Review: "Unmistaken Child"
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The idea of reincarnation is central to the Buddhist faith, so when Lama Konchog, a deeply revered and highly respected monk, passes away at the age of 84, his young disciple, Tenzin Zopa, sets out to find his reincarnation - the "unmistaken child" that is unquestionably the return of Lama Konchog's spirit to Earth.
Tenzin Zopa's quest leads him into the rural villages of Tibet, searching for a child whose birth fell after the death of Lama Konchong. It is a grueling journey, guided by astrology and faith and marked by one dead end after another, until at last one young candidate meets the desired qualifications.
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Baratz directs the film almost like a narrative feature. It is free of the usual talking heads that have come to be associated with documentaries. Instead, it simply follows the journey, taking the audience along as a casual observer - a witness to an ancient and sacred ritual that is both disarmingly beautiful and truly unforgettable.
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This is masterful documentary filmmaking, chronicling a once in a lifetime event with great sensitivity and pathos. There is a great and powerful beauty at work here, something almost imperceptibly beyond the tangible. What Baratz captures here is nothing short of incredible. Unmistaken Child is a wonderful and wholly unique experience that transcends mere cinema and achieves something far grander and more special. This is vibrant and extraordinary filmaking, a compelling and unforgettable look at an ancient rite that is at once intimate and breathaking. This is what documentaries are all about.
GRADE - ★★★★ (out of four)
UNMISTAKEN CHILD: Directed by Nati Baratz; Not Rated; Opens tomorrow, 6/3, at the Film Forum in Manhattan.
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