I think this film will make more sense to Buddhists, and more similar to the movie "Little Buddha".  The theme of the film is giving up ego, which acts a swiss cheese in front of the mouse.  Mouse is only able to see through the hole becasue the cheese is blocking the view.  The ego alters the reality.  Thus, unable to see the real view of the world as it is.  Sort of like Freud's altered consciousness theory.  In the film "The Successor, The Meditation Master has sanyasis, who are pursuing to giving up their ego and reach enlightenment.  Not every one is able to drop his or her ego completely, so the master has to choose, who is successful in dropping his or her ego to be his next successor, and teach the new generation about guiding them into the path of enlightenment. Who will the meditation master choose? 

In real life such Meditation Masters are: Dalai Lama, Osho, Zen Master, Tao Master etc.  The film is fiction, but root of the message comes from Buddha.  If you think "Little Buddha" is lame, then you will say this film is also lame.  But, give it a chance, you might like it.