The Buddha

In a brief conversation included as a bonus, writer-director David Grubin says that his purpose in making this PBS-aired documentary wasn't to investigate the historical Siddhartha so much as to illustrate the message of hope conveyed by the Buddha's teachings. Narrated by Richard Gere, The Buddha traces the canonical tale of the young prince who, after becoming aware of suffering and death, abandoned his life of wealth and privilege to seek enlightenment through extreme asceticism. The Buddha ultimately discovered that meditation brought serenity to the soul, a revelation he passed on to his disciples. Combining solid narration, interview excerpts (with, among others, the Dalai Lama), simple but charming animation, travelogue-like visuals, and montages of manuscript illustrations, paintings, temples, and statues, The Buddha doesn't offer a deep analysis of the Enlightened One's teachings, but instead provides a respectful and instructive introduction to one of the world's most significant spiritual figures. Other DVD extras include an interview with the Dalai Lama, a brief look at the animation created for the film, and footage of various pilgrimage sites. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)