Israeli documentarian Nati Baratzs Unmistaken Child is a drama of faith, about a Tibetan monks search for the reincarnation of his beloved master Lama Konchog. This long march, which lasted over three years, seems confined to Nepal and northern India; the discreet filmmakers never mention whether theyve crossed the border into Tibet. The disciple interviews an assortment of 18-month-old potential masters, employing a mystical calculus based on signs, dreams, and instances of recognition. (Its clear that intelligence, good nature, and agreeable parents are also prerequisites.) In the movies key scene, the designated toddler chooses Lama Konchogs sacred bell, beads, and hand drum out of a lineup of similar artifactswith a swift sureness that put me in mind of kids playing with a Ouija board. The child is surrounded by chuckling monks, and the process happens very quickly. Skeptic that I am, Id loved to have seen the action slowed down and the body language analyzed to reveal how the little Buddhas choices were cued.
June 26-July 2, 2009