For all that we hear about the Dali Lama, the persecution of
Tibetan culture and the admirable tenets of Buddhism, we in the West generally
still don’t have a very thorough understanding of the actual mechanics, inner workings
and rituals of Buddhism. We know that lamas, enlightened holy men, are believed
to be reincarnated, but how exactly is a reincarnated lama identified? How is
one located? What steps or rituals are enacted to ensure that a lama is not
mistaken? And since lamas are generally brought into the monastery as young
children, what kind of impact does this have on the lama’s family, who must
choose to literally give their child up for the sake of a higher calling?
All of these questions are not only addressed but observed
in gentle, evocative detail by Isareli filmmaker Nati Baratz’s sensitive camera
in Unmistaken Child, which had its
world premiere at TIFF Monday night at the Scotia no less than 10 days after coming to
completion. Unmistaken Child follows
the four-year quest of Tenzin Zopa (pictured above), a 28-year-old Nepalese monk who, having
lived 21 years as a devoted disciple to Tibetan master Lama Konchog, is
assigned the task of following various cryptic spiritual clues to find the
reincarnated child of his beloved master. Having achieved this miraculous task
after a long and gruelling search, Tenzin then becomes a kind of surrogate
father to the child, a teacher to his former master.
Their unique and touching interpersonal dynamic comes to
reflect many of the central tenets and beliefs of the Buddhist faith, and ultimately
forms the heart of this fascinating film, providing many of its most memorable
moments. My personal favourite is when the 4-year-old child rests in Tenzin’s
arms and points at a picture of Lama Konchog and declares, “There’s me.” Then
looks at a picture of his young self and adds “There’s me too. They’re both
me!”
Don’t miss your chance to see two incarnations of the film
in AMC 4 and 5 on Thursday at 5:45, or again on Friday at 12:45pm at Varsity 2.
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