SmugKitZine Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

RyothChatty ridiculous rating

Payno I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

kmeruerto The film "Samsara" of 2001 is an Indian, French, German, Swiss and Italian film created by Pan Nalin. The deep meaning and the Buddhist teaching is illustrated in the plot. Director has made a really tough work to make the basic religious concepts understandable to a general audience. Thus, it is not surprising that this work has got an award at Melbourne International Film Festival, and attained a place in a top ten rating in France and Italy. However, there were lots of terminology and core concept that would not be understandable for people with no background in religion. Moreover, the use of Tibetan language of the movie without scoring also complicates the attempts to concentrate on a picture. Nevertheless, to the audience with an interest and knowledge in Buddhism this movie will present different ideas regarding the monastic life, female role in a Buddhist society, and the core concept itself. It was clear from the beginning that there will be the lessons on the core concept of the Four Noble Truth. Here, we can learn that the life is suffering and the supreme goal is to overcome our cravings and reach Nirvana. However, it would be unclear for the people with no any knowledge in Buddhist teachings, thus this movie will not catch their interest. Director uses such terminology as Four Noble Truth, Khenpo, difficult names that make this movie complicated, thus centralizing not the general audience but an audience with a specific background knowledge. But, as the plot is about a life of a monk who escaped monasticism and chooses the ordinary life, because he fell in love with a young girl Pema, at least it will make the audience to think generally of a purpose of their lives. Personally, I found this picture to be similar to the story of Siddhartha Gautama at the end when he left his family to achieve a supreme goal. However, in the end, Pema founded his husband leaving the family, and her words were very deep. She was telling the story of Buddha, but from the perspective of Yasodhara, Buddha's wife. She said that Yasodhara was very compassionate to the sick one long before Siddhartha got to know about cravings and gained enlightenment. Furthermore, she also was passionate when her husband left their home. Those characteristics also may be seen in the main character- Pema. She, as well, is honest and solicitous. And her words that the only man can leave a child in the middle of a night, but mother can't made me think more deeply on a nature of mothers and wives, and made think about their ability to gain eternal peace. Secondly, at the beginning the words of Tashi; how we know that we are doing right choosing renunciation without trying it? Maybe if we try, it will lead us to enlightenment? Was also an interesting question to discover. As Buddha, himself, turned to seek enlightenment after his 29 years of worldly living, we might think it is a very logical question. Maybe what he made step by step led him to gain great knowledge of our human being. That was also rational for the main character. Tashi left monasticism in order to discover that. He marries his beloved, they have a child and make their own agricultural business. Craving after craving faces Tashi. A desire of making more money, a desire of consumptive goods that he also introduces to his son (electronic toys), and desire of a woman. After he cheated on his wife and got the letter from his dead teacher he realizes that suffers more than ever. He now intends to get a satisfaction for thousands of desires, instead of conquering one. Additionally, I realized for myself that if human being does not try something prohibited, he wouldn't believe to words that it hurts: "fruit often tastes sweeter when it's prohibited." Pan Nalin has clearly shown the main idea of Buddhist teachings that the life is suffering and to overcome suffering we should eliminate cravings. The story of a monk who questioned the rightness of the monastic teachings shows us that renunciation is rational. It will save from craving, thus from suffering. The core concept of Four Noble Truth and its application in everyday life is clearly illustrated in this movie. The main character experienced incredible suffering after losing everything he achieved while being an ordinary farmer. He even suffered less while meditating continuously three years than after losing his family because of his own fancy.

