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The Boy Who Lived Before

Posted on December 9, 2011October 22, 2013 by Dharma Documentaries
Film about a boy in Scotland who can remember with uncanny accuracy the details of a previous life and his visit to his old ‘home’.

Boy-Who-Lived-Before-00

When still a young boy, around two years old, Cameron Macauley started talking about his previous life in the very remote island of Barra in the Hebrides. For the next few years he persistently tells of his life there: where he lived, who he lived with, where the house was and what it looked like – even his Father’s name: Shane Robertson.

His Mother Norma tries various approaches: speaking to Dr. Chris French, a psychologist who edits The Skeptic magazine and who who dismisses Cameron’s memories; and also to a child psychologist who tells her that his memories are unlike the normal childhood imaginary friends, because he insists they are real people.

Eventually Cameron becomes quite obsessive about his old life and family, and insists he wants to go to the island. The investigative psychologist Dr Jim Tucker, who has worked on cases of reincarnation at the University of Virginia hears about Cameron, and comes to join him on his journey to his previous home.

They do eventually find a house that fits Cameron’s description, and when looking it over, Cameron becomes strangely quiet, and most unlike his normal self. What is more they find out the house did used to belong to a Robertson family in the 60s and 70s, who were renting it at the time. But when they catch up with a surviving member of the family, it turns out some of the other details are wrong.

Although because of this the film proves in the end to be inconclusive – some of the memories fit very well, and others don’t fit at all – it is hard to see how Cameron could have known about the island and the people living there without any previous contact.

The film also briefly reviews the case of Gus Ortega who believes he is the reincarnation of his own grandfather, and what is more can tell details about the life that he cannot possibly have heard anyone talk about, like the murder of his great-aunty (sister), which is a family secret.

 

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Cameron Macauley
Cameron Macauley

 

Cameron's Mother Norma
Cameron’s Mother Norma

 

Dr Jim Tucker
Dr Jim Tucker

 

Gus Ortego
Gus Ortego

 

Visiting his Previous Home
Visiting his Previous Home

 

Cameron in Pensive Mood after Visit
Cameron in Pensive Mood after Visit

 

TAGS:
Culture, Children, Rebirth

1 thought on “The Boy Who Lived Before”

  1. kirsten says:
    March 8, 2013 at 6:41 pm

    i did not believe in what i saw, my faith has truly changed, this boy describes in extroudinary detail about his previous life, his emotions his tone, his excitment on his face when he saw his old home said it all.
    this little boy genuinely believed in what he was saying, and i think its astonishing, truly amazing. however it doesnt all add up, how could this little boy know of this remote island called barra? why did he say his dad was knocked down when evidence shown there was nobody by the name of shane robertson knocked down. however there was a man under the name of robertson, his first name unknown, but again, he never died from being knocked down, or from anything similar or relevent.i do feel there are many questions that have gone unanswered and i would like to see into them further.

    Reply

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