Buddha, The: The Story of Siddhartha (2010) [Blu-ray]
Documentary

Two and a half millennia ago, a new religion was born in northern India, generated from the ideas of a single man, the Buddha, a mysterious Indian sage who famously gained enlightenment while he sat under a large, shapely fig tree. The Buddha never claimed to be God or his emissary on earth. He said only that he was a human being who, in a world of unavoidable pain and suffering, had found a kind of serenity that others could find, too. This documentary by award-winning filmmaker David Grubin tells the story of his life, a journey especially relevant in our own bewildering times of violent change and spiritual confusion. Richard Gere narrates.

User Comment: unlovbl from United States, 3 May 2010 • In great contrast to the previous review shredding this documentary apart, I (as a Buddhist) feel that this documentary was profound in its execution and content for both Buddhists and non-Buddhists. Considering the vast complexity of a faith that has evolved and differentiated itself many times over the centuries, this documentary made a valiant and successful effort in presenting the core story and principles of the life and teachings of the Buddha. It is presented with animations and interviews that are easily identifiable without going deeper into more complex principles of Buddhism that would alienate the viewing audience of lay Buddhists and non-Buddhists. I highly recommend watching it and respectfully disagree with the previous reviewers points of contention about the documentary.

Summary: A worthy addition to a documentary collection.

[CSW] -5- For complete newcomers, The Buddha offers an informative view of the man, the myth, and the resultant religion/philosophy, but those who are already somewhat familiar with Buddhism would probably be better served by a more in-depth documentary. Still, the presence of Richard Gere, W.S. Merwin, and, yes, His Holiness himself, the Dalai Lama, definitely elevates the straight-forwardness of the material, making The Buddha a worthwhile watch even for those well-versed in Eastern philosophy.
[V3.5-A3.5] MPEG-4 AVC - No D-Box

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