Unmistaken Child

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Unmistaken Child

Released Jun 3, 2009

1h 44m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

81%

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36 Reviews

88%

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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.

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Ben Kenigsberg

Time Out

Rated: 3/5

Nov 17, 2011

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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

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Andrea Gronvall

Chicago Reader

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

Oct 2, 2009

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Audience Member

Great documentary about the search for a reincarnated Tibetan Lama.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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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

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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

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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

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Audience Member

Esupendo y emotivo documetal.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Nati Baratz

Director

Dalai Lama

Actor

Nati Baratz

Writer

Ilil Alexander

Producer

Nati Baratz

Producer

Arik Bernstein

Producer

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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

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