The Mystical Movie Guide: Our Movie Nights
Having a Movie Party - This page just describes some of the local movie/potluck parties we've had with our own friends, and is meant to provide encouragement and ideas for you to have similar movie nights of your own.
You know, there are just so many gems of metaphysical moviemaking that are never going to be shown at a theatre near you. Even the best cinema is increasingly front-loaded with obnoxious ads and previews, instead of the delightful shorts that thematically best belong. With bigger screen TVs dropping in price to meet every budget, it makes perfect sense to have movie parties, where you can create the best ambience for enjoying a spiritual film by gathering together some great titles, inviting over like-minded friends, and adding the benefit of growth-supportive conversation before and after. My channeler friend Kurt Leland calls it the "value-field", the energy of a group of kindred souls enjoying a common interest, and you just can't underestimate its importance for living a contented life.
Most people have been trained by an industry to think of movies as big-expense big-deal big-screen pilgrimages to a mall to sit among strangers and consume over-priced treats, with the only alternative being branded a loser couch-potato, tuning out to a TV and whatever's on. The rental and cable industries then have their own agendas, hyping us to gather up the spouse and kids just to rewatch the same blockbusters again and for the first time. Are we really so manipulable? In fact, many fine films may reach their most purposeful pleasures as local special-interest community-building experiences. Short films can be collected from compilations at libraries, rentals, mail-order, or cable TV. Excellent feature films can be found similarly, especially with the help of the Mystical Movie Guide. Technically, we're not advising on the showing of movies to groups without screening rights, but if you don't charge admission and especially if you are helping to promote lesser-known films, nobody in charge will actually care. Check out our links page if you need tips in finding a particular title that feels like a must-see. In the future, home service subscriptions like the Spiritual Cinema Circle could also be perfect for your own movie parties. Have fun!
Sample: This is the email I send out once a month: Started in March 2003, Carl and Kimberly have been hosting a first Saturdays POTLUCK AND MYSTICAL MOVIE NIGHT, featuring rare metaphysical movies that you won't likely see anywhere else. Space is limited, so this is not a totally public event and the invitation goes out to the metaphysical book group and some other particularly interested parties. Feel free to email me if this sounds right for you and/or select friends. If you're coming for the potluck, please bring any food dish/beverage, plus if you want your own folding chair, backjack(s), or pillow for front row viewing (we have a few loungey chairs), and we'll arrange ourselves in a medium-large room with a 31" TV. RSVP is a good idea, especially if you need directions. The history list and further film recommendations are on my website at www.mysticalmovieguide.com/movienight.html I've become something of an expert in this area, so I'm always happy to offer and receive more movie ideas! - - best wishes, Carl
OUR MOVIE NIGHTS (more findable recommendations at the end)
| All Features We've Seen |
|
"Akumulator 1" (1994,Czech,102mins) "Arya" (2004,India,88 mins) "Between Two Worlds" (1944,USA,112mins) "The Boy Who Turned Yellow" (1972,UK,55mins) "Don't Die Without Telling Me Where You're Going" (1995,Argentina,120mins) "Eden" (1997,USA,106mins) "Finding Joy" (2002,Australia,95mins) "Freaky Chakra" (2003,India,90 mins) "The Fridays of Eternity" (1981,Argentina,90mins) "The Guru" (1969,USA,112mins) "The Halfway House" (1944, UK, 95 mins) "I'll Never Forget You" (1951, UK, 90mins) "Investigation Into the Invisible World" (2002, France, 87mins) "The Invisible" (2003,Sweden,91mins) "Lavender" (2000,China,111mins) "Little Miracles" (1997,Argentina,106mins) "The Man Who Could Work Miracles" (1936,UK,82mins) "Mary's Incredible Dream" (1976,USA,51mins) "Meetings with Remarkable Men" (1979, UK, 108 min) "The Monitors" (1969,USA, 92 mins) "The People" (1972,USA,TV 74mins) "The Phantom Cart" (1940,France,95 mins) "The Pyramid" (1975, USA, 90 mins) "The Sacred Mushroom" (1961, USA, Short 25mins) "Saved by the Light" (1995,USA,TV 95mins) "Siddhartha" (1972,USA,95mins) "When Pigs Fly" (1993, USA, 94mins) "Words Upon the Window Pane" (1994,Ireland,99mins) |
SATURDAY, October 8, 2005 - Potluck starts at 6pm, movie at 7:30pm
THEME: Happy Halloween!
SHORT SUBJECT: "Hayling" (2002,UK,Short 5mins) - Animation, Fantasy
Welcome to a transcendent music video so alien that it takes a while to even know what you're looking at. A shower of light guides you around a biomorphic alien world of floating phosphorescent sea creatures. If this isn't spookily shamanic, I don't know what is!
