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| a documentary film by Nati Baratz WINNER - Special Jury Award at 2009 Full Frame Festival WINNER - Best Documentary Feature - 2009 RiverRun Film Festival Film opens in New York at Film Forum on Wednesday JUNE 3 National Release will follow in June / July Filmmaker Nati Bartz is available for phone and email interviews The subject of the film, Tibetan Monk Tenzin Zopa is available for select phone interviews |
| Oscilloscope Laboratories Presents UNMISTAKEN CHILD |
Press Screenings in NYC at 209 W. Houston St. Film Forum:
Thursday, May 21 at 11 am
Thursday, May 28 at 11 am
Oscilloscope Laboratories is proud to present the US Theatrical release of Nati Baratz’s documentary UNMISTAKEN
CHILD. After its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, the film screened in the Official Selection at the Berlin Film
Festival and numerous prestigious festivals around the world. UNMISTAKEN CHILD will have its theatrical premiere in
New York City at Film Forum on Wednesday, June 3. Other cities will follow.
UNMISTAKEN CHILD is a real time documentation of the search for a reincarnated Tibetan master, told through the eyes
of his lifelong disciple. Visually stunning, emotionally gripping, and shot over the course of four years, the film follows an
ages-old sacred quest through the eyes of a remarkable attendant.
After 26 years of isolated meditation in a mountain cave, Lama Konchog became world renowned as one of the greatest
Tibetan Masters of our times. In 2001, at the age of 84, he passed away and his shy and devoted disciple, Tenzin Zopa, was
instructed by the Dalai Lama to search for his master’s reincarnation. The ‘unmistaken child’ must be found within 4 years,
before it becomes too difficult to separate him from his parents.
Tenzin entered the service of his master at age of 7, at his own request, and had been with the master continuously for the
21 years until his death. The loss of his teacher leaves him bereft and utterly lonely, and he is unsettled by his responsibility
to carry out this highly secretive search - that of finding his beloved spiritual father embodied in a little boy that may be
anywhere in the world.
His search crosses lands, passing though starkly beautiful mountains and small villages that appear to be unchanged for
hundreds of years. Assisted by astrology, signs in dreams and the whispers of villagers, Tenzin travels by helicopter, mule
and foot, and when he does come upon an apparent contender, we join Tenzin and his young charge through the mysterious
procedures that will—or will not—confirm the reincarnation. We have seen similar tests before in movies like Martin
Scorsese's KUNDUN; but to witness the real thing is even more magical.
While UNMISTAKEN CHILD brings to light a rarely seen aspect of the Buddhist faith, the true revelation is the journey of
Tenzin the man. Modest, shy, but with a delightfully impish sense of humor, we come to know a man who appears to be of
another time and place and yet is profoundly living in the present. Alone on his quest, he is only able to share his thoughts
and feelings with filmmaker, Nati Baratz, and his simple honesty and unselfconsciousness make the viewer a privileged
partner in Tenzin’s passage to the next phase of his remarkable life.
About the Filmmaker:
Nati Baratz was born in Jerusalem, Israel. He has been working as a freelance director and producer since graduating from
the Film School at Tel-Aviv University in 2000. His most notable films include TEL AVIV-KYRGYZSTAN (2001) and
NOCHES (2004). Both documentaries were broadcast on TV in Israel.
102 min. 35mm Dolby Sound Not Rated In English
Web Site:
http://www.oscilloscope.net/shop/view_film.php?ID=11&r=gallery#cast
http://www.filmforum.org/films/unmistaken.html
Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?sid=69379a2cf05dd3c3e43f315b64b92052&gid=42251868499
To RSVP to a press screening, and or to request a screener for review / interview purpose, please contact Sasha Berman at
Shotwell Media at SashaBerman@mac.com, or at 310-450-5571.
Join Shotwell Media on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=55230869479&ref=mf
Follow Shotwell Media on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/ShotwellMedia
Thursday, May 21 at 11 am
Thursday, May 28 at 11 am
Oscilloscope Laboratories is proud to present the US Theatrical release of Nati Baratz’s documentary UNMISTAKEN
CHILD. After its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, the film screened in the Official Selection at the Berlin Film
Festival and numerous prestigious festivals around the world. UNMISTAKEN CHILD will have its theatrical premiere in
New York City at Film Forum on Wednesday, June 3. Other cities will follow.
UNMISTAKEN CHILD is a real time documentation of the search for a reincarnated Tibetan master, told through the eyes
of his lifelong disciple. Visually stunning, emotionally gripping, and shot over the course of four years, the film follows an
ages-old sacred quest through the eyes of a remarkable attendant.
After 26 years of isolated meditation in a mountain cave, Lama Konchog became world renowned as one of the greatest
Tibetan Masters of our times. In 2001, at the age of 84, he passed away and his shy and devoted disciple, Tenzin Zopa, was
instructed by the Dalai Lama to search for his master’s reincarnation. The ‘unmistaken child’ must be found within 4 years,
before it becomes too difficult to separate him from his parents.
Tenzin entered the service of his master at age of 7, at his own request, and had been with the master continuously for the
21 years until his death. The loss of his teacher leaves him bereft and utterly lonely, and he is unsettled by his responsibility
to carry out this highly secretive search - that of finding his beloved spiritual father embodied in a little boy that may be
anywhere in the world.
His search crosses lands, passing though starkly beautiful mountains and small villages that appear to be unchanged for
hundreds of years. Assisted by astrology, signs in dreams and the whispers of villagers, Tenzin travels by helicopter, mule
and foot, and when he does come upon an apparent contender, we join Tenzin and his young charge through the mysterious
procedures that will—or will not—confirm the reincarnation. We have seen similar tests before in movies like Martin
Scorsese's KUNDUN; but to witness the real thing is even more magical.
While UNMISTAKEN CHILD brings to light a rarely seen aspect of the Buddhist faith, the true revelation is the journey of
Tenzin the man. Modest, shy, but with a delightfully impish sense of humor, we come to know a man who appears to be of
another time and place and yet is profoundly living in the present. Alone on his quest, he is only able to share his thoughts
and feelings with filmmaker, Nati Baratz, and his simple honesty and unselfconsciousness make the viewer a privileged
partner in Tenzin’s passage to the next phase of his remarkable life.
About the Filmmaker:
Nati Baratz was born in Jerusalem, Israel. He has been working as a freelance director and producer since graduating from
the Film School at Tel-Aviv University in 2000. His most notable films include TEL AVIV-KYRGYZSTAN (2001) and
NOCHES (2004). Both documentaries were broadcast on TV in Israel.
102 min. 35mm Dolby Sound Not Rated In English
Web Site:
http://www.oscilloscope.net/shop/view_film.php?ID=11&r=gallery#cast
http://www.filmforum.org/films/unmistaken.html
Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?sid=69379a2cf05dd3c3e43f315b64b92052&gid=42251868499
To RSVP to a press screening, and or to request a screener for review / interview purpose, please contact Sasha Berman at
Shotwell Media at SashaBerman@mac.com, or at 310-450-5571.
Join Shotwell Media on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=55230869479&ref=mf
Follow Shotwell Media on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/ShotwellMedia