kamillazhangulova Samsara is a graceful, and thought-provoking movie beautifully filmed by Indian film maker Pan Nalin. Although it has been filmed almost two decades ago, screening, editing and framing techniques seem quite modern and advanced. 'Samsara' explores the story of talented, and respected by his sangha, monk Tashi who after living in monastery for twenty years, after spending three years in seclusion what is considered to be an esteemed experience, and after being reverenced by his fellow monks for his 'advanced monastic life', suddenly discovers that he still did not achieve real Enlightenment. This movie showcases a beautifully narrated story, strengthened by fundamental teachings of Buddhism, about the quest to the Enlightened life of a man who is just like every human being is driven by his desires. Samsara is a movie in which everyone would find and see what is close to them, what is bewildering them, and become 'enlightened' about something in their unique perspective. The story of Lama Tashi is explored in a quite comprehensive way. His feelings, his worries, his thoughts and cravings are depicted explicitly. Work of actors was at the highest level, contributing to the overall cohesion and vividness of movie. Especially those comedic scenes where actors did not say much, or did not speak at all were the most touching, and refreshing. Decorations and picturesque landscape of Himalayan mountains, diversity of climatic periods and geographic locations created a vibrant image about lives of inhabitants of that region. While at certain moments it seemed that some scenes were not needed at all, probably in the vision of film director depiction of cravings has to be showed in a such persistent, and insistent mode. And yet overall the picture of the movie is absolutely brilliant, full of symbolism, mystery, and puzzling Buddhist philosophy that is represented from various and occasionally unexpected perspectives. Characters of Pema and Tashi - their passion towards each other, their anxiety towards that alliance, stages and development of their relationships - were uncovered in an exceptionally beautiful way. The culmination scene of the movie - dialogue between Tahir and Pema starts from the narrative of the story of Budddha, Siddhartha Gautama since Tahir decided to leave her and their son just as Buddha Sakyamuni did, in absolutely unforeseen way - from the perspective of Yasodhara woman that was left by her man that went to pursue his Enlightenment. Pema says that the figure of Yasodhara, even her name, is not remembered at all, especially on the contrast scale with the Buddha Enlightened One. She says that the Yasodhara may actually had a tremendous influence on the formation of Buddha's personality. There are two particular things about this scene which I would like to highlight - firstly, it shows the basic Buddhist story from a perspective of feminism which is very unusual for this religious tradition, and second is that it is so well balancing the movie storyline so only because of this scene I could claim that Samsara movie is a work of masterpiece. Although the ending of the film remains quite ambiguous enough, even despite the fact that, in general, Tashi finds the answer to his question, I think that it is the most relevant directorate move as such philosophical movies are better to be non-restrictive to the imagination of the audience. This movie is a decent picture, that I would recommend to view for those who are not really into religious beliefs, who are capable to question and critically assess wisdoms of renowned individuals just as the Tashi did, and for those who want to see a modernized glance to the Buddhism.

chandrabhargava This is a movie of few words but much meaning. Truth is conveyed through expression, anguish, action, reaction, and beauty. The desires locked up in the human heart are among the greatest of secrets. Happy indeed is the person who can peer into his or her own heart and follow wisely the dictates therein in a quest for truth.Kudos to everyone involved for the beautiful cinematography, the sparse but meaningful dialog, the rich collage of tradition, the rustic simplicity, the sumptuous natural beauty, and the realistic characters.Pema's words about Yashodhara are insightful and give a glimpse into the greatness of the consort of the Great One.A classic!

poo-sharma I am not a festival buff, to kill the scorching heat I walked into Imax Multiplexes in Mumbai, discovered that there is a festival going on. I read about all the films programmed -one appealed to me the most was SAMSARA. Great luck, show was on in an hour. When I came out of the hall, my heart and mind were blown. I know nothing about this film and where it came from but wow what a discovery! I surfed net to find out more. Second shock came soon after when I discovered that it is made by an Indian Filmmaker based in Paris (and in India). Pan Nalin, never ever heard about him? My mind started wondering we talk about our Blacks and Devadas and Parineeta's and Pahelis -but what about this masterpiece? Isn't it pity that such films were distributed worldwide, millions saw it but no release in India? Is Mr. Ghai, Mr. Chopra are you listening? Indian medias wake up, Samsara is a sign! Here is a film and a director which India should be proud of!The film is truly an eye opener what India can do to play a vital role in international cinema. So many loud talks about crossovers and here is a whisper called Samsara and that is truly a crossover. I will eagerly wait for Pan Nalin's other films: Ayurveda:Art of Being, Valley of Flowers...