This documentary tells the story of a former Thai boxer turned Buddhist monk in the rugged region of the Thailand’s Golden Triangle. Since his conversion, he has devoted himself to the welfare of the region’s children, travels widely on horseback dispensing prayers, health care, education and tough love to villagers far from the protection and support of governments or non-governmental organizations. He recruits novice monks to his monastery, The Golden Horse Temple, a haven for the children of the region, who see him as a shaman, father figure and coach. Director Mark Verkerk gained unprecedented access to film this intimate and dramatic story over the course of a year on location. Stunning cinematography, intimate filmmaking and a compelling story make this film an extraordinary experience.

For more than thirty years Mark Verkerk has been involved in all the aspects of the television and cinematographic production, acting as cameramen, editing and directing. But the passion for the documentary genre in all his forms has always been a constant in his work.
Born in Kenya in 1956, Mark Verkerk has been Creative Director at EMS FILMS since 1990, writing, directing and overseeing a range of award winning programming for international broadcasters. Buddha’s Lost Children is his first theatrical feature-length documentary.

BUDDHA’S LOST CHILDREN

Director: Mark Verker
Nationality: Países Bajos (2006)
Duration: 97 minutes
Genre: social-anthropologic
Original version in Thai with Spanish and Catalan subtitles
Director: Mark Verker
Producer: Ton Okkerse
Production: SilverWings EMS Films in association with Cinétévé, Buddhist Broadcasting Foundation and ARTE France
Photography: René Heijnen
Editor: Jos Driessen, Helen Delachaux, Mark Verkerk
Sound: Martin Giesmann
Music: Somtow Sucharitkul, Bernhard Joosten, Ward Henselmans