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Samsara

Play trailer Poster for Samsara R 2003 2h 18m Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
After undergoing 36 months of continuous meditation, Buddhist monk Tashi (Shawn Ku) arrives at a prominent monastery and promptly has a troubling revelation -- he wants to experience sex. When Tashi fails to squelch his growing desire to explore life's carnal pleasures, he leaves the monastery behind. But, as he struggles to adjust after his sudden marriage to local peasant Pima (Christy Chung), he realizes he may lack the tools necessary to cope with everyday troubles and temptations.

Critics Reviews

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Peter Howell Toronto Star 08/13/2004
3/5
A beautifully rendered gem. Go to Full Review
Jennie Punter Globe and Mail 08/13/2004
3/4
A singularly engaging spiritual love story. Go to Full Review
David Hunter The Hollywood Reporter 11/14/2002
Nalin's film has excellent production values and thoroughly transports one to its far-flung world of clear skies, jagged mountains and passionate affairs of the mind and body. Go to Full Review
Liz Braun Jam! Movies 08/13/2004
4/5
This study of desire and destiny is visually [beautiful]. Go to Full Review
Urban Cinefile Critics Urban Cinefile 11/02/2002
Possibly as close to Shangri-La as we will ever get, Samsara is a haunting, cinematic and spiritual love story to savour. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Gui S Apr 25 Simple, truthful, beautiful and it will make an impact on you, one way or the other. See more 02/06/2021 Masterpiece. It is beautifully made film and it has a very deep meaning in it. The quest of one man's struggle to find spiritual enlightenment by renouncing the world. And one woman's struggle to keep her enlightened love. But destiny has other plans for both of them. See more 03/20/2020 One of the best movie dealing with the issue of desires. It doesn't give you a straight answer but leave everything to your interpretation and imagination( obviously). See more 07/21/2018 Samsara is beyond pretty visuals though that's the first thing you notice. There is a story and a connection between every image in this movie which is a sequel to the similarly made Baraka in 1992. From Tibetian Buddhist retreats to the sprawling freeways of Los Angeles, from pictures of a tattooed hulking giant cuddling his baby to sex dolls being mass produced Samsara will at once shock and humble you. This documentary is universally admired, and you should definitely give it a shot. If you love photography than this is a must watch.(Pretty pictures with underlying themes). See more 08/13/2016 Masterpiece from a true master director. In my list of Ten Movies to watch before you die. See more 12/09/2012 It's a good movie on a very good subject , very well narrated ....!! Beautiful scenic locales but somehow after reading Pal nalin's words regarding camera work , cinematography , I really had high hopes about the visual content of the movie, that really fell flat .!! The editing could have been more clean .but still Thumbs Up to Nalin for choosing such a subject in such a location ..!!! it was wanted See more Read all reviews
Samsara

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Movie Info

Synopsis After undergoing 36 months of continuous meditation, Buddhist monk Tashi (Shawn Ku) arrives at a prominent monastery and promptly has a troubling revelation -- he wants to experience sex. When Tashi fails to squelch his growing desire to explore life's carnal pleasures, he leaves the monastery behind. But, as he struggles to adjust after his sudden marriage to local peasant Pima (Christy Chung), he realizes he may lack the tools necessary to cope with everyday troubles and temptations.
Director
Pan Nalin
Producer
Karl Baumgartner, Christophe Friedel
Screenwriter
Pan Nalin, Tim Baker, Pan Nalin
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
Pandora Filmproduktion, Miramax, Paradis Film, Fandango
Rating
R
Genre
Drama, Romance
Original Language
Tibetan
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 18, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 19, 2021
Runtime
2h 18m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)