Drama,History
Italy,United Kingdom,France,Liechtenstein
Little Buddha is a 1993 drama film that tells the story of a young American boy named Jesse Conrad, who is believed to be the reincarnation of a Tibetan Lama. After he has a dream about a group of Buddhist monks, he becomes obsessed with the culture and philosophy of Buddhism. Meanwhile, in Nepal, the monk Lama Norbu has a vision that leads him to believe that Jesse might be the reincarnation of his late teacher, Lama Dorje.
To find out for sure, Norbu travels to Seattle to meet Jesse and his parents. Over the course of the film, we see flashbacks to the life of Siddhartha Gautama, who would later become known as the Buddha. These flashbacks are interwoven with Jesse's journey to understand Buddhism and his possible role as a reincarnated Lama.
The film also delves into the struggles that come with cultural and religious clashes between East and West, as Jesse's parents, Dean and Lisa, struggle to come to terms with his newfound passion for Buddhism. Throughout the film, we see the characters grapple with the big questions of life, death, and spirituality.
The film was directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and stars Keanu Reeves as Siddhartha alongside Bridget Fonda, Chris Isaak, and Alex Wiesendanger as Jesse. It was shot on location in Bhutan, Nepal, and Seattle. While not a commercial success, the film was praised by some critics for its beautiful cinematography and nuanced portrayal of Buddhist philosophy and culture.
