Moving from Emptiness: The Life and Art of a Zen Dude

Depending on one's mood, the enigmatic Zen wisdom of calligraphic artist Alok Hsu Kwang-han can inspire either giddiness or eye-rolling. In his workshops for people looking to connect with something essential within, intuition trumps thought, expressed on rice paper in black watercolor paint. In this alternately moving and mystifying documentary that is largely shot in Alok's studio, the 75-year-old master teaches students to be “present, available, playful, and not-knowing,” a state of mind that is very much the opposite of our usual daily distracted, stream-of-consciousness lives. Viewers see the lanky, grey-haired Alok swiftly transform from philosopher to clown, dancing wildly or spouting gibberish (while encouraging his students to do the same) as a way to clear the head and heart before painting a declaration such as “none of this is me.” Although filmmakers Shaeri Richards and Jerry Hartleben can't really capture the way that these exercises feel to the practitioners (viewers just see grown-ups painting squiggles), listening closely to Alok encourages confidence that he is actually imparting something both profound and therapeutic. Beyond the studio, the documentary finds Alok retracing his life as the son of Chinese immigrants who survived Japan's attacks during World War II. Viewers also meet his beloved partner and hear from a couple of Zen masters in the U.S. who help explain the ancient practice. But the star here is clearly Alok, a man with an enviably light spirit born of a long personal journey. Extras include bonus interviews. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)