WESAK 2011 film festival and Buddhist films

   June 11, 2011 12 and 18; On the 19th, at the WESAK Film Festival, you will have a rare opportunity to watch and study Buddhist and Buddhist stories for free...

Show times and programs

 You can click on the pictures to enlarge them

Extraordinary films

ENLIGHTENMENT GUARANTEED: This acclaimed Zen comedy by award winning director Doris Dorrie is about two brothers searching for meaning in their lives. One of them decides a trip to a Zen monastery in Japan will further his steps toward enlightenment. His brother begs to go along because his wife has suddenly abandoned him. Having arrived in Tokyo, they struggled with the difficulties of being in a foreign country. They find even the smallest parts of everyday life difficult - getting taxis, ordering food, etc. By the time they get to the monastery, they have come a long way from their old life. Not that life is easy at the monastery but they are ready to change - to start the real struggle ahead of them.

Feature Film. 1 hour 48 minutes. German with English subtitles.

ZEN: This full-length movie is about Dogen, a Japanese Zen master, born in Kyoto in the 13th century and founder of the Soto school of Zen. Dogen, well-known for his extensive writings on Zen, traveled to China as a young monk to find his true master. He soon found a monk who taught him that sitting meditation is the true path to enlightenment. Returning to Japan enlightened, Dogen risked his life to pioneer Zen Buddhism, which continues to inspire millions of Buddhists in Japan and globally. Making his film debut in an authentic performance of Dogen is Nakamura Kantaro, the 19th generation Kabuki actor. In Kantaro’s incarnation, Dogen’s calm presence exudes a commanding authority, born of his unshakable faith and dedication to his cause.
Feature Film. 2 hours. Japanese with English subtitles.

UPPALAVANNA: Directed by Sunil Ariyaratne, Uppalavanna is about the Sri Lankan civil war in 1989. An insurgent came to a village to assassinate a student, and was wounded in the process. He then seeks refuge in the nunnery where Uppalavanna was staying. After debating whether to treat the assassin or surrender him to the police, Uppalavanna decides to treat him. Soon the police came looking for the assassin but he was later killed by the villagers. Learning that he received medication from the nunnery, the villagers refuse to offer alms to the nunnery. Accepting the guilt unto herself and establishing the innocence of the other nuns, Uppalavanna leaves the nunnery carrying only her alms-bowl, ending the film with a question mark over her fate.
Feature Film. 1 hour 20 minutes. Sinhala with English subtitles

Historical films

UNMISTAKEN CHILD: This is an award-winning 2008 documentary directed by Nati Baratz which follows Geshe Tenzin Zopa’s search for the reincarnation of his beloved teacher, Geshe Lama Konchog. Because Tenzin is a humble monk, he questions his ability to accurately find and recognize the reincarnation of an enlightened master. But following a combination of prayer, intuition, and various forms of divination, Tenzin travels to the tiny villages of the remote Tsum Valley on the Nepal-Tibet border, and checks many families and many children. Eventually with confirmations from his own masters, including Lama Zopa Rinpoche and HH The Dalai Lama, the reincarnation of Lama Konchog  Unmistaken Child was selected for and aired on the award-winning Public Broadcasting Series (USA) Independent Lens in April 2010.
Documentary. 1 hour 42 minutes. English

 BHUTAN: Taking the Middle Path to Happiness. This documentary produced by Tom Vendetti examines the efforts of Bhutan’s government to create “Gross National Happiness” (and not Gross National Product) for its people by promoting these four pillars - Environmental Preservation, Cultural Development, Economic Development through hydroelectric power, and Good Governance. Can this small, isolated country in the Himalayas truly protect its environment, religion and culture as they open their doors to the West and remain a Shangrila? The answer is rooted in the Bhutanese world view anchored in Buddhism, with the simple message that happiness can only be found by taking the middle path – a path that balances the needs of man with the powerful spirits of nature. The film won two Emmy Awards in 2009-2010 in the United States.
Documentary. 57 minutes. English

 DAUGHTERS OF WISDOM: This is an intimate portrait of the nuns of Kala Rongo Nunnery in remote northeastern Tibet produced by Bari Pearlman. These 300 nuns receive religious and educational training previously unavailable to women. They study and practice full-time, creating new opportunities for themselves and for the community they serve. The film captures a never-before-seen glimpse into their vibrant community and insight into their extraordinary lives. Some shy, some outspoken, but all are committed to the difficult life they  chose, away from the yak farms and herding families of their birth. It is a story of a thriving spiritual community, one that couldn't have existed 20 years ago. The film won the Audience Award and Certificate of Excellence at the 2007 Brooklyn International Film Festival.
 Documentary. 1 hour 8 minutes. English.

