The Life of Buddha

Infobox Film
name = The Life of Buddha


caption = The movie poster.
director =
producer = Wallapa Pimthong
writer =
narrator =
starring =
music =
cinematography =
editing =
distributor = Media Standard Co., Ltd.Citation | title = The 10 Amazing New Projects from BFM 2007 | newspaper = Bioscope Focus (Bangkok International Film Festival) | pages = 4-5 | year = 2007 | date = 2007-07-29 ]
released = Thailand:
December 5, 2007cite web | last = Payee | first = Parinyaporn | title = Animated Buddha saga hits the big screen for HM the King's birthday | publisher = The Nation (Thailand) | date = 2007-02-28 | url = http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/02/20/headlines/headlines_30027338.php | accessdate = 2007-07-03 ]
runtime = 100 min.
country = Thailand
language = Thai
budget = 120 million bahtcite web | last = Payee | first = Parinyaporn | title = Drawing on faith | publisher = The Nation (Thailand) | date = 2007-07-01 | url = http://nationmultimedia.com/2007/07/01/entertainment/entertainment_30038310.php | accessdate = 2007-07-03 ]
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website = http://www.thelifeofbuddha.net/index-E.htm
amg_id =
imdb_id =

"The Life of Buddha" ( _th. ประวัติพระพุทธเจ้า, "Phra Phuttajao", or simply "The Buddha") is a 2007 Thai animated feature film about the life of Gautama Buddha, based on the "Tripitaka". The film was released on December 5, 2007, in celebration of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 80th birthday.

Production

Production of the film started in 2004 as a personal project by Thai businesswoman Wallapa Phimtong, who was beset by financial difficulties and delays. Initially, Wallapa sought backing and expertise through a Thai government agency, but the funding never came through, and Wallapa become embroiled in a lawsuit over the production.

Wallapa continued with the financing of the film on her own, and at first estimated the cost of making the film at 50 million baht, but those costs doubled. She then sold off her cars, land and personal assets to make the film.

Wallapa said a businessman offered to buy the rights to film for 200 million baht but she refused the offer.

"My ultimate goal, after the film has been screened in theatres, is to distribute free copies to schools nationwide. If I sell the project to the firm, that won't be possible," she said in an interview.

The animation is described as "typical Walt Disney style", meaning traditional animation.

"The Life of Buddha" is the third animated feature film produced by the Thai film industry, and only the second cel-animated feature, following "The Adventure of Sudsakorn" in 1979. The second animated feature, "Khan Kluay", in 2006, was Thailand's first computer-animated feature.

Reception

Critical response

"Bangkok Post" film critic Kong Rithdee said "The Life of Buddha" was well-meaning, but lacked depth and would appeal mainly to children. " [That] means that "The Buddha" mirrors the national climate of institutional worship and the indifference, if not the ignorance, to how modern society has twisted Lord Buddha's teachings into something much less pure than their original meanings." [Rithdee, Kong. December 14, 2007. [http://pages.citebite.com/o9n6a3vvyhq "Taking the middle path"] , "Bangkok Post"; retrieved from cache on 2007-12-16]

A Pali scholar contributed a critique of the film to "Prachatai", in equal parts excoriating and lamenting the film's lack of historical accuracy or even dramatic coherence. [ [http://www.prachatai.com/english/news.php?id=461 Be warned: Thai film: "The Life of Buddha" « Article « www.prachatai.com/english ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.thelifeofbuddha.net/index-E.htm Official site]
* [http://www.thaicinema.org/kit82buddha.asp Production stills] at ThaiCinema.org
* " [http://www.movieseer.com/MovieProfileBil.asp?moID=6457&Channel=2 The Life of Buddha] " at MovieSeer
* " [http://www.siamzone.com/movie/m/4876 The Life of Buddha] " at SiamZone th icon