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Keanu Reeves, Chris Isaak, Bridget Fonda, Alex Wiesendanger, Ying Ruocheng ... see more see more... , Jigme Kunsang , Jo Champa , Joanna Merlin , Priscilla John , Howard Feuer , Greishma Makar Singh , Raju Lal , Sogyal Rinpoche , Ven. Geshe Tsultim Gyelsen , Ven. Khyongla Rato Rinpoche

Bernardo Bertolucci attempts to mix Buddhist spirituality with childhood fantasy in Little Buddha. When Dean Conrad (Chris Isaak), a Seattle architect, comes home from work one day, he finds two robed... read more read more... Buddhist monks sitting in his living room talking with his wife Lisa (Bridget Fonda). Guided by a series of disturbing dreams, the monks have traveled from Nepal to Seattle because they believe that the Conrad's ten-year-old son, Jesse (Alex Wiesendanger) may be the reincarnation of a legendary Buddhist mystic. The Conrads are initially skeptical, particularly when the monks want to take their son back to Bhutan with them. But after Dean's partner commits suicide, Dean has a religious awakening ("I've been doin' some thinkin'," he says) and permits Jesse to go away with the monks. Then the Lama Norbu (Ruocheng Ying) gives Jesse a children's book about the Buddha Siddhartha (Keanu Reeves). Siddhartha leads a sheltered life until he comes upon a couple of all-knowing beggars who introduce him to poverty and hunger. After this revelation, Siddhartha decides that it is his destiny to relieve all human beings from pain and suffering. Back in present day, Jesse is now knowledgeable about the basis of Buddhism. Much to Jesse's and his father's surprise, however, they find that there are two other children at Bhutan who show signs of being the reincarnated Buddhist mystic. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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9,502 ratings

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64% liked it

22 critics

PG, 2 hr. 3 min.

Directed by: Bernardo Bertolucci

Release Date: May 25, 1994

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DVD Release Date: April 3, 2001

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Stats: 420 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (420)

  • newvogueravyn
    December 12, 2010
    newvogueravyn
    Ultimately this fell flat for me. I was more interested in the segements relating Siddhartha's story than in any of the modern day goings on, even if Keanu Reeves seems to mainly be in the film to look pretty (which his delivery of lines suggests).
  • fb733768972
    January 29, 2010
    fb733768972
    I watched this film in my religion class for the first time, and it was enough for me. However, I do give it credit for staying biblically correct to the religion!
  • YLOWBSTARDreturns
    March 2, 2007
    YLOWBSTARDreturns
    In a word: Boring.
  • Doctor0Quinzel
    December 15, 2010
    Doctor0Quinzel
    Great casting, really splendid, because when I think of Buddha I automatically think Keanu Reeves. Honestly I started to burst out laughing whenever Keanu spoke, it was pretty bad. Other than that I thought the story was interesting, and cute. I thought that it would have been ... read moremore heavy handed, but it was quite passive in it's views of the world which I found refreshing.
  • fb33703014
    May 19, 2012
    fb33703014
    this was one of the real notorious "Harvey Weinstein fucked with my original version" movies from Miramax back in the day. Apparently Bertolucci hates Weinstein because of it. Then again, how great can a movie be with Keanu Reeves as a Siddhartha?

    Well... it's not great (that ... read morewas my previous review of what I thought of the movie waaay back in the day). But it's MUCH better than I expected, and is very good *despite* what Weinstein did to the cut, which does appear from seeing the film to have been cut by a good few minutes - maybe for the better, I don't know. All I know is Reeves, who shouldn't have any place in this film, gives an astonishingly good performance all things considered, and Bertolucci and writer Rudy Wurlitzer (of Two-Lane Blacktop!) are very thoughtful about the nature of Buddhism and what the Siddhartha means today. And of course Vittorio Storaro is the man, and this along with Bulworth is one of his late masterpieces of camera-work.

    Not one of Bertolucci's best, of course, and the kids can be a bit mawkish and eh. But for what it is, I was absorbed.
  • crussell76014
    March 20, 2012
    crussell76014
    Little Buddha, an extraordinary film. Bertolluci, really tries for a spiritual component that doesn't seem phony, contrived or spiritual materialist. He allows us to welcome Eastern religions into the Western mainstream of our faith and thoughts. Some scenes are mind-blowing and ... read morehaving the eye candy of Chris Isaak and Keanu Reeves kept me wanting to see more. The sweet and genuine Bridget Fonda played the mother of a boy (Jesse) who is believed by Lama Norbu and other monks that Lama Dorje has reincarnated himself within him. When I read that Keanu Reeves was playing Buddha, I did have some negative feeling about the fact that he is a white actor playing a Buddhist role, who doesn't remotely look Indian. How insulting to have a full Indie cast when telling Buddha's story of enlightenment! After being captivated by the colors, the mystical sounds, and the warmth feeling of the movie, those feeling ceased. I found him completely believable as Siddhartha Gautama. The acting may not be Oscar worthy but the movie communicates its subject matter in a way that many people can relate to and was portrayed just simple enough for Americans to understand.

