This movie certainly provokes a wide variety of emotions - astonishment, respect, appreciation, and remorse. Filmed by Dutch director Mark Verkerk and his team, for a period of one year when they were living together with the Kho Bakh and his sangha, movie provides a viewer with an extremely nuanced depiction of how this outstanding orphanage functions. Scenes of a day-to-day routine of monks, scenes of unusual rituals and customs, scenes of interaction between monks and laymen - offer us to see and understand one of the most interesting culture in the world. Viewing this movie would give a tangible insight into the fundamental philosophy of Buddhism, and provide quite sophisticated point of inquiry into the life of common people living in problematic regions of Thailand.
Kho Bakh represent, or at least at some time represented, a quite widespread type of individual in a Thai society. Man working in a Thai boxing, and being just one of the ordinary fighters. But, one day he become wondering about the impermanence of life, and staring from this point life of his, and life of number of other people have changed, and I hope that will yet change. He decided to devote his life to helping others. Changing life of people who are actually in need, changing their attitudes, behaviors, by spreading knowledge and sharing what he has. Story of Kho Bakh is incredibly inspirational in a way that he used to be an ordinary man for a large part of his life, and one day he chose to make his life meaningful. Meaningful not only to himself, but for whole community.
Life of the monastery, in my opinion, is very vividly showcased in this documentary. It certainly offers a nuanced perspective on what does Kho Bakh in his new career of monk, what changes does he bring into the society, and what way of living those children living in his orphanage-monastery have. While almost all of the parts of the movie unveil significant portion of information regarding the monastery life, some of the scenes were crucially thought-provoking. For instance, scenes of how Kho Bakh goes into different villages where a significant part of citizens subsist on drug-dealing industry, and tries to share the knowledge that this is a wrong way of living. However, he does not simply explain it to them, but also helps them to undergo this obstacle by providing them jobs, and sometimes even helpful 'presents' that will help them on ways of starting their new lives. Another interesting scene that appeared vibrant to me is when young boys who were one of those villagers that come to one of the Kho Bakh's temples to help monastery to rebuild it were beginning to start a fight. The speech that Kho Bakh, and later a nun of the monastery gave to those men was so emotional, and peculiar in a way that emotions of those men who were treated by monastery's officials were filmed very vividly. By this scene, I think, the influence which presence of this monastery and Kho Bakh on the life of these societies (not including individual cases of boys whose lives are significantly improved by his initiative) can be observed. Presence of this outstanding, I would even say - phenomenal monastery certainly helps people of Thai community.
The problems that people living in the region called "Thailand's Golden Triangle" are showcased in this documentary in a very lively way. At some points there I had even experienced a feeling that I was present there with the filming team, and talked with those people. The feeling of sorrow about the conditions in which those people live, and the feeling of appreciation about the changes that Kho Bakh's work bring arise at the same time, and it then evokes a sense of understanding about significance and effectiveness of Buddhism. Stories of Sukh, and other boys that were suffocating from malnutrition that found refuge in Kho Bakh's orphanage is very touching. These stories make one believe in the humankind.
While at the beginning the directorate of the movie seemed quite primitive, close to the middle of the movie it becomes apparent that this way of filming is what makes it special. Through combination of everyday scenes from monastery's life and sincere interviews of Kho Bakh and nun the importance of this monastery's existence and its philosophy is explained in the most meaningful, and touching way. The ending of the documentary was like the final stroke that made it even more beautiful. Philosophy of Khu Bakh- that his mission is to teach believe to make choices - is extremely inspiring. I believe that this documentary can make people believe that if someone really wants to improve the living of others, then despite any obstacle that he could face during his way - it is achievable. That being a positive agent changer in a society is not unrealistic, and could be made only by some super-extraordinary individual, but by any man who just chose to do so.
Review of Buddha's Lost Children
