In a very short compass this animated Life of the Buddha tells more of the significant stories from the Buddha’s life than a lot of other films do. It concentrates on getting across the meaning of the teaching, rather than the heroics of the endeavour.
The Bombing of Germany
How America changed its wartime policy of not bombing civilian targets and was eventually involved in the bombing of the population at the centre of Berlin is the theme of this documentary.
Samsara – Cambodia
This is another impressionistic film about Cambodia, but it is much more solemn and haunting. It was filmed by Ellen Bruno in 1989, 10 years after the Vietnamese overthrew Pol Pot and set up their own government.
Dogora: Ouvrons les Yeux
Dogora was filmed in Cambodia and focuses on the everyday life of the people: their travels, work, play and enjoyment. We see life both in the cities and in the countryside, and sometimes some very intimate pictures have been captured, particularly of the children.
ZEN – A Fabian Enzinger Film
This is one of the finest non-verbal films I’ve come across so even better that it is also connected with Buddhism, being taken at a remote Zen temple in the Japanese Alps.
Virginia Peck’s Buddha Head Paintings
Here are some wonderful paintings by Virginia Peck of Buddha Heads. I am always happy to see artists reimagine the forms of the past, which shows that they are still alive and living in someone’s imagination.
Koyaanisqatsi
Koyaanisqatsi was made in 1983 through the combined efforts of three great artists in their own fields: Godfrey Reggio who directed the film, Ron Fricke, who was the main photographer and Philip Glass, who composed the music.
The Great Compassion Mantra Of Avalokitesvara
This is a wonderful rendition of the third Great Compassion Mantra as found in the Chinese tradition with some beautiful images uploaded with the victims of the Japanese Tsunami in mind.
Lost Worlds: City of the God Kings
This is one of the more intelligent reviews of what we know about the Angkor civilisation that flourished in Cambodia between the 9th and 14th centuries.
