Somewhere out there exits a small Tibetan child with the wisdom and insight of an aged Buddhist monk.
The documentary “Unmistaken Child” follows the search for just such a child, the host body of a reincarnated philosopher ready to share his thoughts with the world anew.
“Child” begins with a cursory explanation of how the Buddhist reincarnation process works. The enlightened ones, or Lamas, are able to choose how they are reincarnated, which leaves the less enlightened ones with the task of figuring out which baby is the new version of the old master.
Here, that mission falls to Tenzin Zopa, a Nepalese monk, who served Tibetan master Geshe Lama Konchog for 21 years. When the master passed in 2001, it became Zopa’s duty to find his reincarnated master.
The film doesn’t stop to explain the rules and rituals behind these 700 year old traditions. We must simply absorb them and move on.
If only the story itself did the same.
Director Nati Baratz creates such a leisurely pace that it’s hard to appreciate the scope and power of the tale being told.
Matters improve when Zopa thinks he finds the right child, a chubby faced boy who responds favorably to some of the tests designed to suss out the reincarnated ones.
The boy cherishes the attention from Zopa, a decent soul who bonds quickly with the lad. But the boy’s possible fate is fraught with complications. Where will he live, for starters? What if his parents disagree with the Tibetan rules?
“He looks very fresh and clean,” one monk says. It’s one of several sequences which will chill the hearts of Western audiences.
“Child” offers sumptuous vistas and a peek into a culture steeped in tradition and quiet pageantry. Other scenes aren’t as comforting. Watching a boy having his head shaved to appease Tibetan lore is painful to watch.
“Unmistaken Child” offers a rare and deeply personal glimpse into a societal tradition unlike few others, assuming one has the patience to endure its near somnambulic storytelling.
(Photo: “Unmistaken Child” – Oscilloscope Laboratories)
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