Unmistaken Child
Encyclopedia
Unmistaken Child is a 2008 independent documentary
film, which follows a Tibetan Buddhist monk's search for the reincarnation
of his beloved teacher, the world-renowned lama
(master teacher) Geshe Lama Konchog
. The filming, which began in October 2001, spans a time frame of five and a half years. It follows the deceased lama's closest disciple — a modest young monk named Tenzin Zopa
, who speaks English well — as he seeks to find the child who is his master's reincarnation.
Because Tenzin is only a humble monk, he questions his ability to accurately find and recognize the reincarnation of an enlightened master. He is daunted by the difficulty of the task, for which he alone seems responsible.
Following a combination of prayer, intuition, and various forms of divination, Tenzin travels to the tiny villages of the remote Tsum Valley on the Nepal
–China
border, and checks many families and many children. He seeks to find a young boy of the right age who responds emotionally to one of his former master's possessions. Still many questions would remain, and many tests and trials must be met before the existence of a Rinpoche
— a reincarnated Tibetan master — could be confirmed. And even beyond the question of the confirmation of a reincarnation is the emotional toll involved in removing a small child from his loving parents and familiar village.
, who at the end asked everyone to pray for the location of the reincarnation of Geshe Lama Konchog, his recently deceased teacher.
"Tenzin really touched me in a profound way,” says Baratz. “He has a huge heart, and he’s very smart. And when I heard that he’s looking for the reincarnation of his master, I thought this is a movie I must make."
on September 8, 2008. Festival screenings in Berlin, San Francisco, and other festivals around the world followed. The film opened in limited theatrical release in the U.S. in June 2009, and subsequently in limited theatrical release around the world.
Unmistaken Child was selected for and aired on the award-winning PBS
series Independent Lens
in April 2010. The DVD of the film, distributed by Oscilloscope Laboratories, is available at various retail and rental outlets.
RiverRun International Film Festival
EBS International Documentary Festival
Independent Film Festival of Boston
Chlotrudis Awards
Camerimage
Haifa International Film Festival
Cracow Film Festival
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
film, which follows a Tibetan Buddhist monk's search for the reincarnation
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
of his beloved teacher, the world-renowned lama
Lama
Lama is a title for a Tibetan teacher of the Dharma. The name is similar to the Sanskrit term guru .Historically, the term was used for venerated spiritual masters or heads of monasteries...
(master teacher) Geshe Lama Konchog
Geshe Lama Konchog
Geshe Lama Konchog, born Lobsang Puntsog , was a renowned Tibetan Buddhist gelugpa lama, who had thousands of followers around the world. Konchog was recognized by the Dalai Lama to be a Great Mahasiddha, or realized guru....
. The filming, which began in October 2001, spans a time frame of five and a half years. It follows the deceased lama's closest disciple — a modest young monk named Tenzin Zopa
Tenzin Zopa
Not to be confused with Lama Thubten Zöpa Rinpoche, Geshe Lhundub Sopa Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Tharchin , and Geshe Lobsang Zopa ...
, who speaks English well — as he seeks to find the child who is his master's reincarnation.
Because Tenzin is only a humble monk, he questions his ability to accurately find and recognize the reincarnation of an enlightened master. He is daunted by the difficulty of the task, for which he alone seems responsible.
Following a combination of prayer, intuition, and various forms of divination, Tenzin travels to the tiny villages of the remote Tsum Valley on the Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
–China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
border, and checks many families and many children. He seeks to find a young boy of the right age who responds emotionally to one of his former master's possessions. Still many questions would remain, and many tests and trials must be met before the existence of a Rinpoche
Rinpoche
Rinpoche or Rinboqê is an honorific used in Tibetan Buddhism. It literally means "precious one," and is used to address or describe Tibetan lamas and other high-ranking or respected teachers. This honor is generally bestowed on reincarnated lamas, or Tulkus, by default...
— a reincarnated Tibetan master — could be confirmed. And even beyond the question of the confirmation of a reincarnation is the emotional toll involved in removing a small child from his loving parents and familiar village.
