Unmistaken Child

What does loyalty mean to you? For Tenzin Zopa, the central character, who we follow as the plot of this documentary uncovers, it definitely means a lot. Moreover, loyalty and faithfulness to his master Geshe Lama Konchong is central not only to the narration of this movie, but to his even individual character. Lama's Heart Disciple's quest to find his master's reincarnated body touches you upon multiple vectors it takes: depth of personal relations between Tenzin and Lama before he died, and after with his reincarnated self; numerous Buddhist traditions that we see following Tenzin on his quest; and central to this movie the peaceful meditative state you are to acquire. Despite the central to Buddhism notion of non-attachment, this movie shows the close connection between Lama and his disciple that they acquired during the 21 years of their solitary retreat, and that Tenzin continue keeping with his reincarnation in the body of a little boy. The personal details of their relationship are what makes the character of this movie appealing and alive. Non-attachment central to Buddhist tradition is based on the belief that our attachment to things and people in this life is caused by ignorance that our life is suffering and aimed at keeping us in the samsara. But from Tenzin's confession that he couldn't resist from crying upon the departure of his Master, we realize that even skillful believers cannot overcome their human nature. Although his sorrow did touch my heart, it is his story about plucking the flower in his Master's ear during his meditation, and Lama's consequent return of this flower to Tenzen during his sleep is what melted my heart. We later see that friendship, spiritual love and loyalty that Tenzen acquired for his master being his attendant is being transferred to the little boy that turns out to be his master's reincarnation. The way Tenzen always carries the boy in his hands or on his shoulders, the way he looks at him, plays and talks to him cannot leave you indifferent to the life they're about to have. Many celebrations and ceremonies shown throughout the movie uncovers a lot of details about the Buddhist traditions. Movie starts with the funeral ceremony of Geshe Lama Konchong, where we see the procession of Buddhist monks accompanied by the music and mantras. Then we see the body of Lama wrapped in many clothes as it was described in Death of the Buddha Sutra, and the consequent fire and smoke that was taking it. What really got imprinted in my memory is the image of one of the monks who was looking at the fire as if he was burning in it himself, and also the rainbow that showed up on the sky after the ceremony, which is very symbolic to the reincarnation process that was about to begin. At the celebration of the Tibetian New Year and seeing some Buddhists wearing yellow hats, we understand that this is the Gelug- This Tibetan Buddhist school was founded by Tsongkhapa, also known as Yellow Hats School. This knowledge would be also useful for us to understand Tenzen's close appreciation of nature, as Gelug follows the Mahayana tradition. Then we are to observe one of the most central to this movie ceremony that intends to check the authenticity of Lama's reincarnation. Obviously, as a very sceptic viewer the little boy's choice of Lama's things was hard to believe for me, especially, because his father/brother had to take and guide his arm during the procedure. But later, when the boy shows at Lama's and his picture and then points at himself and says that these 2 people are him, then I started to believe. Although one might raise concerns about this boy's absence of choice over his life and his family's loss of their child, I don't agree with that, because I think it is an honor for their child to be chosen to become a future Lama. Speaking about the meditative state that you acquire once you start watching the movie, it is the nature and the music in this movie that calms you down and help you "tame the mokey" a.k.a. your consciousness. Buddhist close connection to the nature, and compassion towards all beings, as well as Buddhist emphasis on the cyclic nature of the world is evident in monk's discussion of blue, white, flowers that will cover the field in the summer, but which hadn't flourished yet because it's not the time yet. Then he moves to describing plants move caused by the wind as the dance moves: "Everybody would dance. Every nature tree would dance". And then when the bamboo tree is moved by the wind flow, he gets very excited and happy saying that "Here, here! It's dancing!". Then he shows the flower that was attached to his ear praising its beauty, happiness, and freedom which aligns with Mahayana Buddhist tradition of praising all beings as sentient due to them being comprised of Buddha nature. But he is fast to apologize and explains that in order to pick up the flower, he asked permission from the tree. And the music that accompanies all of these beautiful and using Tenzen's terms "free and happy" natural sights just makes the watching even more peaceful and pleasant. Overall I would definitely recommend watching this movie even if you have very limited knowledge of Buddhist traditions as this movie does a magnificent job of bringing the central to Buddhism vibes of peace and balance. But I need to caution that it requires a little bit of effort to follow the movie as unlike the modern movies it doesn't hurry in uncovering the plot.