FEATURE FILM: "The Phantom Cart" (1940,France,95 mins) - Drama, Fantasy
Let's take ourselves back to the spooky era of black & white for a classic of French film and Swedish legend. On the stroke of St. Sylvester's night (New Year's eve) it is said that Death takes an apprentice to ride with him and help release the spirits of the dying for the coming year. A rough uncaring man named David is unlucky to die at the right moment and become the chosen one, but his experiences with Death help him develop a compassion for humanity which he never learned in life. The story was first filmed silently in 1921 in Sweden. This marvelous sound-era remake is by a master of French cinema Julien Duvivier, who was courted by Hollywood after his 1937 hit "Pepe le Moko". Duvivier had an uncommon sense for combining the mysterious with deep human emotion in dramatic thrillers, but his most mystical works remain virtually unknown. My copy of "The Phantom Cart" was taped from Canadian cable TV by a collector friend. The title comes from the eerie scenes of Death riding his phantom cart to the bedsides of the dying. The beautiful ending offers a second chance for love that brought tears to my eyes.
SATURDAY, September 10, 2005 - Potluck starts at 6pm, movie at 7:30pm
Many people are away on labor day weekend, so the September movie night is moved to the 2nd Saturday, Sept 10. Don't forget then that 3 weeks after that will be the Mystical Art and Talent Show on Saturday Oct 1 - so the Oct movie night will also be on the 2nd Saturday.
THEME: Integrating Other Selves
SHORT SUBJECT: "Metameiosis" (1992,USA,19 mins) - Drama
This is a strongly experimental and intriguing work from local director and video producer Brian Galford. Meiosis is the process that creates genetic diversity in sexually reproducing organisms - unlike the simple cell division of Mitosis, Meiosis recombines genes and produces four new cells. With this as guiding metaphor, we meet a woman who discovers that she is just one of four selves with whom she must learn to accept and integrate.
FEATURE FILM: "Arya" (2004,India,88 mins) - Drama, Romance, Thriller
Indian director Manan Singh Katohora is inspired by the films of M. Night Shyamalan (Sixth Sense), and has gone further with his metaphysical interests to create a startlingly sincere and spiritual drama in which a Indian man named Raj, living in New York city, begins to have strange experiences with out-of-body phenomena, past life flashbacks, and spontaneous speaking in ancient Hindu. As he falls in love with a woman named Shawna, he must solve the mystery of his karma with the true-life Indian mathematician Aryabhata who lived in 499 AD. This is an independent production, lower budget but acceptably done, and filmed in English language.
GROUP REVIEW:
We had a great turnout for this night of over a dozen friends, which was nice attention for the director of the short who was in attendance! Brian got to answer lots of fun questions about the making of "Metameiosis", and his film was quite appreciated. The feature was another story however. I do apologize! When I screened it I only watched the beginning, which started promising. But it turned out to be a very awkward amateurish film that barely suggested what could have been a pretty good story. Fortunately everyone had fun anyway, so thank you for your patience Liz, Pat, Kimberly, Wendy, Kurt, Brian, Judy, Michelle, Russel, Jason and his friend Gus. Next time we'll see a proven classic, I promise!
SATURDAY, August 13, 2005 - Potluck starts at 6pm, movie at 7:30pm
THEME: Contacting Spirits
SHORT SUBJECT: "The Return" (2002,USA,Short 14mins) - Drama
A young man finds himself drawn to a strangely familiar house, where a teenage girl whom he cannot recall is waiting for him. But why is she hiding his presence from her mother, and how did she know that he would return?
FEATURE FILM: "Words Upon the Window Pane" (1994,Ireland,99mins) - Drama
Starting with the unusual poetic title, you can tell this film is something special. I got a very rare collector's copy, so the quality is fuzzy. But many great Irish films are virtually unknown in the United States, so you won't likely see this anywhere else. The film is based on a one-act play by William Butler Yeats, and concerns another great figure of Irish literature, Jonathan Swift. A visiting medium conducts a series of séances in Dublin in 1928, resulting in contact with the spirit of Swift and his two lovers Stella and Vanessa. The unresolved rivalry between the spirits confronts the members of the Dublin Spiritualist Society with their own secrets as they try to help the ghosts find peace. The story moves stylishly between the 20th and 18th centuries, and the Belfast Telegraph said "Anyone with a love of poetry, Irish literature and Irish literary figures will find much to enjoy and think about in this film." Yeats was a founder of the Dublin Hermetic Society, and later a member of the London Lodge of Theosophists and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, all of which helped him in his studies of spiritualism, astral projection, astrology, dreams, magick, reincarnation, and the classic esoteric teachings of Plato, Tibet, Swedenborg, and many others. The ritualistic symbolism of Yeats' plays show a debt to the Japanese Noh tradition, even before he consciously studied this. He believed in the collective unconscious, which he called the Great Memory or Great Mind, and he sought visions 'from beyond the mind' which he then incorporated into his famously mystical works such as "The Second Coming" poem of 1920, in which the rough beast slouching toward Bethlehem to be born is thought to be a precognition of rising Nazi anti-semitism. "The Words Upon the Window-Pane" likewise deals with intense emotions of good and evil, as the medium Mrs. Henderson is possessed by several passionate ghosts in turn. The play was first performed in 1930 and dedicated to Lady Gregory, a great patron of the Irish arts, and it was written after Yeats had extensively researched Jonathan Swift, whose biting satire and wildly symbolic imagination, as evidenced in "Gulliver's Travels", naturally attracted Yeats.
