Review of Little Buddha (1993) by Elizabeth S — 20 Sep 2007

Siddhartha is a pure joy to behold, played by a particularly beautiful Keanu Reeves ;-), in this touching movie which parallels the origins of the man who became Buddha and that of a modern day American family curious when their son is hailed the incarnation of a Tibetan Lama.

The cinematography and soundtrack (by Ryuichi Sakamoto) are quite stunning, the scenes sensitively, lushly crafted (as only Bertolucci can accomplish) and for all that people may criticise the film's supposed superficial "fairy-tale" version of buddhism, the points put across are actually simple buddhist philosophy and are no less effective or pertinent for being a little too earnest, or simplistic.

I really love this film or so many levels, even if it is flawed (i.e terrible acting by Chris Isaak), it cuts to the core of buddhism for me...at least. And, for those of you who've read The Tibetan Book of Living & Dying, you might want to know that it's author, the Tibetan Buddhist teacher Sogyal Rinpoche has a small part in this film.

If that doesn't endorse it, then nothing will.... :-).