Milarepa
This is one of those magical films made by a group of Buddhist monks--- in this case, under the direction of Bhutanese Neten Chokling. "Milarepa" covers the first half of the life of the Tibetan saint, in which he becomes a sorcerer and murderer in the pursuit of revenge against greedy relatives and townspeople. It is beautiful cinematically (after all, it is in the Himalayas!), faithful to the familiar story, and gracefully acted by the monks and actors. Its honest and realistic tone draws the observer into empathy with the young man, and its conclusion as he undertakes karmic recovery leaves us very anxious for Part 2, which should be done in '09 or '10. This is a good story even for those who don't already know and love the father of the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Enthusiastically recommended!