At 95 minutes and distributed in mostly independent
theatres, it’s not surprising that this documentary only grossed around
$270,000. Yet Becoming Who I Was
is a moving film not because of the subject matter, but because of the
relationship of the man who tutors a young boy who is to become a Rinpoche. For those who do not know what that is, a Rinpoche
in the Buddhist faith is an incarnated lama.
Thus, we have the title of this film.
Yet, for me, the merits of this movie have practically
nothing to do with reincarnation, Buddhism, or any other mystical element that
the New Age community may latch upon. It’s
a good story because the filmmakers somehow were able to capture the devotion
and kind-heartedness of the elderly tutor who wants to see his pupil succeed.
The film starts slowly enough. It portrays Angdu Padma, our future Rinpoche,
anywhere from the ages of 9 to approximately 12 or 13. What we notice about him is that he seems so very
much like a typical young and likable boy.
He claims to have memories of a past life, and that seems to generate
all of the fuss. Those his age don’t
seem that impressed. Some even tease him
about his lack of ability to play soccer and his short height.
His tutor, Rigzin Urgain, on the other hand, believes that
Padma is special. At first, it seems
like Urgain only took on the role because of the requirements of the religious
community, but when we see to what lengths he goes in helping his pupil, we
know his devotion to the child goes much deeper than that. Urgain is a humble man in the very best
sense. He doesn’t even seem to realize
that he is doing something extraordinary in helping Padma gain a better understanding
of the world. It doesn’t matter that the
two are Buddhists. His tutorship would
benefit the boy under any sort of instruction.
So like Urgain, this is a humble movie – outside of its
title and spectacular scenery. Yes, it
is a South Korean film winning: (1) the best feature film at the Berlin International
Film Festival; (2) best documentary at the Minneapolis St. Paul International
Film Festival, Phoenix Film Festival and Seattle Film Festival; (3) and the Moscow
International Documentary Film Festival.
I’m not sure anyone cares. It is
probably too low-key ever to have substantial viewership.
For all practical purposes, this is a slightly offbeat
father/son relationship story. The film’s
picking up on this relationship, especially in the second half of the movie, is
what makes it unique.
And in this film, we have a pilgrimage with the two traveling
across much of India and relying on the kindness of others to have Padma
educated in a Buddhist monastery – supposedly so that the boy could better
understand his gifts. Yet watching the
film, it appears that Urgain would be a better instructor than anyone else who would
try to fill his role.
To me, the title is misleading. Padma is not becoming who he was, but instead
is becoming something better than that.
He is becoming a real human being.
April 30, 2020
© Robert S. Miller 2020
