Wheel of Time
by Werner Herzog
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Mattieu Ricard, Takna Jigme Sangpo, The Dalai Lama (XIV), Thupten TseringDirector: Werner Herzog
Cinematographer: Werner Herzog
Cinematographer: Peter Zeitlinger
Editor: Joe Bini
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language); German (Original Language); Tibetan (Original Language)
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 80 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-10-25
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Fox Lorber
Movie Reviews of Wheel of Time
Movie Review: Interesting
Summary: 3 Stars
As many other Herzog's films, the WOT looks deceptively content less, with a narrative that is descriptive in the simplest possible way, but never explanatory - nor (and that is fascinating in itself) comprehending of what it sees. The narrator knows that he is nothing but a mendicant observer yet somewhere deep inside one can sense his awareness of the privilege inherent in witnessing scenes of great power, profoundness, depth as well as simplicity.
This is not a "movie" as much as a random yet exquisitely arranged collection of scintillating time points.It takes a bit of a mental switch to notice the colors, the sparse beauty of images - of the lake, the mountain, the people, the fluttering butter lamps, the birds about to be released into freedom, the inner beauty of the man imprisoned for 37 years by Chinee occupators for having shouted "Free Tibet"....
To me, WOT shows the awe-inspiring sincerity of Tibetan Buddhist beliefs and the beauty of the people who espouse them. Every single face, no matter how weather-beaten, old, ragged - was filled with an immense beauty that reflects a deep connection to earth and spirit. With real life, life that I could feel for hours after I switched off the TV set. In other words, this is work made by a master film-maker.
I must say that the camera often feels irritatingly intrusive as it forces itself into faces of simple nomads and pilgrims - that alone, this Teutonic lack of tact, often made me cringe. The illiterate Tibetan peasants seemed so much more civilized, and certainly more sensitive, than the meddling and clueless camera people.
It did make me happy, though, just to watch those faces.
Free Tibet!
Summary of Wheel of Time
Wheel of Time is acclaimed filmmaker Werner Herzog's (Grizzly Man, Aguirre: The Wrath of God, Fitzcarraldo) gorgeously photographed look at the largest Buddhist ritual in Bodh Gaya, India. It is said that Buddha found enlightenment under a tree in Bodh Gaya and today, Buddhist monks are ordained in this holy place. Herzog magically captures the lengthy pilgrimage (which for some, is over 3,000 miles), the monk's creation of the beautiful and intricate sand mandala (the wheel of time) along with many secret rituals that have never been seen before on film. He delivers a personal and introspective look at what Buddhism really means to its most ardent followers, as well as giving outsiders an intimate look into a fascinating way of life.As filmmaker and cultural anthropologist, Werner Herzog brings his unique powers of observation to Buddhist rituals in Wheel of Time. The documentary's title refers to the central symbol that forms the physical and spiritual hub of an intricately detailed sand mandala that is the centerpiece of the Kalachakra initiation, a Buddhist ceremony that attracts several hundred thousand monks and pilgrims to Bodh Gaya, India (the original site of the Buddha's enlightenment) in 2002. Through well-chosen images and his own sparse but effective narration, Herzog chronicles this spiritual conclave, incorporating brief interview clips with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, a lively debate between high-level monks at the gathering, an interview with a Tibetan political prisoner who'd spent 37 years in jail, and a visit to the sacred Mount Kailash in Tibet, where the faithful endure a high-altitude 52-kilometer trek to worship on holy ground. Having recovered from illness that prevented his full participation in the Bodh Gaya ceremony, the Dalai Lama appears at another Buddhist ceremony in Graz, Austria, where another sand mandala symbolizes the deep significance of Buddhist inner peace. Herzog's fascination with these rituals is infectious, and with a powerful soundtrack of Tibetan music and Buddhist monks' chanting, Wheel of Time achieves its own quiet quality of grace. --Jeff Shannon
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