I just came back from watching a documentary from Victoria Film Festival.
It was very moving film and I feel like I have to just write about it now, otherwise I will lose the momentum.
The film was called Unmistaken Child, directed by Nati Baratz.

[Just so you know, read below at your own risk-spoiler warning!]
It’s about a Tibetan monk who goes on a journey to look for his late master’s reincarnation.
He has some hints-like the initial of this reincarnation(a boy)’s father, general direction etc-but other than that, it sounds like “needle in a haystack”.
But he has a dream of his late master asking him to find the boy-and the young monk sets off looking for this special boy.
On his journey he passes many small villages- I was touched by the beauty of the rural area of Nepal(I think-could be India)…and all the children are seriously so cute! …that’s an universal fact, right? Children in ANY country are just so adorable. I love children.

Anyhow, amazingly enough, the monk finds the special child. And many signs suggest that this boy actually might be the reincarnation of the Lama. And man, is this boy adorable! He is chubby and full of energy-there are lots of funny moments where audience had good laughs.

The rest of the film basically follows what happens to this boy and his family…but it was kind of heartbreaking.
Heartbreaking because the parents have to give up the child(looks like he is the 2nd of the 3) to the monastery. They won’t be able to visit him as often as we might think. OMG-seriously-what kind of parent can be OK with this? I am so glad my kid is not SO special. (They’re special, but you know what I mean)
Don’t get me wrong, I am not knocking Tibetan monks and their beliefs. Of course not. I am not the world’s smartest person but at least I know better not to judge different country/religions’ culture, you know? I assume, if you live in the culture you almost don’t have the choice to say no. And I don’t mean that they are forced to give up the child. It must be an honor for them too. But still. It’s heartbreaking.

Soon this child gets recognized by His Holiness Dalai Lama and the boy and the family come out to the monastery from their small village.
The boy’s head is shaved and he is now dressed in the gold robe. On the day he arrives at the monastery, thousands of people came to greet him with gifts, and he(looks like at the time he might be around 2 1/2-3 years old) stands up and touch everyone’s head. And all these people put their hands together in awe.
Wow. I mean seriously. Wow.

The next day the parents leave to go back to the village. The boy was upset. I started to cry here.

I don’t mean to write every single thing that happens in this film, but although it was really heartbreaking, I am really glad I saw it. This was definitely a thought-provoking film, like I need a long walk after watching it, which is great.
Am I glad I didn’t live in that culture?
Or Am I glad I live in North America?
Do I think we have better life here?? Hmmm….

Victoria Film Festival is over. I feel so lame for watching only one film. Obviously I wasn’t prepared this year. Hope to see many more next year.