Little Buddha

It may seem unrealistic to think that late 20th-century parents of a small child could entertain the idea that their child could have a significant connection with Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism. However, if the viewer has any sympathy for the truth in the story, she or he could consider that the parents themselves could have had past lives in Tibet, or that they are in need of a spiritual awakening, and therefore these seemingly implausible developments and choices are not so very improbable to believe. Bertolucci does his usual magic here, re-telling the story of the Buddha compellingly; Reeves shows a real feel for this character, this icon. There is also a great plot twist--one that challenges the ideas of people who believe in reincarnation. Americans have known for decades now that Buddhism has something for us; it is nice to think that the great soul of a high lama would be so compassionate as to come here in a new way. The Dalai Lama has hinted that things might have to change with the lamas--it seems likely.