents' that will help them on ways of starting their new lives. Another interesting scene that appeared vibrant to me is when young boys who were one of those villagers that come to one of the Kho Bakh's temples to help monastery to rebuild it were beginning to start a fight. The speech that Kho Bakh, and later a nun of the monastery gave to those men was so emotional, and peculiar in a way that emotions of those men who were treated by monastery's officials were filmed very vividly. By this scene, I think, the influence which presence of this monastery and Kho Bakh on the life of these societies (not including individual cases of boys whose lives are significantly improved by his initiative) can be observed. Presence of this outstanding, I would even say - phenomenal monastery certainly helps people of Thai community.
The problems that people living in the region called "Thailand's Golden Triangle" are showcased in this documentary in a very lively way. At some points there I had even experienced a feeling that I was present there with the filming team, and talked with those people. The feeling of sorrow about the conditions in which those people live, and the feeling of appreciation about the changes that Kho Bakh's work bring arise at the same time, and it then evokes a sense of understanding about significance and effectiveness of Buddhism. Stories of Sukh, and other boys that were suffocating from malnutrition that found refuge in Kho Bakh's orphanage is very touching. These stories make one believe in the humankind.
While at the beginning the directorate of the movie seemed quite primitive, close to the middle of the movie it becomes apparent that this way of filming is what makes it special. Through combination of everyday scenes from monastery's life and sincere interviews of Kho Bakh and nun the importance of this monastery's existence and its philosophy is explained in the most meaningful, and touching way. The ending of the documentary was like the final stroke that made it even more beautiful. Philosophy of Khu Bakh- that his mission is to teach believe to make choices - is extremely inspiring. I believe that this documentary can make people believe that if someone really wants to improve the living of others, then despite any obstacle that he could face during his way - it is achievable. That being a positive agent changer in a society is not unrealistic, and could be made only by some super-extraordinary individual, but by any man who just chose to do so.
Little Buddha (1993)
A Colourful Enlightenment
Notwithstanding some of the abrupt transitions within the stories of main characters, convincing and compelling decorations had made their business and the movie evokes a great multitude of emotions within the viewer. The Little Buddha movie describes the story of how a prince Siddhartha became an enlightened Buddha who understood the meaning of life and everything else in this world. Although, from my perspective, this movie would not really convince people about such concepts as reincarnation, and other aspects of Buddhist religion, it definitely provides a massive audience with a positive and bright ideas about the world perception. As a whole, this movie offers a vibrant insight into one of the most eloquent cultures of the world, and leaves a very pleasant sense about the fact that all of the things in this world are relevant, logical, and appropriate just in the way they are.
Little Buddha illustrates a fascinating story of a Buddhist monk, Lama Norbu, who is looking for the reincarnation of his teacher. His search has brought him to the Seattle where a little boy -Jesse lives. Jesse's parents are classical upper middle-class, with his father being a successful engineer and mother - a math teacher. While at first they were quite skeptical about the story Lama Norbu told them about the reincarnation of his teacher and its relation to their son, Jesse, to the middle of the movie when Jesse's father loses his close friend and business partner, he decides to observe this 'unrealistic' phenomenon and try to find a future exploration for this story. Generally speaking, the acting of Jesse's father does not seem really convincing, and along with some sluggishness and frequent inconsistencies within the dialogues of the narrative, a massive work for the editing, and directorate had to be done. Fortunately, scenes were filmed from different, and quite interesting perspectives, and this made scenes to work in a way that they it seemed more cohesive, and logical.
Majority of the scenes in the movie are exceedingly colorful, and bright. For instance, the moment when Siddhartha realizes that there are not only pleasures in this world, but also sufferings - very realistic images of those in the image of old, and sick people - and his amusement with these parts of the real life, play a tremendously important role in Buddha's story plot. In my opinion, this was one of the most powerful scene in a whole movie. Additionally, the way Siddhartha's servant was explaining him about those was extremely touching, and thought-provoking. Although sometimes the story of Siddhartha becomes quite unclear, not only because of some unrealistic moments (like the one where everyone in the 'kingdom' feel asleep, so he was able to escape from his 'prison'), but because of the undetailed and blurred narrative, as far as I am concerned, his story in this movie is described in a very sophisticated way.
One of the things on which, I personally disagree with movie creators, is its inconsistency of the Lama Norbu's and his search for Lama Norju's reincarnation (including three candidates) story plot with Buddha's. However, this would not probably be the issue for most of the people, because it might seem for them that the place of Buddha's story is central within the whole religion anyways. As I have mentioned, it is my personal remark. Another thing that I had not clearly understood was the issuer related with the reincarnation. When Lama Norbu proclaimed that all of the three candidates, were, in fact, the reincarnation of his teacher - I assume that it was because he wanted the homeless child to find his home, and the possibility to get education, and not because all them actually were the reincarnation of Lama Norju. However, just as with the previous case - I may be wrong.
In conclusion, I would say that Little Buddha is a very thought-provoking, and satisfying movie. In other words, when a viewer finishes to watch it, there is not a feeling within him that he had simply wasted his time. On the contrary, it leaves a viewer with a pleasant feeling, that there is a crucial reason why the art of the cinematography exists, in the first place. The way by which this interesting and compelling story was showcased within The Little Buddha, really justifies the presence of this expensive art in our world. The story of this movie offers an exclusively sophisticated insight into the lives of people, who as it seems practically live in a 'different galaxy', and describes the concepts by which they perceive this world to be. A viewer would be left with a strong feeling of justification, and satisfaction about the world order, because it is what the teachings of the Buddhism are about. The idea that - Everything in this world is impermanent, and the justice would find its order in the end - is really convincing and satisfying.