The film Ain’t Samsāra a Bitch takes the universal questions about the meaning of life and what happens after death, and adds another layer: If given the choice, would you come back to life?

A deep-seated belief in reincarnation has resonated around the world throughout human existence. But having a personal choice in the matter — as opposed to the fate of the universe or the command of a higher power — speaks directly to filmmaker Lorrie Chang’s beliefs.

“I feel like life is a choice,” she says during a phone call. “So why would the afterlife be any different?”

As hefty a concept it may be for a short film, the 10-minute movie (which screens Nov. 12 at the Great Star Theater in San Francisco’s Chinatown) is an excerpt from a longer script Chang hopes to produce in the near future. But

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