Tulku (2009)

Enlightened Tibetan masters return as recognized "tulkus" -- reincarnated buddhas. In the 1970s, tulkus began to be born in the West, confusing both the Tibetan system and the lives of the Western children involved.

Director:

Gesar Mukpo

Writer:

Gesar Mukpo

Stars:

Gesar Mukpo, Dylan Henderson, Ashoka Mukpo

Cast

Credited cast:
Gesar Mukpo	...	Himself
Dylan Henderson	...	Himself
Ashoka Mukpo	...	Himself
Khyentse Norbu	...	Himself (as Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche)
Wyatt Arnold	...	Himself
H.H. Ogyen Trinley Dorje The Karmapa	...	Himself
Reuben Adrian Derksen	...	Himself
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rangjung Rigpe Dorje	...	(archive footage)
Dilgo Khyentse	...	(archive footage)
Chogyam Trungpa	...	(archive footage) (as Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche)

Storyline

Enlightened Tibetan masters return as recognized "tulkus" -- reincarnated buddhas. In the 1970s, tulkus began to be born in the West, confusing both the Tibetan system and the lives of the Western children involved.

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Plot Keywords:

culture conflict | teenage angst | cultural conflict | enlightenment | lama | 

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Taglines:

You're the reincarnation of your father's teacher .. now what?

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 December 2010 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Remember Home"
Words and music by Don Brownrigg
Performed by Don Brownrigg

User Reviews

Culture clash of the highest order

OK, so you're a normal American (or Canadian, British, Dutch, etc.) kid, and then all of a sudden when you are a still a small child you are told you are the reincarnation of an enlightened Buddhist master.

What do you do?

More importantly, what do you when you become a teenager, and then when you are of college age, and then when you get to be of wage-earning and child-rearing age?

Sound confusing? It is. This documentary follows five such culturally confused Western-born "tulkus," and examines what each has experienced and how each has handled their own personal life journey -- whether buying in big-time to the Tibetan Buddhist thought system and practice, or less so, or not at all.

This documentary has a particular stamp of realism, expertise, and sincerity, because it is written and made by one of these culturally "misplaced" children -- a Tibetan Buddhist master who apparently reincarnated in the West.

Really an excellent find, and a unique, thought-provoking film.

The DVD is now available on Amazon.com, and also includes 60 minutes of fascinating additional interviews.