Caminhe Comigo

I loved the music, especially the solo violin during what looked like a visitor orientation session. If anyone knows the title and composer of the piece, I'd love to know. The movie itself was kind of a letdown. It didn't seem especially illuminating, deep or even meditative. Just some monks and monastery guests going through their routines. Lots of shots of TNH, but he didn't seem to have many moving words of wisdom beyond the regular fare of "the clouds become your tea, so don't mourn your dog."

Zen Buddhism is a really interesting way to look at the world, and Thich Nhat Hanh is arguably one of its great teachers. But neither comes through in this well meant but pointless film.

The film fails to tell you much of anything. You don't learn who Thich Nhat Hanh is, what he's doing, where he's doing it (beyond somewhere in France), or why he's doing it. There's no history, no context. It's mostly just following a guy around, and I mean that literally, there are minutes on screen of the back of a guy's head as he walks about.

You won't learn much of anything about Zen Buddhism. The five core precepts aren't mentioned, nor the 14 mindfulness teachings. You'll have to look them up because IMDb won't let me post a link here.

You'd think that any film about Thich Nhat Hanh would at least mention what he's known for. If you think that, this film will disappoint you.

And I have to say the camera work played against what little message there was. For example, there were way, way, way too many extreme closeups, which emphasizes the individual and downplays the connections between all things that Thich Nhat Hanh teaches.

Thich Nhat Hanh and the Zen Buddhism he teaches deserve a better film than this.

This film immerses the viewer into Thich Nhat Hanh's practice of mindfulness and approach to life. It sets a beautiful mood while showing the life at a Buddhist monastery. The viewer experiences Thich Nhat Hanh teaching, children asking difficult questions, monks and nuns playing calming classical music - interrupted by a bell after which everyone pauses to contemplate the present moment.

If you're looking for a documentary ABOUT Thich Nhat Hanh, you will be disappointed. If you're looking for a documentary designed to immerse you in the experience of spending 90 minutes WITH Thich Nhat Hanh, this is a wonderful, moving film. I would advise treating it like a meditation practice, observing the beautiful moments throughout without the expectation of learning some new information, but rather apprehending through direct experience that to which the finger of Thay's teaching points...this is a film to be experienced rather than conceptualized and understood. Pausing and going into one's breathing during the bells, as one would on retreat with Thay, is equally suggested.

I really like this kind of documentary movie which is filmed seemingly close to their real life. The sound and the quotes are beautiful. The film makes me wanting to know more about Buddhism and the meaning of living.