    The purpose of the Tibetan Monks from Bhutan popping into the Americanâ(TM)s lives was to evaluate the couple's only child as a candidate for one of Buddhism's primary beliefs, reincarnation. The story of Buddha is presented to you through the "eyes" of a child's book presented to the American child to help him understand the belief system. It also helps you keep the intertwining story lines straight. The cinematographer in a warm colored light portrays the part of the story about Buddha, whereas the struggles of the American family to come to grips with all of this are presented in cool tones. I love the way the movie tells two stories at once with the right balance between a real life storyline intertwined with an abbreviated story of Buddha, which was actually enough in this case.

    When I first saw it I did not know what to expect at all. It is a wonderful thing to see the life of the Buddha being told especially if you haven't seen it before and the monks were funny. The benefit of portraying religious stories in secular films is to teach the non-Buddhist about the religion in a simplistic form and in an entertaining way. For an example, the lama explained reincarnation; âtea is still tea even after the cup breaks, implicating the mind (tea) still exists after the body (cup) decays away.â? It is close to the same way I explained about the existence of God. If you pour salt into a glass of water you know the salt is there but can not see it. The breaking of the cup got my attention. Another line that stuck out to me; âThere is no salvation without compassion for every other Beingâ?. I really believe in that and love that Bertolluci included this line in the movie because it shows us the beauty and compassion of their religion, which other religions should be conscious of this. If anyone say this is an awful it is because they are not spiritually mature and it isnâ(TM)t for them. Bottom line, Little Buddha gives a touching peak into one of the world's great belief systems without any attempt to preach to you. I highly recommend anyone to see this movie.
  • muveekween
    October 20, 2011
    muveekween
    Watchable but boring. Keanu did great as Prince Siddhartha. What was with all the blue everytime they showed Seattle.
  • tjtenderhearted
    December 3, 2008
    tjtenderhearted
    i learned a lot about the history behind Buddha... This movie has inspired me to learn more about this way of life...
  • pixygiggles
    November 16, 2008
    pixygiggles
    I absolutely love this story! I've already watched this movie at least 4 times; but I'm sure it's one I will watch over and over again. It conveys a great deal more than just a story for me. Little Buddha sparked my interest many years ago to open my mind to search for more than ... read moreI was raised to believe.
  • aaaartstar
    October 30, 2008
    aaaartstar
    strange... and it is weird that keanu plays buddha! the least expected thing ever! but otherwise pretty good. nothing exciting. i had to watch it for school if that says anything :]

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Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
December 7, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Bertolucci's celebrated burnt-orange-and-burnished-lemon look remains handsome, and the story itself still commands some interest as a pivot into daunting material. Full Review

Janet Maslin
August 30, 2004
Janet Maslin, New York Times

A crazily mesmerizing pop artifact that ranks alongside Herman Hesse's novel Siddhartha in terms of extreme earnestness and quasi-religious entertainment value. Full Review

Joe Brown
January 1, 2000
Joe Brown, Washington Post

Though uneven, the film is engagingly moving and often humorous. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Little Buddha succeeds precisely because of its guileless innocence. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The modern sequences lack realism or credibility. The ancient sequences play like the equivalent of a devout Bible story. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

As beautifully photographed and intelligently-written as the movie is, it has no emotional depth or appeal, and is often as cold and clinical as its gray depiction of Seattle. Full Review

John A. Nesbit
April 4, 2008
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews

Excellent introduction to Buddhism--strongest portions are mythical excerpts of Buddha's life. Full Review

December 7, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Although the search for enlightenment may not have much in the way of high-concept appeal, the film should satisfy adventurous moviegoers as well as the large number of adults already intrigued by eas... Full Review

Wally Hammond
June 24, 2006
Wally Hammond, Time Out

Bertolucci's epic is a disappointment. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
May 12, 2004
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Has some captivating qualities about both contemporary American life and Tibetan Buddhism. Full Review

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