Customer Reviews

Unmistaken Child

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A Buddhist Master dies. After sadness and mourning his young assistant sets out to find his master's re-incarnate. His journey begins with guidance from an astrologer. The search takes him, primarily on foot, through some of the most beautiful territory in the world. He visits rural people that eke out a living in pristine, rugged and remote areas of Nepal. I saw in the program that the quest took 4 years.

The child is found and is brought to the monastery for testing. Once validated, the child is accepted as the incarnate of the master and is given a new name and confirmed by the Dalai Lama. People come from far and wide pay homage to him.

The beauty of this movie extends beyond the fantastic scenery and ceremonies. The pure love the assistant had for his master, his treatment of the child and his utter confidence that the child is his master re-incarnate is touching and thought provoking. The uncomplicated devotion of the people to their religion and customs is as stunning as the scenery.

This is a look into an a highly ritualized not only religion but culture. Besides learning the process for chosing religious leaders you are behind the scenes of the monestaries where you see how the monks eat, sleep and relate. You are in the homes of the rural people who live as their ancestors. The people do not seem to notice the cameras. In scenes where they talk to the camera, they appear to be totally genuine.

I highly recommend this beautiful film for anyone interested in Buddhism and eastern religion or those interested in travel world cultures.

Unmistaken Child
Dir Nati Baratz.

Warm, humorous, surprisingly accessible 5*

The local reviewer had made "Unmistaken Child" sound like an exercise in comparative religion and anthropology, a bit daunting and probably opaque to the non-initiated. I had read some Tibetan Buddhism decades ago, and of course read or watch the news about the continuing saga of the Dalai Lama and his following, so I decided to go anyway and was very pleasantly surprised. Instead of a hard slog, the film immediately grabbed me and I soon felt like I was scrambling through the Himalayan rocks with the disciple Tenzin Zopa. It didn't hurt that Tenzin was a charming and shyly charismatic young man with excellent English. While this film will take you very far away from New York or Oshkosh, it is a good trekking guide and if you are the sort who has any interest in seeing it to start with you should find it a joy to watch.

The story in brief: Tenzin had been the disciple of the renowned Geshe Lama Konchog for 21 years, beginning at age 7, when the Lama died at age 84, in 2001. After a period of mourning, it is determined that Tenzin must search for the reincarnation of Geshe-la so that the child may be given the chance to become a monk. The quest begins with a round of consultations, even leading down into India and the Tibetan exile community, dream interpretations and an astrological consultation ... via video from Taiwan! The contrast of the jetsetting lifestyle (accepted with aplomb) with Tenzin's more natural life in the mountains, is both instructive and the source of some gentle humor. Once Tenzin has narrowed the search down to a particular valley, and gotten instruction on what to look for, he takes off on foot, seeking for the reincarnated master, who would now be nearing 2 years old. Some parents advocate for their children, but he must be careful to choose the "unmistaken child." The simplest tests involve, for instance, showing the child several objects and seeing if he is attracted to the one that actually belonged to Lama Konchog. He finally does find "the one," a cheerful and outgoing child and we then follow Tenzin and the boy.

Throughout there is much beautiful scenery, insights into the lives of people in isolated Himalayan communities, and the pageantry and rituals of Tibetan Buddhism. To anyone fascinated with this region, this will be instructive eye candy.

As to reincarnation? The film is hardly didactic on this issue. I think you will take from it what you bring. If you are a believer (as one reviewer of the theater release seemed to be), you may see it as evidence confirming that belief, but if a skeptic you are unlikely to be convinced. But, as the director says in the press kit available on line, that is really beside the point. It is Tenzin's belief and how he acts upon it that is important.

By the way, do look up the official website and the press kit, which has a long and interesting description of the process of filming. I hope some of that makes it onto the DVD.

The authentic spiritual traditions of the Far East are strong believers in rebirth and reincarnation. Law of karma and rebirth supposedly originated in Hinduism, but it is central to many religions. Siddhartha Gautama (approx. 600 BC), the founder of the Transcendence of Suffering, later known as Buddhism, was a Hindu prince and scholar from India. His teachings spread through much of the Far East and later to the West. As with any other religion, it has its versions in different areas of the world.

