Samsara (2001)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Pan Nalin

Writers:

Tim Baker (writer)
Pan Nalin (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 April 2002 (France)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

What is more important: satisfying one thousand desires or conquering just one...

Plot:

A spiritual love-story set in the majestic landscape of Ladakh, Himalayas. Samsara is a quest; one man's...

Plot Keywords:

Himalayas | Infidelity | Fire | Love | Buddhist

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Shawn Ku	...	Tashi
Christy Chung	...	Pema
Neelesha BaVora	...	Sujata
Lhakpa Tsering	...	Dawa
Tenzin Tashi	...	Karma
Jamayang Jinpa	...	Sonam
Sherab Sangey	...	Apo
Kelsang Tashi	...	Jamayang
Tsepak Tsangpo	...	Chen Tulku
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jampa Kalsang Tamang	...	Wedding Singer

Also Known As:

Samsara (France) (Italy)
Samsara - Geist und Leidenschaft (Germany) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality and some nudity.

Runtime:

Germany:145 min | USA:138 min | Argentina:138 min

Country:

Italy | France | India | Germany

Language:

Tibetan | Ladakhi

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

India:A | Iceland:L | Argentina:16 | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:18 | Australia:MA | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:III | Netherlands:12 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of the Grisons) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, India

Company:

Fandango

Goofs:

Factual errors: Tashi blows up a stick of wood he is using to light butterlamps. Tibetan people don't blow on flames, since this is regarded as damaging to your health.

Quotes:

Apo: [his last letter to Tashi] I realize now that my task is not over, and so I will be returning to Samsara. I know that we shall meet again. Perhaps when we do you will be able to tell me what is more important: satisfying one thousand desires or conquering just one.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Ricordati di me (2003)

Soundtrack:

Bumblebee

Self-Realization goes beyond gender & occupation !!

Very rarely one can find such a well balanced movie with a full commitment from the whole staff: Director (Nalin Pan), all the Actors & the total Crew. Shooting a film like this is not an easy task. The beauty of the locations is just breathless (at several thousands miles of altitude!)... And if the hall has a good air conditioning system, for sure you will really feel the freezing winds that blows at the Himalayas by watching this outstanding film. It is not only the performance of the actors (animals included!... a smart dog called Kala -"Time" in Sanskrit- by instance or some impressive eagle!) but the quality of the script. There are some passages of the film that just tastes like a short documentary. And immediately it is softly engaged with the story. No matter how high could be your achievement, if it is not on balance with the Life Flow, you will face the even... unavoidably? Perhaps... Tashi (Shawn Ku)is a consecrated Lama that has been in the yoghi experience of Samadhi Meditation (Fullest Consciousness) during three years, three months, three weeks, three days... A little bit to much for his Master's criteria but the Disciple wanted to test himself till the very limits of his own potential. Recognized as a Khenpo (a title of tibetan scholastic mastery), some further and higher Initiation will be bestowed on him by the Highest Rimpocheh nearby. However, there is some other experience he has never faced till then: the awakening of his own sexuality and the relationship with the key of human gender, the woman! Therefore this new step will be postponed and replaced by his own decision's sake. As a layman, the Lama he used to be is almost gone. As a husband, he shows the main aspect of any other man of his condition. As a father, he forgets to be the one closest to his own child and... once more: he ran away. Finally, Tashi has to face the reality of Maya & Samsara, the value of the Teachings inside the Dharma from his Master and the higher spiritual level of his wife, the beautiful & convincing Pema (Christy Chung). After listening to her, there are very few subsisting doubts concerning the equal rights for both women & men to obtain the Buddhahood. This is the kind of movie one can see and watch time after time, just to check oneself's evolving... And to enjoy a very nice soundtrack with the exotic melodies of the dialogues in Tibetan Languages. Please, don't loose it!!