This film by the director Bernardo Bertolucci is a true masterpiece of cinematic art. Its plot consists of two stories connected by the theme of Buddhism. The first is based on the life of the spiritual teacher Siddhartha Gautama, later called the Buddha: the story of the birth of Buddhism. Here is the colorful, lavish splendor of the palaces and monasteries of the East, the serenity of monks in orange robes, the rich colors of wild nature.
The second story takes place in modern times. In Tibet, Lama Dorje dies, and the monks search among children all over the world for his reincarnation. They see the likely incarnation of their teacher in three children: Raju, a street child from Kathmandu; Gita, an Indian girl from a noble and wealthy family; and Jesse Konrad, an American schoolboy. The bustle of Asian cities, and America with its most ordinary people and gray skyscrapers, are shown in contrast in the modern story.
A film with deep meaning, about tolerance, love for humanity, compassion, beauty and philosophy. The film is not overloaded with modern special effects, and the story is told in an Eastern style — calmly, smoothly, like the chanting of mantras. A very powerful, vivid, impressive tale, told almost as a children’s fairy tale, which will be of interest both to children the same age as the main characters and to adults seeking answers to their own questions. Perhaps you will want to return to this film again and again at different periods of your life.
This is not just a film — it is a philosophy of life.
Watch and enjoy!