Unmistaken Child

Play trailer

Unmistaken Child

Released Jun 3, 2009

1h 44m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

36 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Young monk Tenzin Zopa has spent most of his life studying at the feet of the esteemed Geshe Lama Konchog. When the older man dies after a long, influential life, Tenzin is assigned to find his teacher's reincarnated soul. Tenzin journeys throughout Nepal, from one small village to another, in search of the child in whom Konchog's spirit has come to reside. This documentary charts Tenzin's arduous, emotional quest, a task that will be judged a success or failure by the Dalai Lama himself.

Critics Consensus

Nati Baratz's thoughtful, beautifully filmed documentary is a moving testament to the power of faith.

Read Critics Reviews

Ben Kenigsberg

Time Out

Rated: 3/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

This documentary is only partly a story of the chosen one; mainly, and more intriguingly, it's a chronicle of the choosing one, of the nervous young monk charged with the job of leading the search party.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 2, 2009

Full Review

Andrea Gronvall

Chicago Reader

Films that address faith and love as eloquently as this moving 2008 documentary are rare.

Oct 2, 2009

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Visually stunning and moving religious documentary that gives the outsider a rare eyewitness report on the four-year search for the rebirth of a Tibetan lama in Nepal.

Rated: A-

Feb 13, 2010

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Seanax.com

Along the way, we are treated to a tour of spiritual belief, Buddhist ceremony and rural life in this remote region.

Dec 6, 2009

Full Review

Chris Hewitt

St. Paul Pioneer Press

How far can an incredibly cute kid and an incredibly beautiful setting go toward making a movie worthwhile? Not far enough, as indicated by Unmistaken Child.

Oct 22, 2009

Full Review

Read all reviews

Leanne T

If reincarnation or Tibetan Buddhism interests you, the Unmistaken Child is a must see. This beautifully photographed documentary follows the search for the reincarnation of a Buddhist master under the watchful eye of the Dalai Lama. Filmed amid the breathtaking mountains that link Nepal and Tibet, the Unmistaken Child reveals a little-known aspect of an ancient and powerful spiritual tradition that is poorly understood in the West.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great documentary about the search for a reincarnated Tibetan Lama.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is definitely an interesting movie and an intriguing look into Buddhism and the way new Lamas are chosen. It can also become very sweet and emotional. However, from a film perspective, some of the scenes are really long and things generally move really slowly.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The Buddhist concept of reincarnation, while both mysterious and enchanting, is hard for most westerners to grasp. UNMISTAKEN CHILD follows the 4-year search for the reincarnation of Lama Konchog, a world-renowned Tibetan master who passed away in 2001 at age 84. I generally love documentaries, but I did have a hard time getting through this one. I couldn't help but wonder if Buddist hang on to the Idea that we never really leave this earth as a mechanism to cope and grieve.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Its a wonderful documentary, let usï»¿ understand more about the culture and religion. touching and never fails to make me tear.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Esupendo y emotivo documetal.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Nati Baratz

Director

Dalai Lama

Actor

Nati Baratz

Writer

Ilil Alexander

Producer

Nati Baratz

Producer

Arik Bernstein

Producer

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

The Alps

100%

74%

The Alps

Watchlist

Over the Hills and Far Away

76%

75%

Over the Hills and Far Away

Watchlist

One Lucky Elephant

96%

73%

One Lucky Elephant

Watchlist

Becoming Who I Was

100%

100%

Becoming Who I Was

Watchlist

The Sunshine Boy

60%

77%

The Sunshine Boy

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Critics Consensus: The Hangover Is Certified Fresh

View more photos

Synopsis

Young monk Tenzin Zopa has spent most of his life studying at the feet of the esteemed Geshe Lama Konchog. When the older man dies after a long, influential life, Tenzin is assigned to find his teacher's reincarnated soul. Tenzin journeys throughout Nepal, from one small village to another, in search of the child in whom Konchog's spirit has come to reside. This documentary charts Tenzin's arduous, emotional quest, a task that will be judged a success or failure by the Dalai Lama himself.

Director: Nati Baratz
Producer: Ilil Alexander, Nati Baratz, Arik Bernstein
Screenwriter: Nati Baratz
Distributor: Oscilloscope Pictures
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 3, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 5, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $302.7K
Runtime: 1h 44m

Most Popular at Home Now