DALAI LAMA RENAISSANCE: Winner of 12 film awards, and narrated by Hollywood actor Harrison Ford, it is the official selection of over 40 international film festivals, and has been screened in cinemas globally. The film tells the story of 40 Western thinkers who travel to Dharamsala in India in 1999 to discuss with The Dalai Lama on how to solve many of the world’s problems. The film features two of the starring quantum physicists from the hit theatrical documentary ‘What the Bleep Do We Know,’ Fred Alan Wolf and Amit Goswami. Also appearing in this highly acclaimed documentary are Michael Beckwith (from ‘The Secret’), radio host and author Thom Hartmann, revolutionary social scientist Jean Houston, Vandana Shiva (social activist, “The Corporation”), and many other prominent scientists.
Documentary. 1 hour 45 minutes. English

THE DEVOTION OF MATTHIEU RICARD: Nearly forty years Matthieu Ricard left his native France and a promising career in cellular genetics to become a monk in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition in Nepal. He is now a translator, photographer and bestselling author (The Monk and the Philosopher, Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill) and an active participant in scientific research on the effects of meditation on the brain. Called “the happiest man alive” by TIME, Matthieu is involved in a number of humanitarian projects in Tibet and Nepal, where he resides. This documentary is an intimate portrait of Matthieu Ricard as he continues the work of his late teacher, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, in the Himalayas, and as a translator for HH The Dalai Lama in Europe.
Documentary. 67 minutes. English

DHAMMA DANA: Filmed entirely in Burma, Dhamma Dana delves deep into the monastic tradition and reveals how the Burmese Buddhists find inner freedom. This film by Theodore Martland presents Buddhism with a serene rhythm; documenting a powerfully peaceful ancient tradition that few experience first hand. In the film, Dr Molini, Burmese nun and avid social worker, provides the experience and guiding light to tell the story of how the Burmese preserve and propagate their unique tradition. In Dhamma Dana, she illuminates the heartwarming effort of a people who transcend the influence of modern times in order to uphold the ancient tradition of Theravada Buddhism. This film won the 2009 Queens International Film Festival in New York City, where it was selected as “Best Domestic Documentary.”
Documentary. 30 Minutes. English.

WORDS OF MY PERFECT TEACHER: This is a poignant, hilarious tale of students who follow Khyentse Norbu - a teacher who defies convention. Shot in the United Kingdom, Bhutan, Germany, Canada and US, the film features appearances by Benardo Bertolucci and Steven Segal and music by Sting, Joy Drop, Manu Chao, Eva Casidy, Laur Fugere and many others. Khyentse Norbu was born in Bhutan in 1961 to a royal family of poets and yogis. At age seven, he was recognized as the third incarnation of the great Buddhist saint, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. A film maker, he relies on the ancient Buddhist divination system called ÒMoÓ to make key decisions on subjects such as film stock, production schedules and casting. His films include The Cup and Travelers and Magicians.
Documentary.  I hour 43 minutes. English

ARISING LIGHT:  This film by Dr David Blundell is about the life of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891-1956), born an Untouchable. A peer of Gandhi and Nehru, he uplifted himself from the community of untouchables in India by educating himself in the West and becoming a national leader in India’s struggle for equality and justice and independence. Ambedkar framed the Indian constitution, making it a secular state, and provided national emblems - the Asoka Lions and Dharma Wheel - on the national flag. He was India’s first Minister of Law. On October 14, 1956 Ambedkar embraced Buddhism with 500,000 followers. This documentary is a celebration of the work of Dr Ambedkar, especially the historical and sociological implications of his peaceful revolution based on Buddhist principles.
Documentary. 26 minutes. English

GORYEO BUDDHIST PAINTINGS: This documentary features an exhibition of 108 Goryeo Buddhist Paintings from around the world from October 12 to November 21, 2010 at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul. Produced by the Buddhist Television Network World, the film captures among them 61 paintings, — 27 from Japanese, 10 from U.S., five from Europe, and 19 from Korean collections, including the famous “Water-Moon Avalokiteshvara,” by Hyeheo, currently housed at Japan’s Senso-ji temple, and paintings of Amitabha and Kshitigarbha. Goryeo Buddhist paintings are widely thought as some of the most beautiful religious arts in the world. The artworks offer a glimpse of a whole picture of Goryeo culture with its sublimated spirituality of Goryeo Buddhism. For the exhibition, 44 institutions around the world contributed their collections.
Documentary. 50 minutes. English and Korean.

