UNMISTAKEN CHILD (Nati Baratz). 104 minutes. Subtitled. Opens Friday (October 2). For venues, times, and trailers, see Movies. Rating: NNN
Get a rare glimpse of Buddhist life in this compelling documentary tracking Tenzin Zopa’s travels through Tibet and Nepal in search of the reincarnation of his master, Lama Konchog Rinpoche.[rssbreak]
Zopa, acting on astrological cues, travels by foot, water, helicopter – whatever’s required – to find the gifted toddler who embodies his master’s spirit. On the way, we get insight into life inside Tibet’s tiny villages as well as the experience of monks inside their monasteries and a moment with the Dalai Lama, who must decide whether the tot is the real thing.
The closing scenes, when the chosen child must say goodbye to his parents as he enters the monastery, are packed with emotion. But it’s Zopa’s passion for his deceased master and his mission that make the film so moving.
It’s also at times beautifully shot and has an uncommon intimacy, especially the monastic scenes and the episodes evoking Zopa’s humour, his huge heart and his spiritual commitment.
