Samsara (ENG SUBS)

In Laos, dozens of monks live and study in beautiful Buddhist temples. Every day, a young monk crosses the river to read a text to an old woman that serves as a guide to finding the path to the afterlife. When the woman dies, her spirit begins a sensory journey towards reincarnation in a new body. To complete the journey, one must be carried away by light and sound. In the second part of the film, we find ourselves in Zanzibar, Tanzania, where Islam approaches birth, life, death, and reincarnation in a different way.

With a whirlwind of sounds and colors, flashing at different speeds, director Lois Patiño bombards the viewer’s senses in a unique and impressive manner. ‘Samsara’ is a Sanskrit word that refers to the cycle of birth, life, death, and reincarnation. Lois Patiño sees Samsara as a reflection on the relationship between humans and the nature they inhabit. The film is primarily focused on the mythical and spiritual, aiming to take the viewer on a journey towards an intimate and meditative experience.

In the second part of the film, we find ourselves in Zanzibar, Tanzania, where Islam approaches the cycle of birth, life, death, and reincarnation in a different manner. Similar to a film by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, the cycle of birth, death, and reincarnation aligns with the experience of watching. Seeing and telling stories become a unique visionary experience that literally transports the viewer to another dimension.

Lois Patiño considers Samsara as a reflection on the relationship between humans and the nature they inhabit. The film is primarily focused on the mythical and spiritual, aiming to take the viewer on a journey toward an intimate and meditative experience.