The obligatory Dhamma themed movie thread

A place to discuss casual topics amongst spiritual friends.
Post Reply
User avatar
tiltbillings
Posts: 23046
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:25 am

The obligatory Dhamma themed movie thread

Post by tiltbillings »

And the obigatory listing of GROUNDHOG DAY

And a couple of others

O LUCKY MAN
FANNY AND ALEXANDER
KUNDUN
THE WICKER MAN (the 1973 original)
BLISS (1986 Australian film)
FISHER KING
ALL THAT JAZZ
THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING
MY DINNER WITH ANDRE
ALTERED STATES
THE ELEPHANT MAN
LITTLE BUDDHA
GANDHI
DARK CITY
ENGLIGHTENMENT GUARANTEED
WHY HAS BODHIDHARMA LEFT FOR THE EAST?
BARAKA
ECHOES OF ENLIGHTENMENT
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
User avatar
pink_trike
Posts: 1130
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 7:29 am
Contact:

Re: The obligatory Dhamma themed movie thread

Post by pink_trike »

American Beauty, in a sentimental messy sort of way.
Vision is Mind
Mind is Empty
Emptiness is Clear Light
Clear Light is Union
Union is Great Bliss

- Dawa Gyaltsen

---

Disclaimer: I'm a non-religious practitioner of Theravada, Mahayana/Vajrayana, and Tibetan Bon Dzogchen mind-training.
User avatar
zavk
Posts: 1161
Joined: Tue Jan 20, 2009 12:04 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: The obligatory Dhamma themed movie thread

Post by zavk »

You know.. now that you mention American Beauty, I find that many heavy-going, intense films are actually quite Dhammic in the sense that they are reflections on the painful truth of samsara.

Which reminds me of Kurosawa's Ikiru, a film that is an extended rumination on what it means 'to live'. A long and and sometimes slow film, but the ending makes it all worthwhile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc4y-asVh3c" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There are other Dhamma themed films but they tend to have more of a Mahayana flavour. Just off the top of my head: Cave of the Yellow Dog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xlan8eCU-sE
With metta,
zavk
nathan
Posts: 692
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:11 am

Re: The obligatory Dhamma themed movie thread

Post by nathan »

Conceivably potentially influenced:
2008, romantic comedy: Ghost Town
2006, drama, romance, sf-fantasy: The Fountain
2001, animated: Waking Life

As for Bill Murry's work, if Groundhog Day (1993) gets a pass then at least
2008, CIty of Ember
2005, Broken Flowers
2004, The Life Aquatic
2003, Lost in Translation
and
1984, The Razor's Edge
could be viewed in a similar light. I like his occasionally humorous and frequently sad but accurate portrayals of the human condition. A lot of entertaining and interesting cautionary tales in his career.
And , yes, I've watched far too many movies than any of those that could be watched entirely for my own benefit.
:smile:
But whoever walking, standing, sitting, or lying down overcomes thought, delighting in the stilling of thought: he's capable, a monk like this, of touching superlative self-awakening. § 110. {Iti 4.11; Iti 115}
User avatar
DNS
Site Admin
Posts: 17169
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:15 am
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, Estados Unidos de América
Contact:

Re: The obligatory Dhamma themed movie thread

Post by DNS »

Asoka

(Ashoka) a Bollywood movie in Hindi with English subtitles, about King Ashoka, singing, dancing, love story, typical Bollywood, but still good.
User avatar
DNS
Site Admin
Posts: 17169
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:15 am
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, Estados Unidos de América
Contact:

Re: The obligatory Dhamma themed movie thread

Post by DNS »

Seven Years in Tibet, starring Brad Pitt (1997)
User avatar
DNS
Site Admin
Posts: 17169
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:15 am
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, Estados Unidos de América
Contact:

Re: The obligatory Dhamma themed movie thread

Post by DNS »

I'm still hoping for a good feature length film on the life of Buddha, but it doesn't look like this is happening soon. I can't find any updates from this old story:

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php ... 60,0,0,1,0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

:popcorn:
User avatar
SeerObserver
Posts: 96
Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:52 pm
Location: USA

Re: The obligatory Dhamma themed movie thread

Post by SeerObserver »

Someone explain the Dharmic element of "Groundhog Day". It's been awhile since I've seen it and this is not the first time I've heard of this reference. I remember the gist of the film, but I'm not making the same connection at the moment as others are.

