(*: least, *****: highest)
Once in a while, in the midst of hundreds of movies talking about meaningless lives and pointless obsessions comes a movie that is far greater than just a masterpiece. Samsara falls in that category. I had heard a lot about this debut movie of Pan Nalin, the list of awards it was bestowed and critical acclaim it received. Frankly once the movie started nothing anyone had said mattered. The tag line of the movie is what will remain with you for a long time:
What is more important: satisfying one thousand desires or conquering just one…
The plot of the movie: (Samsara is) A spiritual love-story set in the majestic landscape of Ladakh, Himalayas. Samsara is a quest; one man’s struggle to find spiritual Enlightenment by renouncing the world. And one woman’s struggle to keep her enlightened love and life in the world. But their destiny turns, twists and comes to a surprise ending… (taken from IMDB)
The movie questions most beliefs of Buddhism and provides different points of view of the things the religion calls evil. There are questions posed and answers given… the true understanding of those answers are in the teachings and beliefs of the Buddhists. The last few scenes of the movie bring to focus a series of events that happened right through the movie and squeeze out meaning and direction from them.
I highly recommend this movie and think this is one movie people who question religion a lot should watch. The movie contains a lot of (sexually) graphic-scenes and viewer discreation is adviced.
I will discuss my theories about the end of the film below(under the link). Please put a [SPOILER WARNING] in your comment if you discuss the same. (I understand that the spoiler is not as great as some movies but its better if one watches the movie without knowing how it will end :) )
