Unmistaken Child
Metascore
66 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
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  1. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Andrew O'Hehir
    90
    Unmistaken Child stands above most others in offering us an intimate look at Tibetan Buddhism in action, with no external commentary or narration.
  2. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    90
    Its privileged glimpse deep into unfamiliar spiritual territory has the strength of revelation.
  3. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Andrea Gronvall
    80
    Films that address faith and love as eloquently as this moving 2008 documentary are rare.
  4. New York Post
    Reviewed by: V.A. Musetto
    75
    I hope they have shrinks in remote Nepal, because this kid is going to need one. P.S.: The scenery is awesome.
  5. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Walter Addiego
    75
    A compelling documentary.
  6. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    75
    Unmistaken Child stands as a window on a beautiful and mysterious world. The questions it leaves hanging are for us to untangle.
  7. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Rick Groen
    75
    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.
  8. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Scott Tobias
    75
    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.
  9. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Joe Morgenstern
    70
    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.
  10. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Dan Zak
    70
    Unmistaken Child: adorable, moving, bewildering, sad and, ultimately, peaceful.
  11. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    63
    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.
  12. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Phil Hall
    50
    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.
  13. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: J. Hoberman
    50
    The movie is a drama of faith, a Tibetan monk's search for the reincarnation of his beloved master Lama Konchog.
  14. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    50
    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.
  15. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    40
    Who knew reincarnation could be such a lovely snooze?

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