Unmistaken Child
Oscilloscope Pictures | Release Date: June 3, 2009 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
66
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews
Positive:
11
Mixed:
4
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
90
SalonAndrew O'Hehir
Unmistaken Child stands above most others in offering us an intimate look at Tibetan Buddhism in action, with no external commentary or narration. Read full review
90
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
Its privileged glimpse deep into unfamiliar spiritual territory has the strength of revelation. Read full review
80
Chicago ReaderAndrea Gronvall
Films that address faith and love as eloquently as this moving 2008 documentary are rare. Read full review
75
New York PostV.A. Musetto
I hope they have shrinks in remote Nepal, because this kid is going to need one. P.S.: The scenery is awesome. Read full review
75
The A.V. ClubScott Tobias
Baratz’s apparent willingness to accept everything at face value papers over some of the more troubling aspects of Tenzin’s mission, but Unmistaken Child allows the mysteries of the process to be preserved without judgment. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleWalter Addiego
A compelling documentary. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeTy Burr
Unmistaken Child stands as a window on a beautiful and mysterious world. The questions it leaves hanging are for us to untangle. Read full review
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick Groen
This documentary is only partly a story of the chosen one; mainly, and more intriguingly, it's a chronicle of the choosing one, of the nervous young monk charged with the job of leading the search party. Read full review
70
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
Seldom has a film presented such a richly ambiguous juxtaposition of modernity (among the toys showered on the boy is a really cool radio-controlled helicopter), ancient mindset and, to be sure, possible miraculousness. Read full review
70
Washington PostDan Zak
Unmistaken Child: adorable, moving, bewildering, sad and, ultimately, peaceful. Read full review
63
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Baratz doesn't ask any of the obvious questions, preferring to observe uncritically, and if you can do the same, you may find Unmistaken Child worth seeing. I could not, and grew restless. Read full review
50
Village VoiceJ. Hoberman
The movie is a drama of faith, a Tibetan monk's search for the reincarnation of his beloved master Lama Konchog. Read full review
50
Film ThreatPhil Hall
Although the film is handsomely filmed and features a surprisingly frank view of the political machinations within the upper ranks of Tibetan Buddhism – even the Dalai Lama comes across as a bit of a wheeler-dealer – Unmistaken Child is more than a little disappointing. Read full review
50
The New York TimesStephen Holden
The beauty of the landscape and the monk’s sweetness, humility and good humor evoke a plane of existence, at once elevated and austere, that is humbling to contemplate. That said, Unmistaken Child offers no scholarly perspective on Tibetan Buddhism and leaves fundamental questions unanswered. Read full review
40
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
Who knew reincarnation could be such a lovely snooze? Read full review
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