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Film recommendations

I'm looking for suggestions for buddhist/spiritual/life-affirming things to watch. What do you recommend and why?

Let's have them...

Comments

  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran

    Inside Out from Pixar animation studios. I relate it to Buddhism because it deals with psychology in an animated film that is appropriate both for adults and children. It doesn't talk about Buddhism at all though. Just psychology.

  • Lee82Lee82 Veteran

    I did see that one a few years ago @Jeffrey. I recall the general story and what it looked like but might be worth a rewatch.

  • JeroenJeroen Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter Netherlands Veteran
    edited May 2019

    Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... And Spring for starters, good Korean movie with strong Buddhist themes.
    Groundhog Day you’ve probably seen, but it’s a funny comedy with a surprisingly Buddhist message.
    Seven Years in Tibet I quite liked as well, it’s one of Brad Pitt’s better efforts.

    Alex
  • Lee82Lee82 Veteran

    I didn't really want to say what I had watched already as that might limit people putting forward their favs, and I like diving down new rabbit holes to see where it takes me. Here are some I've seen:

    Spring, Summer...
    Akiru
    Unmistaken Child
    Milarepa
    Tree of Life
    Cloud Atlas
    Paris, Texas
    Baraka
    Samsara
    Tashi and the monk
    Into the Wild
    Stand by me
    The Straight Story
    Requiem for a dream
    The fountain

  • Lee82Lee82 Veteran

    @Kerome said:
    Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... And Spring for starters, good Korean movie with strong Buddhist themes.
    Groundhog Day you’ve probably seen, but it’s a funny comedy with a surprisingly Buddhist message.
    Seven Years in Tibet I quite liked as well, it’s one of Brad Pitt’s better efforts.

    Ah yes have seen those, although haven't seen groundhog day in a long time. Rain man also.

  • JeroenJeroen Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter Netherlands Veteran
    edited May 2019

    Well here are a few more you can try...

    Spirited Away in my eyes the best animated film of all time, I’m a big fan of Miyazaki
    Three Colours: Blue, White, Red wonderful arthouse films though a little older now
    Wild Reese Witherspoon takes off on a long solo hike, a good film

    Of those you mention, Cloud Atlas and The Fountain are among my favourite films, and I’ve seen quite a few of the others. I’m a bit of a movie buff, my dvd collection requires considerable effort to move.

    Lee82kaegriffy
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator

    And my goodness, why has nobody mentioned 'The Matrix'...?!

  • lobsterlobster Veteran

    Tashi and the Monk

    ... glad to see that again ...

    kaegriffy
  • JeroenJeroen Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter Netherlands Veteran

    @federica said:
    And my goodness, why has nobody mentioned 'The Matrix'...?!

    Well he did say “life affirming”, I rather doubt the Matrix qualifies with all the guns, the dystopian future and so on.

  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited May 2019

    Yeah, the later films, which I frankly feel lost an element of wonder... but the first film was a major 'boom' moment....

    And the line "There IS no spoon" is a classic....

    Alex
  • JeroenJeroen Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter Netherlands Veteran

    A few more...

    The Way a wonderful film about the Camino de Santiago
    The Life of Brian great comedies last forever, for when you take spirituality too seriously
    Eat, Pray, Love underrated, it’s heart is definitely in the right place

  • Lee82Lee82 Veteran

    Hey @Kerome, I've just ordered the Three Colours Trilogy off musicmagpie for £3.09 including postage, bargain!

  • JeroenJeroen Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter Netherlands Veteran

    Sounds like a very good buy... keep an eye out for the interlinking characters, there are short scenes where the characters from one movie appear in another. It’s all about the colours of the French flag, the themes of liberté, fraternité, egalité.

  • JeroenJeroen Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter Netherlands Veteran

    I should have mentioned A Good Year as well, which was a beautiful little film by Ridley Scott set on a wine estate in southern France, with some romance and some great acting.

    Alex
  • Lee82Lee82 Veteran

    Just finished watching Lean on Pete and can recommend it!

  • paulysopaulyso usa Veteran

    @Lee82 said:
    I'm looking for suggestions for buddhist/spiritual/life-affirming things to watch. What do you recommend and why?

    i enjoyed,seabiscuit,starring toby and jeff bridges who digs zen.meaningful statement of choosing life,just because your ding up,you dont throw a whole life away...paraphrasing. cryed hard in seabiscuits victory.

    Let's have them...

  • paulysopaulyso usa Veteran

    ...forest gump,who hasn't seen it?he is a natural dao zen.sometimes being too smart,one may forego the heart.a path with heart always kills me in a good way.and the phrase,stupid is,is stupid does.dao zen mom teaches forest well,simple but deep.

    Jeroen
  • paulysopaulyso usa Veteran

    @federica said:
    And my goodness, why has nobody mentioned 'The Matrix'...?!

    for those who are chistian buddhist, showed an example of christzen:he who saves his life--too selfish--looses it.he who looses his life--selfles--saves it.mother board yin wins.

  • paulysopaulyso usa Veteran

    dragon ball super--broly.another daozen influence.

