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"Pilgrims"
Alternative
title: "Three Steps, One Bow"
French Title: "Pilgrims"
Genre:
road movie / spiritual
Circa: late 70s
Main Location: California (USA)
Duration: 2h 00 min
Format: 35mm
Estimated Budget: 1 millions USD
This film project is copyrighted and protected under international laws.
Project
outline:
Based on a true story and real characters, " Pilgrims " relates the pilgrimage for peace and non-violence of two buddhist American monks along Highway 1, in California, marching 550 miles from Los Angeles to Ukiah, in the 70s. Covered by the local press, their trip became a media favourite, arousing the interest of the local population but also sometimes intolerance, suspicion and hostility.
Pitch/synopsis:
Los Angeles, 1977. A brilliant american student, freshly graduated from Berkeley University, decides to give up all his worldly ambitions and his promising career to embrace a life of spirituality and contemplation. Being ordained as a buddhist monk, he receives a new name, Heng Sure, and begins a 550-mile pilgrimage for peace and non-violence along Highway 1, wishing to reach his new home, "The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas" near Ukiah where lives his Chinese Master, the most venerable Master Hsuan Hua. As an act of faith, he commits himself to bow to the ground every three steps and to observe a strict vow of silence during all his trip. Heng Chau, a novice monk, will join him in his pilgrimage, making himself the vow to protect and look after Heng Sure throughout all his journey, from Los Angeles to Ukiah. Together, they will live many adventures, facing numerous difficulties and unexpected situations, touching the heart of many people they meet on the road. Lasting finally more than two years, the pilgrimage will transform their lives forever...
Author's
comments:
"The
myriad things are level and equal;
let discriminations go,
to where words have never traveled,
and before one thought comes forth.""
Master Hsuan Hua
The idea of this film project came to me more than 10 years ago after reading the long series of autobiographical works written by Heng Sure and Heng Chau, entitled "With One Heart Bowing to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas", relating in details their pilgrimage for peace. Their captivating, exciting story was for me a great source of inspiration. Rooted in a daily reality, it shows how faith and spirituality can transform all situations, all problems and difficulties into an opportunity to progress and evolve internally, for our own good and the sake of all people around us.
"Truly
recognize your own faults.
And do not discuss the faults of others.
Others' faults are just your own.
Being one with everyone is called
Great Compassion. (...)
Everything is a test to see what you will do.
If you don't recognize it, you will have to start anew."
Master Hsuan Hua
Very 'cinematic' in essence, the pilgrimage of two monks on the Californian Coast is a spiritual 'Road Movie' that could be both entertaining and profound.
One interesting aspect of the film is that it is also a "East meets West" story. It tells the spiritual itinerary of two Americans, one from Ohio and the other from Wisconsin, who will unvoluntarily become for their compatriots one of the first american representatives of Buddhism in America, an Eastern religion that is more than 2,600 years old. At this period (in the 70s), Buddhism was a very exotic religion for the average Americans who knew almost nothing about it. In this historical context, "Pilgrims" becomes an interesting, instructive testimony of the introduction of Buddhism and Chinese/Asian culture and philosophy in America.
Latest
news - project status:
I had the great chance to meet Heng Sure, one of the (real) main characters of the film. I presented him the film project in details and he was very receptive and encouraging, giving me some real hopes that the project could be developed together. Nonetheless, when I met him, Heng Sure was busy working on a new abridged version of his long series of books relating his pilgrimage. For some good reasons, he told me that he had to finish this work first before we can pursue any further into the film project, even though he was himself very positive and enthusiastic about it.
Up to now, the project has been put in stand-by for an undefined time.
Anyhow, depending on opportunities, I do hope that the project will be reactivated soon, maybe with the help and support of a producer or a TV channel...
To
get further information on "Pilgrims" film project, obtain the
final script (in English or in French), take part in the production or
join the cast, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you.
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© 2007 - Khong-Lo Pham - All Rights Reserved - All scripts, plot summaries, synopsis, concepts and ideas presented in this website are copyrighted and protected under international laws. Web design by Lo Pham.