Little Buddha

Opens Friday, May 9, 2025

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Bertolucci draws on Buddhist history to weave a metaphor about the tragedy of Tibetans in exile in this gorgeous tour-de-force shot by Vittorio Storaro (Apocalypse Now). A Buddhist monk believes that a 10-year-old American boy is the reincarnation of his spiritual teacher, Lama Dorje. The boy’s parents (Chris Isaak and Bridget Fonda) are skeptical, but following a tragedy, they relent and allow their son to travel to Bhutan—only to be confronted with two other children the monk thinks could also be the reincarnation of the Lama. With Keanu Reeves.

“An extraordinary achievement by a master director.” – Los Angeles Times “Languorous with a delicious sprinkling of lingering disquietude.” – Cineuropa

  • Country France, Liechtenstein, UK
  • Year 1993
  • Running Time 123 minutes
  • Format DCP
  • Distributor Kino Lorber
  • Director Bernardo Bertolucci
  • Cast Keanu Reeves, Alex Wiesendanger, Bridget Fonda, Chris Isaak, Ying Ruocheng
  • Accessibility Assistive Listening, T-Coil

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