Chichester Cinema at New Park
Wheel of Time
‘Wheel of Time’ is Werner Herzog's beautifully photographed look at the largest Buddhist ritual in Bodh Gaya, India.
The central subject is the Kalachakra Initiation, during which Tibetan Buddhist monks are ordained. Ritual is seen unfolding first in Bodh Gaya, India, the town where Buddha sat down under a tree and founded a philosophy, and then again, somewhat incongruously, in an exhibition hall in Graz.
Herzog's voiceover contextualizes some of the stranger activities, such as pilgrims prostrating themselves with every step, and the chaotic tossing of gifts and special holy dumplings to the frantic crowd of worshippers. Elsewhere, the Dalai Lama, smiling and robust looking, explains the spiritual significance of certain rituals to camera, but is later reported to be "too unwell" to take part in some aspects of the ceremony, much to the crowd's disappointment.
He makes a miraculous recovery in time for the ceremony in Graz, accompanied by a retinue of scarlet-robed monks and gray-suited, earpiece-sporting bodyguards. Herzog's engrossing documentary is a spiritual blessing for Buddhists and anyone else fortunate to experience it. Beautiful to look at, it is also not without Herzog's wry humour.
Part of the SPIRITUAL CINEMA SEASON
Germany · 2003 · Werner Herzog · 80min
