1993 film directed by
Bernardo Bertolucci and starring
Keanu Reaves as
Siddhartha. The film is the story of a
Buddhist Lama who comes to America to find the reincarnation of his teacher. He believes that the teacher has been reincarnated in the form of a young American boy. The boy and his father (played by
Chris Isaak) travel to
Tibet to determine whether or not the child is actually the reincarnated Lama.
The plot splits as the story of the Buddha's enlightenment is explained to the boy, and the film cuts back and forth between present-day Tibet and ancient India. Bertolucci's movies are always lush-looking, and his style is particularly effective in the parts set in India.
I thought Keanu's lack of acting skills were perfect for the role of an empty, priviledged member of the royalty who gives it all up to seek nirvana, but pretty much everyone I've talked to hates this film.