Little Buddha

(Bernardo Bertolucci, Italy/France/Lichtenstein/UK 1993, 123 min., 35mm)

Vittorio Storaro. Prompted by the dreams of Lama-seeking Buddhist monks, young Jesse Conrad travels to Bhutan to discover if he is the budding Buddha-to-be. His path to enlightenment mirrors the life story of Prince Siddhartha (Keanu Reeves). Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro bathes Tibet in warm hues, in stark contrast to sterile, blue Seattle. There, Jesse’s parents (the photogenic dream-team of Bridget Fonda and Chris Isaak) smolder quietly, while the hot-and-cold color palette reveals what is unspoken.