I am a practising Tibetan Buddhist and take seriously the teachings of reincarnation, including the existence of 'tulkus', children who are the reincarnation of enlightened masters who have chosen to return to the world to continue to help other beings. Naturally, I was drawn to this film.However, that does not mean I do not have criticisms of the tulku system, and Unmistaken Child does not flinch from showing all sides of the issue. Taking a child away from his parents at three years of age is a highly questionable act in my opinion, and it is clear that the parents have no real say in the matter. The monk is a very kind and faithful person but also seems to be kind of unbalanced from grief and his search borders on obsessive. The tulku certification process also seems too vulnerable to subtle manipulation and cues by the people who really want the child to be the reincarnation of the deceased master.But to the film's great credit, it does not attempt to take sides, presenting a very different way of life, reality, and set of values than ours, and it is important to question the automatic assumption many of us make that our culture is inherently superior to others.The cinematography is also outstanding and the landscape of the Himilayas truly stunning. The depiction of the peasant's way of life, virtually unchanged for centuries, is remarkable and an important cultural document as this lifestyle vanishes from much of the rest of the earth.

To what degree do we have a duty to society at large? This is one of many questions that are likely to stir in your mind when reflecting on this film. What more could you ask of a documentary except that it expand your knowledge of the world and make you think more about what you already knew and what it means, all while showing you inspiring footage of some of the most dramatic landscapes our planet has to offer?Simply told, cleanly edited, with little cinematic analysis and no pedantic voice-over Unmistaken Child presents a fascinating view into Tibetan Buddhism very worth seeing.And unless you have a trip to Nepal or Tibet scheduled for the near future, see it on the largest screen possible. The dramatic landscape plays a very strong supporting role to the true dramatis personae - the culture nurtured in its valleys beneath the roof of the world - and the social reality that unfolds in this unique region.

Unmistaken Child is a beautiful film! Traveling along with Tenzin Zopa through the hills and fields is very enjoyable. It felt like I was actually there, experiencing the journey with him. I thought it would be impossible for a single man to find THE one little boy that could not be mistaken for anyone other than the reincarnate of Geshe Lama Konchog. However, while watching the film, I began to believe that Tenzin was actually capable of the task that he was assigned. He knew what he needed to do to accomplish the task, and he had loads of patience and determination to find the one little boy. Learning the process of searching for the reincarnate of the deceased lama is very interesting and beautiful. I think everybody could find something interesting about this film because it's an insightful look into the world of reincarnation and Buddhism.

A very interesting documentary about the search for the reincarnation of a Buddhist Lama. Everything is shown on camera, including the search for the reincarnated Lama. The search eventually ends when a 2 year old is chosen to be the reincarnated lama. The process is quite interesting and I couldn't help but wonder what the 2 year old was thinking during the whole thing. Was it all just a game to him to identify his previous belongings? The parents of the little Lama are also torn between giving up their son and honouring their faith. I guess it's not a challenging prediction to guess which one they choose. The pain in their faces is obvious when they have to give up their son to a bunch of men in robes.The little boy is interesting and intelligent but you have to wonder about his future and whether he really had any choice in the matter. There's no narration in the movie and both sides are shown pretty fairly. Occasionally the little boy does say things that makes him look like a Lama but then there are times which make him look like a little boy. Even when he's acting like a Lama I have a hard time not believing he's just playing pretend. He's 2 and doesn't really know the motivations of the adult world.Take a kid at 2 and it's very easy to brainwash him and turn him into whatever you want. This is one of the nastier parts of what is otherwise seen to be as a very benign religion.