In the history of religion, there are many fascinating figures, such as Jesus in Christianity, Muhammad in Islam, and the Buddha in Buddhism. Each has compelling stories, and regardless of your own personal beliefs, each has something to offer in terms of approaching life.
Looking at the Buddha, the name itself translates to ‘the awakened one,’ and it is said Siddhartha Gautama (who would be known as the Buddha) had an extraordinary path toward enlightenment. Something you can learn further about through literature or perhaps speaking with a Buddhist, if you are looking for a motion picture with actor portrayals and a stimulating story, a good place to turn might be 1993’s Little Buddha.
A film directed by the legendary Bernardo Bertolucci (who also captured history magically with films like 1976’s 1900 and 1987’s The Last Emperor), Little Buddha unifies a fictional storyline (written by Rudy Wurlitzer and Mark Peploe) with historical glimpses into the Buddha’s life. With a cast led by Keanu Reeves, famous Singer-Songwriter Chris Isaak, and Bridget Fonda, Little Buddha also includes pivotal performances by Ying Ruocheng and young Actor Alex Wiesendanger. Together, they unite for a story about curiosity, yearning for enlightenment, and becoming a better version of oneself.
In Little Buddha, a group of Tibetan Buddhist monks led by Lama Norbu (Ying Ruocheng) believe that the great Buddhist Teacher Lama Dorje has been reincarnated as a young child. First arriving in Seattle, Washington, they seek Jesse Conrad (Alex Wiesendanger), who they believe could be Dorje’s rebirth. From here, they then travel to Nepal, where they believe two other children, Raju (played by Raju Lal) and Gita (Greishma Makar Singh), may also be candidates. Is one child potentially the choice over the other, or is there more to here than meets the eye?
A charming tale, the integration of flashing back to Buddha’s life is what makes the film that much more enticing. Furthermore, while everything unfolds, you begin to see that the answers most of us seek are right in front of us, if only we open our eyes and minds.
The fact that Little Buddha might not have been the most successful film of 1994 at the box office is irrelevant because the message and artistic approach to filmmaking are what matter. Utilizing real locations and providing genuine context, this film is well worth seeing if you have a curious nature and are seeking something more in life. With all of that in mind, Little Buddha lived on in the years to follow, with some school teachers even using it as a tool of education in the classroom. Originally released on DVD several times in the early 2000s, a 4K Ultra HD edition is now available in 2025.
Released on July 22, 2025, through Kino Lorber, this new release presents Little Buddha in the 140-minute international cut, which showcases a broader spectrum of what Bertolucci was trying to accomplish. Restored in 4K Ultra HD with HDR/Dolby Vision Master by TF1 (supervised by film Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro), the result is a stunning clarification of detail you need to see to believe.
Beyond this, you also get an archival interview with Bernardo Bertolucci and Producer Jeremy Thomas, along with the documentary, The Making of Little Buddha. Including a 4K and Blu-ray disc, there is also a slipcase and original artwork, bringing it all together. So, whether you are conscious of Little Buddha or are just learning about it, this new 4K Ultra HD release from Kino Lorber is a must-have. That is why Cryptic Rock gives it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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