Hi Sangha and Friends,
We watched Is Anyone There? for our February Buddha Cafe film, and as often is the case, this film haunted me long afterwards. The story is simple. Its 1987 in small town England and Clarence (Michael Caine) is a lonely and full-of-regrets aging magician who moves out of his camper van into a private retirement home. He takes a room across the hall from Edward, the 11 year old son of the couple who run the place. Edward resents the presence of all these old people, although, because they tend to have their last breaths there, they provide ample subjects for his investigations into what happens after death. Edward and Clarence develop a wonderful friendship and teach each other about life and death. Each helps the other come to terms with the struggles they each have at that time of their lives. All of this occurs against the backdrop of the marriage crisis unfolding between Edwards' parents.
Through the Edward/Clarence story we are confronted with the deep echoes of regret and shame which can haunt us as we progress through our lives. The drama reminds us of the complexity of our karma, the momentum of past actions which can arise as the consequence of desire-driven actions we take. Like Clarence, we find ourselves condemning ourselves for actions which brought others, and ultimately ourselves, pain, suffering and estrangement.
Edward's mother, a simple, determined and ever-gentle woman, illustrates a Kwan-yin-like compassion all through the film, especially in her heart-rending tenderness to the failing Clarence. She reminds us that things and people are not simply as we see them but can become the vehicles of freedom when they embody bodhisattva wisdom and compassion.
in the Dharma,
Innen, doshu
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