BUDDHISM IN AMERICA: In 2008, the Pew’s US Religious Landscape Survey published that Buddhism had climbed to the 3rd most practiced religion in America. It estimated that there are over two million Buddhists in America, while other surveys say it is closer to four million practitioners. While that is only 1% of the US’s population, it is a marked growth from the 200,000 Buddhists (mostly Asian) recorded by the Census Bureau in 1960. The Buddhist Television Network World has produced this documentary to showcase American Buddhism as it is practiced today. From interviews with leading American teachers, one understands that the explosive growth include disenchantment with traditional Christianity as well as Buddhism’s emphasis on inquiry and mind development which appeals very much to the modern American.
Documentary. 50 minutes. English

BUDDHISM IN EUROPE: This documentary by the Buddhist Television Network World portrays Buddhism as a living and growing religion in Western Europe. It explores how the different Buddhist traditions have set roots on European soil over the years. The film depicts community living in Plum Village, France, under Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, Japanese Zen practices in Germany, a Right Livelihood project (Windhorse Evolution) influenced by Buddhist principles in London, and even a Shaolin Temple in Vienna, Austria. In all these Buddhist temples, meditation is always a key part of the practice, even in a Shaolin temple. As the abbot Wolgang Gall said, “martial arts is the highest form of concentration. Without cultivating the mind, there is no way one can develop martial arts”.

Documentary. 50 minutes. English

PLUM VILLAGE: This is a Buddhist meditation center in the Dordogne, southern France. It was founded by Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh, a Noble Peace Prize nominee, and his colleague Bhikkhuni Chan Khong in 1982. This documentary, produced by the Buddhist Television Network World, explores the beauty of this wonderful village where families and friends, lay practitioners and monastics, children and old parents, live together in peace and harmony, guided by precepts of mindfulness in their everyday life. In Plum Village, besides studies and meditation retreats, there are also wholesome practices such as music, singing, exercises, and martial arts for both mental and physical well-being of all the inhabitants. To those who live there, Plum Village is truly a spiritual home of happiness and joy.
Documentary. 50 minutes. English

ဇာတ္လမ္းတိုမ်ား

LITTLE NOTE: This is a short story with themes of encouragement and resilience, inspiring everyone impacted by life’s uncertainties, to soldier on with hope and courage. Living with little wants in the countryside, Zhiren and his mother expressed their love and support for each other in a simple way - by exchanging little notes. These words of encouragement spurred their every step forward in life, helping them cast aside fear and despair in times of uncertainty. As Venerable Sik Kwang Sheng, technical advisor of the film said, “Little Note is our gift of encouragement to you. Though life has its challenges, courage and patience will lead you through it all.” Little Note will meander its way into your heart like a clear, pristine stream always.
Feature. 15 minutes. Mandarin with English subtitles.

ANGULIMALA: This is the story of Angulimala who was born into a Brahmin family. He later became a ruthless killer and was about to kill his mother when he met the Buddha, and was soon converted. Angulimala's story illustrates the Buddhist belief that individuals can be reformed more readily through compassion than through punishment, and that the worst of people can undo the faults and return to the right path. As Angulimala says, "Some prisoners are tamed with punishment of a stick, or a hook or a whip. I was tamed without a stick or a weapon. I was tamed by the kind words of the Compassionate Buddha." This short film is produced by Gemkids, a Sunday School initiative of the Buddhist Gem Fellowship.
Feature. 10 minutes, English.

Cartoon story

OIL LAMP: Oil Lamp clinched the first prize in the International Short Film Competition at the Vesak 2009 International Buddhist Film Festival in Sri Lanka. Produced by the Buddhist Institute Sunday Dhamma School of the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Kuala Lumpur, for its outreach programs, Oil Lamp is directed by Ng Lid Sine. It tells the tale of a devotional offering of light to Buddha by an old beggar woman. Her devotion is so strong that even Mara, the evil one, is defeated. Characters were based on Indian comic styles with a bit of Asterix thrown in. The short film took about three months to complete and the moral behind this animation is not how much you give but how you give it.
Cartoon. 9 minutes. English

to preview

Guide map to the film festival

Malaysia Toursim Center, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

Contact for more information

Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia
9 Jalan SS25/24, Taman Mayang
47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 03-7804 9154
Fax: 03-7804 9021
Email: ybam@streamyx.com
Website: www.ybam.org.my