In ‘Valley of Flowers’, which might appear to be a Tibetan Buddhist movie at first, there is a scene of classic misinterpretation of death as release with the wrong use of a quote from Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life:
May I be a guard for those without one,
A guide for all who journey on the road,
May I become a boat, a raft or bridge,
For all who wish to cross the water.
This is not the exact version but it was obvious the protagonist’s inner dialogue echoed was inspired by these words. He is a deathdealer, who offers death to those with a deathwish. Ironically, he is cursed with immortality and anguishes over it. Death is just release from this life; not necessarily from pain, as one might still suffer on in one’s next life if the relevant negative karma is not yet depleted. As such, no Bodhisattva would imagine being a deathdealer who bridges people to ‘paradise’ by consensual murder.
Unless I missed some deeper messages, the film is not as interesting as it sounds, though there is some wonderfully filmed scenery. It’s a sad reminder that carefully filmed flicks can still have some nonsense. Never be tricked by the look and feel of a film! Reflect over its messages for what it’s really worth!