Inception
The film was created, directed, and written by Israeli filmmaker Nati Baratz. He and his wife had attended a lecture given by Tenzin ZopaTenzin Zopa
Not to be confused with Lama Thubten Zöpa Rinpoche, Geshe Lhundub Sopa Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Tharchin , and Geshe Lobsang Zopa ...
, who at the end asked everyone to pray for the location of the reincarnation of Geshe Lama Konchog, his recently deceased teacher.
"Tenzin really touched me in a profound way,” says Baratz. “He has a huge heart, and he’s very smart. And when I heard that he’s looking for the reincarnation of his master, I thought this is a movie I must make."
Release, broadcast, and DVD
Unmistaken Child was first screened at the Toronto International Film FestivalToronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
on September 8, 2008. Festival screenings in Berlin, San Francisco, and other festivals around the world followed. The film opened in limited theatrical release in the U.S. in June 2009, and subsequently in limited theatrical release around the world.
Unmistaken Child was selected for and aired on the award-winning PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
series Independent Lens
Independent Lens
Airing weekly on PBS through ITVS, the Emmy Award-winning series Independent Lens introduces new drama and documentary films made by independent filmmakers. Past seasons of Independent Lens have been presented by hosts Angela Bassett, Don Cheadle, Susan Sarandon, Edie Falco, Terrence Howard, Maggie...
in April 2010. The DVD of the film, distributed by Oscilloscope Laboratories, is available at various retail and rental outlets.
Awards
Full Frame Documentary Film FestivalFull Frame Documentary Film Festival
The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival is an annual international event dedicated to the theatrical exhibition of non-fiction cinema. Each spring Full Frame welcomes filmmakers and film lovers from around the world to historic downtown Durham, North Carolina for a four-day, morning to midnight...
- Full Frame Inspiration Award
- Anne Dellinger Special Jury Award
- The Charles E. Guggenheim Emerging Artist Award – Honorable Mention
RiverRun International Film Festival
RiverRun International Film Festival
The RiverRun International Film Festival is a regional film festival held annually each spring in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The festival is a 5013 non-profit organization and presents a variety of feature-length and short films from all genres, and also presents special events, regional...
- Best Documentary
EBS International Documentary Festival
EBS International Documentary Festival
EBS International Documentary Festival is hosted by EBS, a national public television featuring educational and cultural programs in Korea. EIDF is one and only documentary festival through both screening and broadcasting at the same time...
- Grand Prix
- Audience Award
Independent Film Festival of Boston
Independent Film Festival of Boston
The Independent Film Festival of Boston is a not for profit film festival in Boston, Massachusetts.- History :The Independent Film Festival of Boston was created in 2003 by the non-profit organization the Independent Film Society of Boston. The festival takes place each April in the Boston area's...
- Special Jury Prize
Chlotrudis Awards
Chlotrudis Awards 2010
The 16th Annual Chlotrudis Awards were presented March 21, 2010 by the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film. Honoring the best of the past year's independent, documentary and international film, the awards ceremony took place at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Special guest Beth...
- Best Documentary
Camerimage
Camerimage
The International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography CAMERIMAGE is a festival dedicated to cinematography and its creators cinematographers.The first seven events were held in Toruń, Poland. The next ten events were held in Łódź...
- Grand Prix
Haifa International Film Festival
Haifa International Film Festival
The Haifa International Film Festival is an annual film festival that takes place every fall, during the week-long holiday of Sukkot, in Haifa, Israel. The festival was inaugurated in 1983, and was the first of its kind in Israel...
- Haifa Cultural Foundation Award – Best Documentary
Cracow Film Festival
Kraków Film Festival
The Kraków Film Festival is one of Europe's oldest events dedicated to documentary, animation and other short film forms. It has been organised year after year since 1961....
- Golden Horn – Best Documentary
- Cracow Students Jury Award – Best Documentary
External links
- Unmistaken Child – Official Site
- Unmistaken Child on PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
's Independent LensIndependent LensAiring weekly on PBS through ITVS, the Emmy Award-winning series Independent Lens introduces new drama and documentary films made by independent filmmakers. Past seasons of Independent Lens have been presented by hosts Angela Bassett, Don Cheadle, Susan Sarandon, Edie Falco, Terrence Howard, Maggie...
series - Director Nati Baratz's photo album