  • paulysopaulyso usa Veteran

    dances with wolves,native heart with dao.
    i think i will quit now.

  • lobsterlobster Veteran

    Why?

    It contains fish :3

    Jiro Dreams of Sushi

  • GuiGui Veteran
    edited May 2019

    .

  • Lee82Lee82 Veteran

    Interesting... I'd never come across Criterion before, must have been living in my cave too long:

    https://www.criterion.com/shop/browse/list?sort=spine_number

  • JeroenJeroen Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter Netherlands Veteran

    Just a few more...

    The Shawshank Redemption on the off chance you missed it, one of the world’s favourites
    American Beauty a great film, very recognisable if you’re middle-aged
    Sideways a fun California-wine-country comedy

  • AlexAlex UK Veteran

    Fight Club, often quoted as having a Buddhist undercurrent

  • lobsterlobster Veteran

    @Alex said:
    Fight Club, often quoted as having a Buddhist undercurrent

    Quite often quoted where?
    Here - ay caramba ...
    https://www.elephantjournal.com/2013/09/the-dharma-of-fight-club/

    Alex
  • adamcrossleyadamcrossley Veteran UK Veteran
    edited May 2019

    Zen (2009) The life story of Eihei Dogen, founder of Soto Zen, a beautifully acted and inspirational biopic. It gets better and better as it goes on.

    My Neighbour Totoro (1988) A Studio Ghibli classic that celebrates our childhood connection with the natural world. Some Buddhist imagery.

    Walk With Me (2017) A slow-moving documentary about Thich Nhat Hanh’s community in France.

    Looking back, I’ve hardly seen any explicitly Buddhist movies. There are some I’d like to see:

    Oseam (2003) Korean animated film.

    Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left For The East? (1989) Another Korean piece, live action, about three monks in a remote monastery.

  • BrianBrian Detroit, MI Moderator
    edited May 2019

    I would argue that Ong Bak is an explicitly Buddhist movie. Either way, it's good

  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited November 2019

    Not about Buddhist ideas aside from the idea of accepting companions who are sincerely difficult to be around but I just watched an 80s film that I loved laughing at but eventually was very touching...

    Planes, Trains, and Automobiles with John Candy as what the bringer of the lojong training calls a "Bengali Tea Boy" after the teacher of lojong who brought an obnoxious companion on purpose for mind training...

    Planes, Trains, and Automobiles!! Watch it!

    Bunks
  • adamcrossleyadamcrossley Veteran UK Veteran

    Aha I’m glad this thread’s back. Thanks for the recommendation @Jeffrey, I’ll be sure to see it when I can.

    I watched a lovely film called Oseam recently, which is a Korean animated movie about two orphaned children who are taken in by Buddhist monks. I found it very touching, as it comes out of a deeply Buddhist culture. Buddhist spirituality is in its DNA. It’s a sensitive, delightful film, possibly a good one for introducing kids to Buddhist culture.

  • Haven’t watched the John Candy film since I was a kid! Still remember bits of it. I’m sure I would have a different view of it now given me increased age and erm... wisdom haha.

    Bunks
  • My girlfriend was saying she views different than when she watched as a kid and it was my first time seeing the movie. It was a good comedy and also something more just a touch.

  • I like SF, despite not being rated very highly, I enjoyed this different take on a common theme ...
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Host_(2013_film)

  • JeroenJeroen Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter Netherlands Veteran
    edited November 2019

    Here are a few which are worth mentioning...

    The Danish Girl, a film about the life of a transgender in the 1800’s
    The Sea of Trees, downbeat, slightly gory, about suicide but still I felt it had something
    Ex Machina, SF film about artificial intelligence, smart and emotionally interesting
    The Hobbit, great fantasy romp, you have to love that dragon Smaug
    The Green Mile, a drama about a man on death row who has a mysterious gift

  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator

    The Green Book
    The Upside.

    Basically, if you find any movie where someone's 'Dark side' is transformed to a 'Light Side', you can find plenty of Buddhist aspects to it.

    adamcrossley
  • The Green Book was very good imo.

  • This Beautiful Fantastic is worth a watch also if you haven’t seen it. Currently on rent at £0.99 on Amazon UK.

  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator

    Oh yes, saw that a couple of weeks ago. Quite delightful... I can equate with her OCD...!

  • Just watched cobra gypsies. Amazing. Hope documentaries count ...
    https://topdocumentaryfilms.com/cobra-gypsies/

    If not try 'Abominable', yep there is a Buddha in it ...

  • New film for the list that you absolutely must see...

    The Game Changers

    It is literally a game changer (and it’s available free on Netflix).

  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator

    Yup. I mentioned it already. Good to see someone else is a fan. It certainly changed MY game, I can tell you!

  • JeroenJeroen Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter Netherlands Veteran
    edited December 2019

    I just watched The Laundromat, a film directed by Steven Soderbergh about the Panama Papers episode and about how the wealthy and corrupt hide their money. Interesting and well done. Also available on Netflix.

  • ShoshinShoshin No one in particular Nowhere Special Veteran
    edited April 2020

    I like the way the narrator manages to blend the ancient widoms into one....

    Samadhi Parts 1 & 2


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