Nati Baratz (Director and Screenplay)
Documentary, Israel, 2008, 102 minutes, Ilil Alexander & Arik Bernstein (Producers) Yaron Orbach (Cinematographer), Ron Goldman (Editor), Alex Claude (sound), Cyril Morin (Music)
At the age of seven Tenzin Zopa was called to be a lifelong disciple of the Lama Konchog. Lifelong for Zopa, that is. When the Lama died in 2001 the Dalai Lama told Zopa to wander wherever he had to go until he had found the inheritor of Lama Konchog’s soul. The film begins at the cremation and ends at the Dalai Lama’s recognition of a tiny boy as the late Lama’s reincarnation.
It’s a remarkably objective documentary which passes little obvious judgement. The staggering scenery of Nepal is beautifully and closely photographed as are the events going on in the villages precipitately mounted about its ravines and high altitude pastures.
Through these scenes wanders Tenzin Zopa, alone with his mission, which he is not permitted to fail. The discovery of the perfectly un-beguiling boy and the inevitable separation from his parents is given an appropriately poignant but not cloying treatment, and the film deals frankly with the boy's remarkably swift recognition of the late Lama’s possessions, which helps to prove him to be the reincarnation.
Soon the child is enjoying his new life while his grandmother paradoxically plays with the toys he has left behind. By the end of the film the child Lama is ceremonially borne to his throne there to expertly bless the thousands who come to praise him as if he has been doing this for years. However it is not the reincarnation of Lama Konchog which leaves the strongest impression. As the grief, self doubt and despair he experiences at the begining of his mission evolve into dignity, wisdom and authority, it’s Tenzin Zopa, the disciple from the age of seven who is the real “Unmistaken Child” of this beautiful film.
Documentary, Israel, 2008, 102 minutes, Ilil Alexander & Arik Bernstein (Producers) Yaron Orbach (Cinematographer), Ron Goldman (Editor), Alex Claude (sound), Cyril Morin (Music)
It’s a remarkably objective documentary which passes little obvious judgement. The staggering scenery of Nepal is beautifully and closely photographed as are the events going on in the villages precipitately mounted about its ravines and high altitude pastures.
Through these scenes wanders Tenzin Zopa, alone with his mission, which he is not permitted to fail. The discovery of the perfectly un-beguiling boy and the inevitable separation from his parents is given an appropriately poignant but not cloying treatment, and the film deals frankly with the boy's remarkably swift recognition of the late Lama’s possessions, which helps to prove him to be the reincarnation.
Soon the child is enjoying his new life while his grandmother paradoxically plays with the toys he has left behind. By the end of the film the child Lama is ceremonially borne to his throne there to expertly bless the thousands who come to praise him as if he has been doing this for years. However it is not the reincarnation of Lama Konchog which leaves the strongest impression. As the grief, self doubt and despair he experiences at the begining of his mission evolve into dignity, wisdom and authority, it’s Tenzin Zopa, the disciple from the age of seven who is the real “Unmistaken Child” of this beautiful film.
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