Samsara

R

Released Jul 18, 2003

2h 18m

Drama

Romance

List

100%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

89%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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Peter Howell

Toronto Star

A beautifully rendered gem.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 13, 2004

Full Review

Jennie Punter

Globe and Mail

A singularly engaging spiritual love story.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 13, 2004

Full Review

David Hunter

Hollywood Reporter

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.

Nov 14, 2002

Full Review

Liz Braun

Jam! Movies

This study of desire and destiny is visually [beautiful].

Rated: 4/5

Aug 13, 2004

Full Review

Urban Cinefile Critics

Urban Cinefile

Possibly as close to Shangri-La as we will ever get, Samsara is a haunting, cinematic and spiritual love story to savour.

Nov 2, 2002

Full Review

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Giang P

Best movie about Buddhism so far I have ever watched.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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).

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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).

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Masterpiece from a true master director. In my list of Ten Movies to watch before you die.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

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Pan Nalin

Director

Shawn Ku

Tashi

Christy Chung

Pema

Neelesha BaVora

Sujata

Lhakpa Tsering

Dawa

Tenzin Tashi

Karma

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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
Screenwriter: Pan Nalin, Tim Baker, Pan Nalin
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Paradis Film, Miramax, Pandora Filmproduktion, 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)