In the film Life of Buddha, Martin Meissonnier presents what is thought of as the historical Buddha's life.
Meissonnier treats the subject with respect and reverence. There is much in the film that Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike think they know about Siddhartha Guatama. There is also discussion of new archaeological finds and new translations of seminal Buddhist texts (suttas).
The Film Life of Buddha
Weaving the story of Siddhartha using scenes of modern Nepal results in a visually stunning work. Meissonier eschews the use of fabricated sets to show what the world of Siddhartha may have been like.
A scholar walks the land where archaeologists believe the town of Kapilavatthu once stood. Nepalese or Tibetan scholars and storytellers relate the life and teachings of the Buddha as they learned it. With that, there is little slant in the film toward one or another Buddhist sect.
The narrator tells the story of Siddhartha as a modern Nepalese man depicts the travels of the future Buddha. This blending of moments makes for compelling viewing.
Buddhists and non-Buddhists can learn not only about the Buddha. The film teaches just as much about the life of the Nepalese people, then and now. The worship of the Buddha has undergone little change in that part of the world.
The Life of Buddha DVD - The Extras
Often the extras on a DVD can be ignored. Deleted scenes, commentaries and alternate endings can be skipped without hurting the viewing experience. In the case of Life of Buddha the fifty minutes of extras add to knowledge gained from the film.
In one DVD extra, Representations of the Buddha, viewers learn about how Buddhism iconography developed.
In Buddha and Brahmanism, Yogi Prakash speaks about the Buddha, the Hindu religion, and Brahmanism. He describes the Buddha as a “staunch Hindu, but reformed.”
Architecture at the Time of the Buddha explains why the temples and buildings of Buddha's time didn't survive until now. They were all built of “perishable materials in the time of Buddha.”
Fundamental Notions by Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh covers some of the basic tenets of Buddhism. In Karma he says, “Karma is action.”
On the teachings, the Dharma he states, “Dharma is to come and see for yourself.” About the Sangha, Hahn says, “Sangha is the masterpiece of the Buddha.”
The purported last words of the Buddha. “Every man is his own prison. But every man can obtain the right to escape. Never stop struggling.”
Filmography
Life of Buddha (2003) is a film (DVD) by Martin Meissonnier, produced in association with ARTE France Development and the Buddhist Broadcasting Foundation.