Tibetan Buddhist tradition finds its Masters who are reborn. `Unmistaken Child' is about the search for the incarnate of a Master who had recently left his body. He had given directions as to how to look for clues to find him. After finding some `signs' and consulting with an astrologer, Tenzin Zopa, a monk and the closest disciple, is given the task of finding his Master in the form of a child. After a taxing journey through villages visiting several probable candidates, he finds him.

The child in question identifies the objects the worship that he used in his past life (There are stories that the current Dalai Lama was chosen the same way after identifying prayer/meditation objects from his previous life). The child also recognizes his secluded private ashram. He is taken to the monastery with the permission of his parents so that he can resume his service as a Master.

The documentary has many interesting moments. The parents of the child giving him up, Zopa's love for the child, the role reversal of the disciple taking care of his Master who is now a little boy, and the monk raising the child are all touching. The humility and simplicity of the philosophy is brought out in expressions like `the flower not free' `I got permission from the tree to take this flower' and `plants and flowers dance'. The photography is spectacular on the outdoors and mountains of the rural world. The viewers who are unfamiliar with the tradition will be intrigued by the many scenes of ceremonies and rituals in the monasteries. The lifestyle, manners and mannerisms of the society are also presented often.

This is a remarkable documentary of not-to-be-missed quality.

While western convention would have us uneasy with the concept of a small boy being removed from his nuclear family and placed in reverence at a Buddhist monastery, Nati Baratz's unflinching and unapologetic look at the process of finding the reincarnation of a lama is an opportunity to appreciate a culture that may or may not be completely foreign to most westerners. To truly appreciate this documentary, one must separate themselves from everything we have been taught about who is most fitting to raise a child and the way in which that child is brought up. Baratz beautifully captures Zopa's journey to find the reincarnation of his late master and it is one which is neither easy nor short.

While the film is edited for time and content, it takes the young monk four years before he finds the young boy who may or may not be his master's reincarnation. What I found most amazing about the little boy was, for being of such a young age, his capacity both to communicate with words and his ability to perform tasks such as watering plants reminds us that it is primarily in the West that we coddle and allow our children to remain as child-like as long as possible.

All in all, this is a fantastic and wonderful film that allows us a glimpse into a culture and tradition generally shrouded in mystery.

Unmistaken Child purports to document the search for a reincarnated Lama, and at least on the surface the film delivers what it promises, a story that turns on mysterious marks in cremation ashes, divination, an arduous search through the Himalayas, and the final tests of authenticity. But deeper down what the film really documents is a searcher's quest for meaning.

Tenzin Zopa apprenticed himself to Lama Konchong when just a small boy. The Lama treated him as a son, and the two developed a trusting, loving relationship. Young Tenzin had to make few important decisions for himself, until now, many years later, he has been charged with the repsonsibility of finding the Lama's reincarnation. Tenzin struggles with feelings of loss, doubt, and inadequacy, but in wholeheartedly giving himself to the search finds his life imbued with meaning, a meaning that deepens as he takes on the role of care giver to the child-reincartion.

The director made the proper decision to keep himself out of the film and let the subjects speak for themseves. Anyone looking for a discussion of reincarnation may be disappointed, but that is another subject and film in itself. Fans of film music may be happy to note new work here from Cyril Morin (Samsara, Valley of Flowers, The Syrian Bride).

The most recent news from Phuntsok Rinpoche and Tenzin Zopa can be found at [phuntsokrinpoche dot com] or [geshezopa dot blogspot dot com].

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I first watched this movie sitting in the Gompa at Kopan Monastery, which the is monastery featured in the movie. At the end of the movie I don't think there was a dry eye in the audience. I later saw it at a non-buddhist film festival where there was a similar response. Whether you believe in reincarnation or not, whether you believe in guru devotion or not, the genuine depth of emotion Geshe Tenzin Zopa has for Lama Phunstok and Lama Konchog does not require any belief. This film demonstrates how true love can be.

