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here are a few more quick movie reviews.
the russian film come and see (idi i smotri) i thought was both thrilling and haunting. a story about the russian towns overrun during world war two, the story follows a young boy joining the partisans and the horror that he witnesses. The film has been uploaded to youtube in pieces. (warning: this movie is quite disturbing and graphic; and anti-german)
two other russian films, Night Watch (Nochnoy Dozor) and Day Watch (Dnevnoi Dozor) are action films with interesting visual and artistic styles. i wouldn’t give them strong recommendations but found them entertaining. almost mainstream in their simple vampire versus angel / good versus evil story line. they’re interesting in how the story is told. the main character attempts to be more complex and ambiguous but the story doesn’t give that much room to evolve.
then a german film, though the only dialog is in french and latin, is Into Great Silence (Die Große Stille) a documentary about the Carthusian order of Catholic monastics. It’s a stunning film, visually and contemplatively, with footage of the alps. But it’s not for the faint of heart: nearly three hours long and almost entirely in silence. if you have a meditation practice i strongly recommend it no matter your faith tradition. the director philip gröning captures the deep joy of simplicity.
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only sometimes do i bother with the inflight movie, but on my flight east we were offered Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium starring Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman. the film was razed by critics, receiving the worst family film mark by rolling stone. but i found it both entertaining and with significant buddhist philosophical undertones whether intentional or not. dustin hoffman’s character seems to have traits attributed to enlightened tibetan masters: a childlike demeanor, magic abilities, impossible age, and endless compassion. he’s the ultimate bodhisattva in all the ways we don’t expect a bodhisattva to behave - carefree and bemused and indifferent to our stress, but always working for the good of others. he even leaves the film in the way tibetan masters are said to enter parinirvana. perhaps author zach helm borrowed from buddhist mythologic ideas. but in summary, the film was uplifting and worth seeing in spite of it’s rated G and simplistic story. you might take my review with a grain of salt though, since i was entering a meditation retreat and generally in a fantastic mood.
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back on the west coast now. so far as i have left each deep retreat, i’ve had an experience that life is surreal in way. all the hurrying here and there; the subtle dramas that we often participate in; the frequent worry and aggression and so little of it seems to have a reasonable basis… but it’s beautiful, the first buds of spring arrived while i was gone. this morning feels gentle… the coffee is strong and slightly earthy. so much beauty everywhere.
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halifax is beautiful and sunny on sunday. now i get to watch my mind as i mix with the rest of the speedy world, and how i react to it and what comes up. post retreat is generally interesting. my mind is so sensitive from all the meditation but also more stable - even keel perhaps - so while i get triggered it’s more a curiosity and doesn’t throw me off as much. but now i have to catch up on so many emails and what happened while i was gone.
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this retreat is coming to a close. tomorrow is my last day of practice then i’m hitching a ride back to halifax. it’s been a really good retreat: good practice and the contemplations were fruitful.
i deepened some friendships and made some new ones. my buddhist lineage has increasingly tried to get together in groups and study and practice together lately. meeting more folks has been a wonderful side effect; or maybe that was the point. but also at times it has been seriously irritating, especially after meditating for a few days everything is amplified and more sensitive.
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i’m most likely sitting on a meditation cushion as you read this, taking a deep look at the alternating movement and stillness of mind and emotions. its been good so far, contemplating things like what i do to pursue happiness, where i have repetitive mental patterns, and where meditation as a practice fits into my life. will be continuing all of that for the next few days. i’m working toward and preparing for another retreat this June - a major milestone for my tibetan buddhism studies - which has a certain number of meditation and contemplation days prerequisite.
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