Think of this movie as the “French Lieutenant’s Woman” of spiritual cinema in that it toggles back and forth between two stories. One narrative is set in modern-day America: the search is on for the next Dalai Lama, and monks vet a caucasion kid in Seattle who just may be The One. Those scenes are cross-cut with the historical story of Siddhartha, the 5th-century BCE Hindu prince who famously achieved enlightenment sitting under a bodhi tree, and thus, became the founding figure of Buddhism. Directed byItalian master Bernardo Bertolucci (”Last Tango in Paris,” “1900,” “The Last Emperor”), and lushly-filmed on location in Bhutan and Nepal, this is the part of the movie that works. The other half is so-so.

Karma points: The much-mocked acting abilities of Keanu Reeeves shine in this performance; he is flawless — indeed, practically unrecognizable — as Siddhartha.

Check it out yourself: Little Buddha

No. 4: Brother Sun, Sister Moon

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