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Wheel of Time
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List Price: $19.95
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Manufacturer: Fox Lorber
Starring: Dalai Lama, Lama Lhundup Woeser, Takna Jigme Sangpo, Matthieu Ricard, Madhurita Negi Anand
Directed By: Werner Herzog
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0720917547022
Format: Color
Label: Fox Lorber
Manufacturer: Fox Lorber
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Fox Lorber
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2005-10-25
Running Time: 80
Studio: Fox Lorber
Theatrical Release Date: 2003
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Editorial Reviews:
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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.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Comment: 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.
Caveat: the camera often feels irritatingly intrusive as it forces itself into faces of simple nomads and pilgrims. This Teutonic lack of tact often made me cringe. Illiterate Tibetan peasants seemed more civilized and refined than the inquisitive Teutons disturbing their meditations, prostrations or lunches with their in-your-face camera technique.
just to watch those faces, however, made me happy.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Stunningly Filmed
Comment: This is a stunning film with unadorned footage of Buddhist monks ... the film speaks for itself and cinematography is of the best quality.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Amateurish documentary, but interesting
Comment: First of all, this is one of the poorest, most amateurish documentaries I have ever seen made by a so called "professional" film maker.
Why would you choose someone without a command of the English language to narrate in English? Sometimes it is difficult to understand what he is saying. Ridiculous!
Then, when there should be narration, there is none, so you have no idea what is going on or why.
Then, too, it is shot like a home movie, with bad camera work at times and bad editing.
That said, I still rated it 3 stars just because it offers a glimpse into a massive gathering of Buddhists on the planet, presided over by the Dalai Lama. So if you like to be a fly on the wall, if you are a "people watcher", you will find this interesting. And we do get some good interviews with people who, for example, travel on foot 3000 miles, prostrating themselves to the Buddha every few feet along the way until they get sores on their hands and feet and forehead from bowing down to the ground so many times. And we see many others walking along in the same manner, coming from many miles away.
I am a student of Buddhism and practice Buddhist meditation, and I would like to point out that this documentary depicts TIBETAN Buddhism. While this is a major form of Buddhism it is not the ONLY Buddhism, and in fact, in my humble opinion it is not what was originally taught by the Buddha. Tibetan Buddhism to me seems to be filled with superstition and ritual, 2 things the Buddha actually warned against.
That said, this is an interesting movie if you have an interest in Buddhism, particularly Tibetan Buddhism. But you have to bring your own enthusiam to the movie because the director, Herzog, brought little to the table.
Customer Rating:
Summary: TIBETAN BUDDHISM ART
Comment: I love anything that has to do with sand mandalas and buddhism. Mandalas are complex to explain but their creation as well as their destruction is a fascinating aspect of the impermanence of things. The DVD presents the audience the oportunity to dive into this rare and mystical expression of art. I personally love it and collect all related to tibetan buddhism.
Customer Rating:
Summary: werner on the wheel
Comment: I like to watch most anything by the documentarian Werner Herzog, and Wheel of Time was no exception. This film finds him in Bodh Gaya, India, where tradition has it that the Buddha first found enlightenment 2,500 years ago under the bo tree. Every few years a half million Buddhist pilgrims travel to Bodh Gaya for a sacred rite convened by the Dalai Lama called the Kalachakra ("Wheel of Time"). The pilgrims come from near and far, many by foot, making prostrations the length of the body the entire trip. One monk from Tibet took three years to travel the 3,000 miles, genuflecting the entire way. Others will make 100,000 of these prostrations once they arrive, a rite that takes six weeks. Central to the series of religious activities is a "mandala" or sculpture made of colored sands that the monks craft from a large stencil. The intricate work of art is destroyed after the rites, the sand returned to the earth, a symbol that all is transitory. In one scene the pilgrims circumambulate the 25 mile base of Mount Kailash (22,000 feet). Wheel of Time has less narration than other Herzog documentaries, leaving you to wonder what some of the throngs of worshippers are doing. Herzog is also much more circumspect with his typical critique. But the combination of color, scenery, history, religion, culture, and language make this a very good if not great film.
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