We observe a 13-year-old boy and his peers who go, along with their parents, to a waterfall deep in the mountains. There, a mysterious ritual takes place, an extremely sacred practice in Japanese Buddhism. It is said that by experiencing such extremes, the body and mind are purified. This has been done for over 500 years.
What beautiful images. The Japanese monk is especially well depicted and seems quite authentic. The boy, when he arrives with his mom, is unsure and awkward. He is one of a group of boys his age and a parent. They walk together into the forest to the large waterfall, don traditional attire of a white garment and are placed under the falling water where they stand and pray. The onslaught of the water is pretty extreme; even some of the older men can't take it very long. A woman falls. The boy, our protagonist, stays the longest. Then, they all hike out. It's a simply story, well recorded. I felt as if I was there with the boy. The background music is sparse, but when it shows up it seems to be traditional Japanese drums or flute music. This definitely is suitable for a KIDS FIRST! Film Festival for any event looking at exploring world cultures.
The film's message is to convey the traditions of Japanese Buddhists. I give Waterfall 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. By Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
We observe a 13-year-old boy and his peers who go, along with their parents, to a waterfall deep in the mountains. There, a mysterious ritual takes place, an extremely sacred practice in Japanese Buddhism. It is said that by experiencing such extremes, the body and mind are purified. This has been done for over 500 years.
What beautiful images. The Japanese monk is especially well depicted and seems quite authentic. The boy, when he arrives with his mom, is unsure and awkward. He is one of a group of boys his age and a parent. They walk together into the forest to the large waterfall, don traditional attire of a white garment and are placed under the falling water where they stand and pray. The onslaught of the water is pretty extreme; even some of the older men can't take it very long. A woman falls. The boy, our protagonist, stays the longest. Then, they all hike out. It's a simply story, well recorded. I felt as if I was there with the boy. The background music is sparse, but when it shows up it seems to be traditional Japanese drums or flute music. This definitely is suitable for a KIDS FIRST! Film Festival for any event looking at exploring world cultures.
The film's message is to convey the traditions of Japanese Buddhists. I give Waterfall 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. By Julie S., KIDS FIRST!
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