The Compassionate One

Running time: 90 mins

The Buddha bears a badge and badgers the monk behind bars.

A brash Moscow police officer serendipitously falls into the favor of Buddhist followers. His life begins to reflect their suggestions of his being the reincarnated Dalai Lama, in spite of his obstinate refusal of any such possibility.

The officer and his company are beset by befuddlement and mirthful occurrences in this story of the improbable. Though his newfound esteem tails him posthaste, he makes an attempt at evading his new devotees by accompanying a drunkard, who has become a regular in the holding tank, back to his village. A comical series of events befall this unlikely holy one and his new lush of a roommate, which change the course of numerous lives.

Under the expert direction of Alexander Naumov and with the rich cinematography of Alexander Burtsev, The Compassionate One is a clever and original comedy that defies expectations and leaves us searching for our own inner Buddhist.