My Reincarnation

Director Jennifer Fox's strangely moving documentary about the evolving relationship between a Tibetan Buddhist Rinpoche master and his skeptic son, serves as a meditation on how spiritual family ties can—over time—bind together even the most oppositional minds. My Reincarnation spans 20 years as it chronicles the rise to prominence in Western circles of Buddhist Master Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, who in the 1950s escaped from the hostile Communist Chinese takeover of Tibet and eventually settled in Italy with his Italian wife. Norbu's Italian-born son, Yeshi, is believed to be the reincarnation of a well-known Buddhist Master from years past, but as footage of the young Yeshi illustrates, he is unable to accept responsibility for this sacred past life. As an adult, Yeshi lands a regular job with IBM and seems determined to live a “common” life, as he calls it, completely spiritually cut off from his guru father. But as the narrative progresses at its own relaxed, Zen-like pace, the adult Yeshi begins letting Buddhist practice into his stressful life as a businessman, and—sparked by a series of premonitions—almost instinctively embarks on his own path to spiritual teaching and leadership. A fascinating look at a complex father-son relationship, My Reincarnation distinctly humanizes the two subjects even as they are deified by masses of needy worshippers. DVD extras include deleted scenes and highlights of the NYC film premiere. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (M. Sandlin)