This is a movie that profoundly discusses the entanglement of human nature and divinity, and ultimately does not give an answer.
"How can a drop of water not dry up? The answer: let it flow into the sea."
——But the water that flows into the sea has been infiltrated by salt, and it will never go away, and it is no longer a drop of pure water.
script:
The story is simple but profound and thought-provoking.
The film adopts a linear narrative, telling the story of the Dalai monk Da Shi, who has been a monk since he was a child, and has never experienced the fireworks of the world. He returned to the secular life for several years and then decided to become a monk again. However, whether he finally stepped into the temple again, the end of the film is left blank. The opportunity to return to the secular world and become a monk again comes from desire - lust. Desire first made Da Shi's heart move, and then it must break his heart and make him suffer. It's a very Buddhist story.
The color of Buddhism does not specifically refer to erotic desire, but only to all desires in the world. The logic of the basic doctrine is not difficult to understand. Desires must eventually lead to suffering, and the ultimate way to eliminate this destined suffering is to avoid it in the first place. When desire is completely eliminated, all karma is also eliminated. become a Buddha.
But human beings are always human, and human nature is hard to get rid of. This is also one of the core of the film's story, the divine aspect.
As for human nature, the film seems to discuss more. All kinds of desires in the world are yearning, just like Dashi said, how can you learn to give up if you have never had it? And when he has it, tragedy becomes inevitable, how contradictory and pitiful human beings are.
In addition to commenting on the road to Buddhahood of Khyamuni, the focus of the film also focuses on the story of Yasodhara, the wife abandoned by Shakyamuni. Yasodhara was Shakyamuni's karma, but when he left his wife and children to become a Buddha, didn't he cause even greater karma?
"Oh, Da Shi, if you crave the Dharma, as strong as your craving for me, you can become a Buddha." This is the most contradictory point. Dharma and craving have to be born in the world and enter the world, how can you have both.
method:
As an art film, it is inevitable that there will be problems with slow rhythm and procrastination in the middle. The rhythm of this film is generally controlled, and the middle is a little dull.
Worth mentioning are the very stylized editing and montages, the handling of the erotic plot and the few moving mirrors that describe the passage of time, which are moving and natural, surprising.
Performance:
Except for Zhong Liti, other actors have not seen. But their performances are naturally restrained, Christy Chung's several erotic scenes, the kind of sexiness and beauty are incomprehensible.
Art Design:
It gives a glimpse into the life of Tibetan Buddhism and herdsmen on the mysterious plateau. The vast barren land, the snow-capped mountains in the distance, the characteristic buildings built on the mountains, and the details of the props are all done very well.
Excerpts from classic lines:
Dash's declaration:
Shakyamuni lived a secular life until he was 29 years old, but since he was five years old, he has been living his life after his escape.
Why? How do we know if his enlightenment is also directly inspired by the secular life?
Apu, where is the freedom promised to me after strictly observing the monk's precepts? We are committed to abstinence, but where is the promised satisfaction?
The Buddha once said that you should not hear and accept my teachings unless you understand where I stand and what I mean.
There are things we have to let go of our prejudices before we can really learn; there are things we have to have before we can learn to let go.
Master's last words:
I know my karma is not over, I will be reincarnated again and we will meet again.
Maybe then, you will tell me what is more important, to satisfy a thousand desires, or to conquer one.
Wife sad goodbye:
Yasodhara, have you heard this name?
Prince Shakyamuni, Siddhartha Gautama, Buddha, everyone knows it, but... what about Yasodhara?
Yasodhara married Shakyamuni and she loved him very much.
One night, Shakyamuni left her and her son Rahula, who were fast asleep, and he went to seek enlightenment and become a Buddha. When he left, he said nothing.
Yasodhara cared for the sick. She treated them earlier than Sakyamuni; she understood the suffering of the people earlier than Sakyamuni. Perhaps, his consciousness was inspired by her.
Maybe Yasodhara really wanted to leave Sakyamuni and Rahula. How do we know that Yasodhara did not feel angry, lonely and miserable after Sakyamuni left?
Who cares about her? How should she answer when her son Rohola keeps asking where her father is, how should she tell him?
How can a mother leave her son in the middle of the night? Only men can do it. Dash, only men can do it.
After that, Yasodhara had no choice. She abandoned her past life, cut her hair, and lived an ascetic life.
Oh Dashi, if your craving for the Dharma is as strong as your craving for me, you can become a Buddha.
In this life, in this body.
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