User reviews

Against a backdrop of extraordinarily beautiful and vivid images, this stunning Mark Verkerk film tells the story of a Buddhist monk and the work he does with poor children in the desolate and dangerous Golden Triangle region of Thailand. The monk and a devoted nun take these young children under their wings and teach them everything from how to wash themselves and brush their teeth, to how to ride and take care of a horse. However, what makes this film as unique as it is is that this monk has an edge...

He's a former Thai box champion. And has a sense of humor to boot. He's clearly seen and experienced life in all its complexities. This tends to make him very human and accessible. Which is also evident during the journeys he and the novices make from village to village, where the locals can do with some positive influences. Beyond all else, the straightforward and tough love with which the monk treats these boys has clearly reaped its rewards. And is a joy for the viewer to behold.

Buddha's Lost Children is an interesting registration of a man that tries to create a better life for the people around him by giving them a sense of self worth and awareness of their decaying culture. He mainly does this by taking in children in the Golden Horse Tempel and teaching them respect, wisdom, Thai-boxing and life's lessons. This documentary was clearly made with a lot of love, the same amount of love Phra Khru Ba gives to the children in his monastery. Mark Verkerk keeps a certain distance and no judgments about the things that happen in front of the camera. He's just there to record the special energy that surrounds the monk and his positive deeds. Truly a sweet, positive movie with beautiful images and a life-lesson that isn't cliché but gives you the urge to become a better person.

Buddha's Lost Children manages to suck you right into the lives of its main characters. Director Verkerk and cameraman Heijnen were able to enter the "realm" of monk Phra Khru Bah and film him and his novices skin close. If you think all Buddhist monks spend their days meditating and worshipping, you'll get a refreshing insight into a more up-to-date version: this Thai counterpart of the Ratcatcher-of- Hamelin-on-horseback has a full time job dedicated to offering poor boys a future away from poverty, drugs and violence. The monk is the kind of father children are drawn to, admire and fear at the same time. A parent they'll worship once they're grown. The relationship between the monk and his right-hand-nun is one of utter respect and dedication. Even under the most difficult circumstances, their synergy make things happen. Although less featured in the film, the unconventional nun seems to be at least as important to the boys as the monk is.

This true story really is as the caption says: "a breathtaking true story of compassion and tough love". Even if you have no passion for Buddhism or Thailand, as one might expect you'd need to have, this film is a must see. This little community in the remote hills of Northern Thailand is not portrayed as exotic and alien, but instead brought to life with a pallet of our most familiar human emotions. Mark Verkerk follows their struggles and joys through an observational style of storytelling, allowing you to look and discover for yourself this spectacular world. In this way you are given an insight into the lives not only of the fascinating character of the Abbot Phra Kru Ba, but more importantly into the lives of the novices; the lost children of this troubled border region. You can hardly not be moved by this gorgeous portrait. These characters undoubtedly will enrich your life with their joy for life, compassion, strength, wisdom and stunning smiles.

This documentary is about a Buddhist monk setting up a monastery to help orphans and children in need in northern Thailand.

The film is a linear chronicle of events that happened over one year. The children are "lost" because they lost their parents, or simply because of their parents are too poor to raise them. In the beginning of the film, we see a mother giving up her son because she cannot afford to raise all her kids. She entrusts her son to Kruh Bah, a monk dedicated to changing the lives of others. In his words, he is a medium to pass on knowledge to children. Not only does he teach the teachings of Buddha, but also very basic things such as the importance of brushing teeth every day. The children also get to learn how to handle animals, and how to do so with respect.

The film is full of love and care. Even after some youngsters tries to pick a fight (using alarmingly long harvest knives) with him, he forgives and offers them jobs for a month, so that he gets to teach these youngsters what life is about.

I think this documentary is inspirational. It portrays how life is like when every day is a struggle for survival. It tells me how life is in other parts of the world, where people are not as materialistic. It is a part of the world and a culture which I am unlikely to be able to experience first hand. Though the film is a bit slow, it is worth the watch!

Buddhas Lost Children is a documentary but it watches like a movie. It tells the story of a Thai-boxer becoming a monk called Phra Khru Bah and taking care of orphans in a very poor region in the north of Thailand. Although the story is not always logical to follow because there are jumps in time and space the real story being told here is that of love, dedication and sharing. It may sound soft but when you take the time to watch this documentary you'll find out that life over there is very tough and it takes a lot of creativity and flexibility to take care of the many children Phra Kru Bah has under his care. Watching Buddhas Lost Children brought me into a certain mood that made me reflect on what is really important in life, that's why for me this documentary is a valuable lesson in what life is really about.

Buddha's Lost Children is one of my favorites ! This film touches me deeply. An amazing and splendid document about life in Northern Thailand near the border of Birma. The scenery is so beautiful. But this Golden Triangle area is notorious for the drugs culture. Life is very tough here. The inhabitants live in poverty without running water without electricity. No medical care, no schools. Of course many of their children are lost here. But since 1991 a very special man lives here: Kruh Bah, a Buddhist monk, a former Thai box champion. For me he is: the Buddhist Hero on Horseback. He created The Golden Horse, an exceptional monastery. Here Kruh Bah shelters and teaches 20 lost boys and orphans he encountered in the area. This is so moving: we see very young boys leaving their mothers and families for education and to become a novice on horseback. All boys develop many skills and learn Thai boxing and horse riding. When they are grown up, they can spread their wings and start a life of their own. But some prefer to stay here as a monk assisting Kruh Bah with his life changing work. The whole group is traveling around on horseback, changing the whole area into a better place.

Excellent documentary about a man, Phra Kru Ba Neua Chai, that used to be a professional Thai kick boxer, but did not find the career rewarding and became a Thai Buddhist monk instead. After a close friend of his dies he realizes his kick boxing career is not truly fulfilling so he abruptly stops his professional career and starts meditating to learn what it is he should be doing with his life. He decides on becoming a monk and opens a monastery high up in the hills along the Thai Burma border. This monastery is called Golden Horse Monastery and becomes a safe haven for orphaned boys from the surrounding villages. Many of these villages are along the route of drug smugglers so the villagers are often abused and scared into helping the drug war lords. Phra Kru Ba uses his kick boxing experience to train the boys in his orphanage to defend themselves only if needed and to help build the boys self confidence. The monastery started receiving donated horses being saved from slaughter houses, so these are used as well to teach the boys equestrian skills and how to care for another living creature. The work of this one single monk is to be commended and the film does an excellent job of telling a great story without imposing any commentary. The monk is not a traditional monk, but he clearly states he is helping the boys first, and a monk second, so a mix of skills are used to teach the boys life lessons. I am sure some Buddhist monks would cringe at some of Phra Kru Ba's techniques; however I am just as sure that they are the right techniques needed in such a tough environment. He is teaching these young boys how to be responsible and respectful, most of which came to him with zero life skills. They are learning life lessons that they would not have received if left alone in their villages. Some boys only stay a few weeks and return home while other boys stay for years. Some boys decide to become novice monks and are taught how to meditate and care for each other. Each novice is given a horse to care for and each novice is also taught how to teach the newest novice. By being assigned the task of teaching the newest novice how to train and how to care for a horse they themselves are learning they have these skills. You can see the confidence grow within these boys in a very short window of time and it is a beautiful experience to witness. The stories that unfold in this documentary are heart warming and honest. A great must see film.

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.