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Little Buddha

  • 19931993
  • PGPG
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
17K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Little Buddha (1993)
Trailer
Play trailer1:57
1 Video
92 Photos
Drama

After the death of Lama Dorje, Tibetan Buddhist monks find three children - one American and two Nepalese - who may be the rebirth of their great teacher.After the death of Lama Dorje, Tibetan Buddhist monks find three children - one American and two Nepalese - who may be the rebirth of their great teacher.After the death of Lama Dorje, Tibetan Buddhist monks find three children - one American and two Nepalese - who may be the rebirth of their great teacher.

IMDb RATING
6.1/10
17K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Bernardo Bertolucci
  • Writers
    • Bernardo Bertolucci(story)
    • Rudy Wurlitzer(screenplay)
    • Mark Peploe(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Keanu Reeves
    • Bridget Fonda
    • Ruocheng Ying
Top credits
  • Director
    • Bernardo Bertolucci
  • Writers
    • Bernardo Bertolucci(story)
    • Rudy Wurlitzer(screenplay)
    • Mark Peploe(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Keanu Reeves
    • Bridget Fonda
    • Ruocheng Ying
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 131User reviews
    • 39Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos1

    Little Buddha
    Trailer 1:57
    Little Buddha

    Photos92

    Keanu Reeves in Little Buddha (1993)
    Keanu Reeves in Little Buddha (1993)
    Keanu Reeves in Little Buddha (1993)
    Keanu Reeves in Little Buddha (1993)
    Keanu Reeves in Little Buddha (1993)
    Keanu Reeves in Little Buddha (1993)
    Keanu Reeves in Little Buddha (1993)
    Keanu Reeves in Little Buddha (1993)
    Keanu Reeves in Little Buddha (1993)
    Keanu Reeves in Little Buddha (1993)
    Keanu Reeves in Little Buddha (1993)
    Keanu Reeves in Little Buddha (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Keanu Reeves
    Keanu Reeves
    • Siddharthaas Siddhartha
    Bridget Fonda
    Bridget Fonda
    • Lisa Conradas Lisa Conrad
    Ruocheng Ying
    Ruocheng Ying
    • Lama Norbuas Lama Norbu
    Chris Isaak
    Chris Isaak
    • Dean Conradas Dean Conrad
    Alex Wiesendanger
    Alex Wiesendanger
    • Jesse Conradas Jesse Conrad
    Raju Lal
    Raju Lal
    • Rajuas Raju
    Greishma Makar Singh
    Greishma Makar Singh
    • Gitaas Gita
    Sogyal Rinpoche
    • Kenpo Tenzinas Kenpo Tenzin
    Ven. Khyongla Rato Rinpoche
    • Abbotas Abbot
    Ven. Geshe Tsultim Gyelsen
    • Lama Dorjeas Lama Dorje
    Jo Champa
    Jo Champa
    • Mariaas Maria
    Jigme Kunsang
    Jigme Kunsang
    • Champaas Champa
    Thubtem Jampa
    • Punzoas Punzo
    Surekha Sikri
    Surekha Sikri
    • Sonalias Sonali
    T.K. Lama
    • Sangayas Sangay
    Doma Tshomo
    • Ani-Laas Ani-La
    Mantu Lal
    • Mantuas Mantu
    Mountain Yogi
    • Mountain Yogias Mountain Yogi
    • Director
      • Bernardo Bertolucci
    • Writers
      • Bernardo Bertolucci(story)
      • Rudy Wurlitzer(screenplay)
      • Mark Peploe(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A Buddhist monk, Lama Norbu (Ying Ruocheng), believes that a 10-year-old American boy, Jesse (Alex Wiesendanger), is the reincarnation of his spiritual teacher, Lama Dorje. Jesse's father, Dean (Chris Isaak), and mother, Lisa (Bridget Fonda), are dubious, but following his business partner's suicide, a transformed Dean relents and allows his son to travel to Bhutan. However, there are two other children who the monk thinks may also be the reincarnation of Lama Dorje. —yusufpiskin
    buddhistseattle washingtonbuddhismbuddhareincarnation86 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • A magical journey to a place where the past and the present meet.
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG for some disturbing images
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In January 1996, three years after this movie was released, a four-year-old boy from Seattle actually was chosen as the reincarnation of beloved Lama Deschund Rinpochet, and relocated to Nepal, to be groomed as a spiritual teacher.
    • Goofs
      When Raju is playing with the Game Boy you can hear music from Tetris, but it's actually not turned on at all.
    • Quotes

      Lama Norbu: [Narrating] One day Siddhartha heard an old musician on a passing boat speaking to his people.

      Old Musician: If you tighten the string too much it will snap and if you leave it too slack, it won't play.

      Lama Norbu: [continues narrating] Suddenly, Siddhartha realized that these simple words held the great truth, and that in all these years he had been following the wrong path.

    • Crazy credits
      At the very end of the credits, there is a shot of a hand wiping away the sand of the mandala. (Mandalas are brushed away at some point after completion to symbolize Impermanence, one of the tenets of Buddhism).
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Cowboy Way/Beverly Hills Cop III/Renaissance Man/The Flintstones/Little Buddha (1994)

    User reviews131

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Great Cinematography, Two Different Films
    The cinematography is absolutely breathtaking and alone worth the price of admission. On the other hand, trying to integrate the past with the present didn't work too well for me. The story of Siddharta needed to be expanded on and made a film on its own merits. I for one, wanted to learn more about this figure, and yes, I thought Keanu Reeves was just fine. The present day story didn't do anything for me except for the wonderful character Lama Norbu, he was fabulous. I felt this was a person I actually would like to meet.
    helpful•20
    2
    • krukow
    • Oct 4, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 25, 1994 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Liechtenstein
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Küçük Buda
    • Filming locations
      • Kathmandu, Nepal
    • Production companies
      • CiBy 2000
      • Serprocor Anstalt
      • Recorded Picture Company (RPC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $35,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,858,139
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $873,983
      • May 30, 1994
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,858,139
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 3 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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