NetflixZZZZ

Found the movie after becoming of a fan of the Elijah character from "The Originals" TV series. My review is likely not objective since I normally don't give a dime about characters sporting massive beards, if not for Daniel Gillies.

That said, for other people who watch independent films because they like good drama, character studies, human stories, ... etc, do not miss this gem.

Wonderful does not begin to describe it. This movie is like a soulful poem among a sea of literature providing cheap thrills & mindless entertainment. Great camera work, sharp dialog, beautiful actors and intense acting. The plot is so simple it can be summarized into a couple of sentences, yet the talented writer/director/actor Daniel Gillies managed to fill the 90+ minutes with alternatively: suspense, amusement, chaos and sadness...

Love it. Touched by it. I need to go back to watch it again, as I'm sure there're some symbolism in there not yet registered or digested first time around.

The associated documentary "Kingdom Come" is another great little gem all by itself. Makes me feel sorry for paying merely a few bucks for hours of enjoyment plus a bit of profound enlightenment. Even more upsetting is to know the fact that: not enough people will ever come across this - a unique piece of beautiful artwork made with passion, sweat, heart, by some gifted people who went broke and almost insane for it.

French are masters at making hilarious comedies! This one reminds me of "Dinner with Friends". Don't be fooled by the name or cover image - it's not for kids or those faint at heart. All the Catholic jokes you've ever heard, and then some, are seamlessly woven into a coherent & fast-paced story. This precious little hidden gem will definitely crack up the audience, excluding devout Catholics of course. Great choice on the lead actors, especially the teenage boy whose performance can make you laugh one minute then cry the next. And one more thing: don't watch dubbed version. Hearing the conversations in its original French tongue makes it that much funnier!

A young monk was given the sacred task of finding The One - the reincarnated child of his master who recently passed away. It proved almost too confusing and stressful for him: "Because I never planned for my life, you see. Everything was planned by Geshe-la: You are going to do this, you'll do that. So I always say 'yes', just follow, and I didn't think at all about what is going to happen next." Yet he came through, following the signs, guidance from older monks and his instincts.

An interesting character study indeed, of a simple, obedient youth who came from a humble village at the poorest corner of Earth, grew up in a convent, ended up shaping a world event through sheer devotion of religious faith. This is no laughing matter - this zealous personality actually believes everything he dreamed and imagined as the godly truth.

One interesting scene that's perhaps the most revealing moment of the film, is when this monk after hours of meditation, appeared spiritually enchanted by the harmonious nature, told the camera: "Everybody would dance, every nature, tree would dance... Such as this flower, so beautiful, happy and free." He unplugged the flower from the back of his ear and started mimicking dancing movement, then suddenly realized the flower would live no longer... so he said: "But sorry anyway, I... I took permission from the tree."

It is not hard to imagine what would become of that adorable, bright, innocent little "unmistaken" child. Any amusement I might have felt earlier was completely overshadowed by sadness and grief, after watching the 2nd half of this extremely objective and unflinchingly passive documentary.