The Buddha : Documentary

“The Buddha,” documentary is a simple, straightforward introduction to the life and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. Written and directed by Mr. Grubin, it’s broken into roughly equal parts covering the Prince Siddhartha story — decadence, despair and deprivation leading to enlightenment under a fig tree — and the subsequent history and precepts of Buddhism.

The documentary revolves around the story of the Buddha's life, as told in the first sutras on the subject, which began appearing around 500 years after the Buddha's passing. Richard Gere narrates the sutra portion of the story, while beautiful Buddist Artwork from around the world is displayed, interspersed with shots of sacred Buddhist historical sites, and some original graphics. We also get a lot of pretty footage of the Indian countryside and various Buddhist pilgrimage spots, as well as Buddhist art. The artwork in particular is stunning, and of course Richard Gere's voice contributes a lovely and peaceful depth to the telling.

At each phase of the Buddha's life story, cutaways to well-known Buddhist academics, teachers and writers are incorporated, who share their own thoughts on that phase of the Buddha's life, and what it represents to the modern day Buddhist practitioner. The cast of talking heads includes, on the one hand, the Dalai Lama and several other Buddhist monks, and, on the other, a larger and more prominently featured group of Western writers and scholars. Among them are the poets W. S. Merwin (compelling) and Jane Hirshfield (oddly intense) and the ubiquitous Columbia scholar and father of Uma, Robert Thurman. The experts are often upstaged by the simple, slightly druggy animations used to tell the Siddhartha story and to illustrate concepts like the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.  

The documentary above all stresses that the Buddha indeed carries his wisdom within us and that we can all follow in the middle way. There is a gentle handling of the Buddha's death, in which there is not despair, but joy in knowing that the way to enlightenment is carried on through every being. No need for salvation, no burdens of a punishing or rewarding afterlife, no shame in being human. And one that doesn't try to shove anything down your throat. Nor does it try to use guilt or fear in an attempt to sell some sort of moral message to the viewer. It simply just gives you as much info that is known about the life of the Buddha. It also explains some of the teachings and beliefs that the Buddha went on to develop and share. This film gives a general overview of the Buddhist way of life and thought.

There is a perfect balance of narrative, telling of miracles, and simple teaching in order to bring a calming sense of wonder to understanding the Buddha's life. The colorful animation brings the Buddha's long ago lived world to life with the amazement of a fairy tale. The color shift from peaceful pastels in the joyous occasions and hardens into darker tones as Siddharta encounters the many facets of reality. The music selected lets the thoughts of the mind drift into the narrative and reflections of the Buddha's life and way of pursuing a middle way towards happiness.

Considering the vast complexity of a faith that has evolved and differentiated itself many times over the centuries, this documentary made a valiant and successful effort in presenting the core story and principles of the life and teachings of the Buddha. It is presented with animations and interviews that are easily identifiable without going deeper into more complex principles of Buddhism that would alienate the viewing audience of lay Buddhists and non-Buddhists.