A Buddha (Argentina)

This is an unusual movie by Diego Rafecas, a Zen practitioner and filmaker from Argentina, which tells the story of two brothers who are orphaned when their parents are ‘disappeared’ during the military dictatorship of the 70s-80s.

This affects the boys in different ways, and the elder (played by the director himself) ends up teaching the history of philosophy at University, a subject he knows well, but doesn’t believe in; while the younger son struggles with ascetic practice in the city.

Things change when the younger brother goes to a Zen Retreat Centre in Cordoba to try and find a guide for his practice. Eventually his brother and their girlfriends also come, and their discussions with the Master at the centre bring about a transformation in their lives.

It is an interesting story of a spiritual search in modern times, with an unusual setting. Well-written and sensitively directed by Rafecas, it is worthwhile watching, even though the quality of the rip is low, and I am not sure all the talk about god really fits the Buddhist perspective, not even a Zen one.