Amongst White Clouds
by Edward A. Burger
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DVD details
Actor: Chinese Buddhist hermit monksDirector: Edward A. Burger
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); Chinese (Unknown)
Format: NTSC
Running Time: 86 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-06-26
Studio: Festival Media
DVD Reviews of Amongst White Clouds
DVD Review: PLEASE DO YOURSELF A GREAT FAVOUR
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the simplest most beautiful film I have seen in my life ... if you are lost in the world please buy this DVD.DVD Review: all thumbs up
Summary: 5 Stars
Loved it !! just to see this way of life for a few minutes helps keep the modern world in checkDVD Review: The Mountains Speak
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved this film. The mountains were so beautiful.
Having traveled through Asia and visited mountain temples, my memories all returned from the beautiful cinematography.
The story was told well, and the characters were really brought to life.
I've seen some boring buddhist documentaries, but this definitely wasn't one of them. I highly recommend it - not really to learn about buddhism or anything, but just for the peaceful and joyful experience of being transported to this beautiful land.
DVD Review: Amongst White Clouds
Summary: 5 Stars
I foud this to be one of the best esoteric spiritual DVDs I have seen. It covers a very undercovered anbd historically significant subject. I enjoyed the DVD and found it quite informative; I can only wish I had seen it years ago, but we see things apparently when we are prepared to do so.
Respectfully submitted,
tbass
DVD Review: Among the hermits: where cameras never go
Summary: 4 Stars
Amongst White Clouds is an amazing document of the human adventure revealed not only in it's principle subject, but also in the making of the film.
First-time American director Edward A. Burger went to India in the late 90's to study Buddhism but found a greater connection to China. A book about Buddhist hermits pulled from an Indian monastery library led him north in search of an ancient way of life. Arriving in Beijing, he studied Chinese and began asking around for contacts that could introduce him to a mountain meditator. He ended up in the Zhongnan range of Shaanxi Province, where he lived and practiced for four years with one of these hermit masters. In 2003 he took a small film crew into the mountains to interview half a dozen of these practitioners and document their lives.
What comes across clearly in the interviews is that all of these men and one woman are serious about perfecting themselves, revealing their true natures and escaping from the suffering of mundane reality. What isn't always clear, and what many refuse to discuss, is their motivation for removing themselves from society and monastic communities. Besides footage of fetching water, working in the garden, or working on their huts, there is very little film of actual spiritual practice, no tantric rituals, no sitting zazen, no chanting of mantras. The recluses exhibit a few noticeable differences. Some live alone, while others reside in pairs or small groups. Some have electricity and running water. Others lead sparser lives, for example refusing to accept offerings of food. But still, we don't really get any idea of what kind of practices these hermits engage in - do they meditate most of the day? On what? Do they copy sutras? Recite mantras or the names of the Buddhas?
The most interesting questions are left unasked. How is the daily life of a mountain recluse - which consists in meditating, working around the hut, preparing the day's meals, washing, and perhaps a little study - different from the life of a village lay practitioner? What exactly is "the practice" and why is it necessary to isolate oneself from society in order to do it? Once realized, what then? Is there any obligation to return to society, or is "practice" an excuse to escape from the pressures of living with other people?
Despite the lack of probing questions, this remains a film worth watching for the light it shines on a little documented corner of the human experience.
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Description of Amongst White Clouds
An unforgettable journey into the hidden tradition of China's Buddhist hermit monks Amongst White Clouds is an intimate insider's look at students and masters living in scattered retreats dotting China's Zhongnan Mountain range. These peaks have reputedly been home to recluses since the time of the Yellow Emperor, some five thousand years ago. It was widely thought that the tradition was all but wiped out, but this film emphatically and beautifully shows us otherwise. One of only a few foreigners to have lived and studied with these elusive practitioners, American director Edward Burger is able, with humor and compassion, to present their tradition, their wisdom, and the hardship and joy of their everyday lives among the clouds. Filmed on location in China Written and Directed by Edward Burger Produced by Chad Pankewitz A Cosmos Pictures Production Official Selection: Mill Valley Film Festival, Taos Mountain Film Festival, Denver Starz Film Festival, True/False Film Festival, Maui Film Festival, Santa Fe Film Festival, Tahoe/Reno Film Festival, Mt. Shasta International Film FestivalGenres DVDs
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