In a year when films that glorify sadistic revenge fantasies and psychopathic violence against women are celebrated, Israeli director Nati Baratz's documentary Unmistaken Child is a tribute to a director and a young Buddhist monk who are willing to share with the world a journey of love. The film concerns twenty-eight year old Tenzin Zopa, a Buddhist monk who left his family at the age of seven to become a disciple of a Tibetan Buddhist master, who then takes on the responsibility of searching for his master's reincarnation when he dies at the age of 84 in 2001. Though Tenzin is devastated when he loses his teacher, Lama Konchog, and feels inadequate to the task ahead, he agrees to search for his master's reincarnation out of a sense of duty to pass on his master's wisdom to the world.

After a senior monk with an astrological gift determines that the child was born in the Tsum Valley of Nepal, and that the boy's father's name begins with "A, Tenzin sets out on foot on a four-year journey to seek the "unmistaken child", not knowing if he will be successful. Accompanied by Baratz and his camera and with permission from the Lama Zopa Rinpoche, he visits villages in the same area in which he grew up, inquiring as to whether families with a child of age one to one and a half years lives in the village. He interviews children, parents, and grandparents, asking many questions and testing each child to try to find out if the young child is unusually attracted to the master's rosary beads.

When he travels to Chekampor Village which was his place of birth, he meets relatives including an aunt who tells him that there may be such a child in the next village whose father's name, is Ahpe. En route to meet this boy, Tenzin comes across Genshe-La's retreat where he first met his spiritual teacher at the age of seven. Saddened by the dilapidated condition of the retreat, Tenzin sheds tears but his spirits are buoyed by the sight of the child who waters the same apple tree daily that was planted many years ago by Konchong and clings to the rosary beads. In a moment that is pure magic, the little boy is brought to a monastery where he is able to identify personal items such as a hand bell and drum that were used by Kongchong.

The most intriguing part of the film, however, is the unfolding of the relationship between Tenzin Zopa culminating with their meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama is the only one who can determine whether or not the boy will be accepted as the reincarnation of Lama Konchong. This test is just preliminary however to the crucial meeting between the boy and his parents and it is a test that both Tenzin and the family face with bravery and good humor. Shot in the villages and countryside of Nepal, Unmistaken Child is a film of unexcelled beauty, both physical and spiritual that left me with a glow that lasted for days.

Unfortunatelly the quality of the picture is now quite bad. Filmed 11years ago its like watching VHS recording at some points. Camera is shaking making some shots look amateurish (not on purpose though). The story is fantastic though. I wish someone would remaster this film so we can enjoy it in better quality.

A very interesting documentary about the search for the reincarnation of a Buddhist Lama. Everything is shown on camera, including the search for the reincarnated Lama. The search eventually ends when a 2 year old is chosen to be the reincarnated lama. The process is quite interesting and I couldn't help but wonder what the 2 year old was thinking during the whole thing. Was it all just a game to him to identify his previous belongings? The parents of the little Lama are also torn between giving up their son and honouring their faith. I guess it's not a challenging prediction to guess which one they choose. The pain in their faces is obvious when they have to give up their son to a bunch of men in robes.

The little boy is interesting and intelligent but you have to wonder about his future and whether he really had any choice in the matter. There's no narration in the movie and both sides are shown pretty fairly. Occasionally the little boy does say things that makes him look like a Lama but then there are times which make him look like a little boy. Even when he's acting like a Lama I have a hard time not believing he's just playing pretend. He's 2 and doesn't really know the motivations of the adult world.

Take a kid at 2 and it's very easy to brainwash him and turn him into whatever you want. This is one of the nastier parts of what is otherwise seen to be as a very benign religion.

In Unmistaken Child, Baratz paints his viewers a very clear picture of the role faith plays in the lives of modern Tibetan Buddhist "Clergy".

I use the word "paints" above because beauty permeates the film in every aspect; from a deep look into the Eastern culture to the psychosocial intermingling of love, faith and family. Altogether, The film offers an astounding experience.

My only qualm with the film is the lack of a realistic amount of counter "evidence". After some time, I couldn't help thinking that the young costar's behavior was a little too "on point".

To counter this, Baratz does little explaining and opinion stating. Thus, the viewer's cognitive and emotional interaction with the film come quite naturally. Creating his or her own opinion of the scenario, the viewer is engrossed in a wellspring of previously unexplored trails of thought. One begins to see the film, not as evidence of some truth, but as a window peering into the truth of another.

If Eastern culture, spirituality, or real life drama interest you in the least, watch Unmistaken Child ASAP. It is available to stream on the leading online movie rental website :).