As much as I see it referred to, you would think this was some really strong and obvious connection like in "Little Buddha" or something like that. Title aside, that's a really Dhamma-themed movie.
TheDhamma wrote:Seven Years in Tibet, starring Brad Pitt (1997)
Agreed. There are some Buddhist principles in that movie as well. I really like the part regarding the beauty and impermanence of the sand murals.
User avatar
jcsuperstar
Posts: 1915
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 5:15 am
Location: alaska
Contact:

Re: The obligatory Dhamma themed movie thread

Post by jcsuperstar »

wicker man? :shrug:

oh anyways heres some
samsara (i'm not sure.. tibetan?)
spring summer fall winter and spring again (korean)
angulimala (thai)
the cup (tibetan)
red doors (usa)
come come come upwards (korean)
hwaomkyung (korean)
Down the River (thai)
Syndromes and a Century (thai)(maybe??)
Mujo (japanese)
สัพเพ สัตตา สุขีตา โหนตุ

the mountain may be heavy in and of itself, but if you're not trying to carry it it's not heavy to you- Ajaan Suwat
nathan
Posts: 692
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:11 am

Re: The obligatory Dhamma themed movie thread

Post by nathan »

SeerObserver wrote:Someone explain the Dharmic element of "Groundhog Day".
Those who don't learn from past mistakes and overcome them are doomed to repeat them.
:smile:
But whoever walking, standing, sitting, or lying down overcomes thought, delighting in the stilling of thought: he's capable, a monk like this, of touching superlative self-awakening. § 110. {Iti 4.11; Iti 115}
User avatar
SeerObserver
Posts: 96
Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:52 pm
Location: USA

Re: The obligatory Dhamma themed movie thread

Post by SeerObserver »

nathan wrote:
SeerObserver wrote:Someone explain the Dharmic element of "Groundhog Day".
Those who don't learn from past mistakes and overcome them are doomed to repeat them.
:smile:
Thanks, I get it now. I guess I just didn't associate that principle with Buddhism per se since it's talked about in so many other contexts (especially history classes). I guess I generally more apt to make the association when it's something more along the lines of the noble truths, eightfold path, the three characteristics of existence, karma/rebirth, etc.
User avatar
DNS
Site Admin
Posts: 17169
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:15 am
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, Estados Unidos de América
Contact:

Re: The obligatory Dhamma themed movie thread

Post by DNS »

SeerObserver wrote:
nathan wrote:
SeerObserver wrote:Someone explain the Dharmic element of "Groundhog Day".
Those who don't learn from past mistakes and overcome them are doomed to repeat them.
:smile:
Thanks, I get it now.
Also samsara itself. Each day he is "re-born" in the same vicious circle.
Karunika
Posts: 14
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:30 am

Re: The obligatory Dhamma themed movie thread

Post by Karunika »

User avatar
Cittasanto
Posts: 6646
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:31 pm
Location: Ellan Vannin
Contact:

Re: The obligatory Dhamma themed movie thread

Post by Cittasanto »

TheDhamma wrote:I'm still hoping for a good feature length film on the life of Buddha, but it doesn't look like this is happening soon. I can't find any updates from this old story:

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php ... 60,0,0,1,0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

:popcorn:
the site of this movie closed down a few months ago don't know why or if it has opened again?
I agree with you on Ashoka first subtitled movie I followed properly and enjoyed.
Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
User avatar
retrofuturist
Posts: 27839
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 9:52 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

Re: The obligatory Dhamma themed movie thread

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,
jcsuperstar wrote:spring summer fall winter and spring
Excellent. :clap:

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Post Reply