Filmmaker Nati Baratz follows the journey of monk Tenzin Zopa in his quest to find his reincarnated master, Lama Konchong. When Tenzin was 7, he adhered himself to Lama Konchong and after his master died, he admits to feeling perplexed and hollow since he was used to taking orders from Lama Konchong all of his life. Tenzin is daunted and humbled by the directive that he find the reincarnated Lama. Following instructions from the Dalai Lama, Zopa relies on astrology, wind directions and unmistakable signs from the child himself that he is the reincarnated Konchong. Tenzin's final task is to ask the parents if he can take the child to his monastery.

If you're feeling a little dirty from the excesses of a western holiday, you'll find Unmistaken Child a cleansing sort of experience. Free from voice overs, Unmistaken Child let's the story unfold as it happens without interpretation. The scenery is pretty, the people charming, the experience...magical-even if you think magic long ceased existing in our world. Highly recommended.

There's not much more to say than has already been expressed here by the previous reviewers.
This is unquestionably the finest documentary on the subject of the search and recognition of a reincarnate lama ever.
You won't regret buying this very moving presentation.
If I could have given it more stars, I would have!

"Unmistaken Child" is an intimate look at the search to find a tulku, a reincarnated Lama of Tibetan Buddhism. I've heard of these searches for children who are believed to be reincarnations of revered Buddhist Masters, but I never expected to have the opportunity to observe the process this closely. The search for reincarnated masters has been going on for 700 years. Filmmaker Nati Baratz somehow received permission to accompany Tenzin Zopa on his dutiful, but also deeply personal, search for the reincarnation of the Master he served for 21 years, Geshe Lama Konchog, whom the monks called "Geshe-La". Geshe-La died in 2001 at the age of 84. As Tenzin Zopa was his closest disciple, he is chosen to locate the next incarnation of Geshe-La's tulku lineage.

Zopa speaks English, so we hear and understand his thoughts in his own words. I was amazed that he was so forthcoming about his feelings, but perhaps monks are not very self-conscious. Zopa is a thoughtful man with a sense of humor, who takes the responsibility of finding Geshe-La's reincarnation very seriously. He holds it more important than his own life. At first he doubts his ability to recognize his Master in a child if he should find him. Relying on astrology and the fact that Geshe-La liked to meditate at a retreat in Tibet's Tsum Valley, Zopa takes his search there. The process is not complicated. He travels the area on foot, trying to meet every child of 1-1 ½ years of age to see if the child recognizes Geshe-La's rosary or gives any other sign.

The landscape in Tsum Valley is extraordinary, and it is somehow a relief to see people living the same lifestyles that they have for a thousand years. Except for the backpack, sneakers, and man with a video camera following him around, Tenzin Zopa probably looks like his predecessors did centuries ago. He patiently interacts with every infant and toddler he can find. He also shares some things about his own childhood and life with Geshe-La. The quest to locate a tulku is fascinating and entirely foreign to modern Western ways of thinking. I'm still not sure why the monks feel it necessary to take the child to a monastery at such a young age. But "Unmistaken Child" allows us to observe the process from the search through to the naming of the new Lama. In English and Tibetan with optional English subtitles. Bonus features on the Oscilloscope 2009 DVD are 8 additional scenes.

This documentary is about a Buddhist monk who sets out to find the incarnation of his master, but what really impressed me was the humanity of it. The documentary allowed this viewer to go on a genuine, moving journey. Nothing was romanticized or sanitized, the emotions are real. The monk sets out on his search uncertain of himself and his ability and worthiness for the task. When the child is identified you can see the boy's parents are truly sad to be giving up their child, especially the child's father, but do so because they believe in the boy must follow his spiritual path. The film documents how the child takes the rosary of the master and will not be tempted to give it up and his conflicted emotions as well as the affection found in the Buddhist monastic community after being separated from his family. I don't want to get into too many details because you should watch it for yourself and experience the ordinary magic of these lives. It reminds us all to look for ordinary magic in our own lives.