GROUP REVIEW:
Rob, Gitama, Kurt, Annika, Margot, and Liz joined Kimberly and Carl to see the films, and they brought delicious food; did I mention that people bring delicious food? Thank you! The short film was well liked, though it didn't make perfect sense. The feature film got an average score of 7, so it was quite appreciated despite problems. It didn't seem to work so well, with gaps and disjointed scenes and unclear points. There were some moments of humor though, and the mediumship was nice to see.
SATURDAY, July 3, 2005
PRE-EMPTED! By the Swampscott annual fireworks and barbecue party!
SATURDAY, June 4, 2005 - Potluck starts at 6pm, movie at 7:30pm
THEME: Spiritual Quests
SHORT SUBJECT: "The Toll Collector" (2003, USA,Short 10 mins) - Animation, Drama
A woman with a deformity lives alone and goes slowly mad, until a vision sends her bravely into the world.
FEATURE FILM: "Meetings with Remarkable Men" (1979, UK, 108 min) - Drama
This film is the story of Russian mystic George Ivanovitch Gurdjieff (1877-1949), based on his autobiography of the same title, and focussing on Gurdjieff's formative early years of travelling central Asia in search of spiritual answers. Gurdjieff was commanded by Russian Prince Lubovedsky (played by Terence Stamp) to find the teachings of an ancient Russian brotherhood called the Sarmound. What Gurdjieff ultimately discovered was a form of meditative dance in the Himalayas which influenced his development of meditative practices for his so-called Fourth Way teachings. The film is a bit dry and arty, depicting the difficulties of staying awake (in the Buddhist sense of being spiritually awake, and hopefully not just to put us asleep). The stilted style is called forced improvisation and comes from director Peter Brook, one of the pioneers of the experimental theatre movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Highlights of the film include the mountains and deserts of Afghanistan, and a 10 minute sequence of sacred dances.
GROUP REVIEW:
Carl and Kimberly were joined by Annika, Rob, Gitama, Liz, Pat, Deana, Kurt, and Wendy. Most people found the short film to be creepy or interesting or both. "Meetings with Remarkable Men" got an average score of 7.3, with a high of 10 and a low of 5. Half the people had actually seen it before. Kurt wondered if it was true, most people liked the dancing, many found it to be slow and a bit lacking.
SATURDAY, May 7, 2005 - Potluck starts at 6pm, movie at 7:30pm
THEME: Got Spring Fever? Then maybe you're ready for... The Weirdest 70's TV Specials You Never Heard Of!!
FEATURE FILM: "The Boy Who Turned Yellow" (1972,UK,55mins) - Experimental, Fantasy
It is a little known fact that famed English director/writer duo Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger created this weirdest entry in the Disneyish UK Children's Film Foundation series of kids adventure specials. After a school lecture on electricity, a boy named John mysteriously turns yellow. Later he's visited by a friendly alien named Nick (short for electronic) who teaches him how to travel on lightwaves. Together they rescue a mouse from the Tower of London and travel through TVs to escape. This film was well-made to be alternatively educational, and people who saw it as children say they've never been the same since.
FEATURE FILM: "Mary's Incredible Dream" (1976,USA,51mins) - Drama, Experimental, Music
Who can turn the world on with her smile? Yes it's Mary Tyler Moore, in the disco-era theological musical fantasy special that CBS never wanted you to see. Mary falls asleep and goes out of her body, dancing her way through heaven and hell, re-enacting mankind's fall from grace while the heavenly choir of the Manhatten Transfer sings Sympathy For The Devil. A million dollars over budget, with guest stars Ben Vereen as The Devil and Arthur Fiedler as The Maestro, CBS execs said "What the hell is this? It makes no sense!", but it got an Emmy for set designs. Psychadelic, bizarre, over the top, and long thought to be lost by most collectors. Carl recently found one old fan in New York City who had a precious fuzzy copy.
GROUP REVIEW:
In attendence were Caren M., Karen W., Gitama, Rob, Liz, Pat, Annika, David, Margot, Wendy, Kimberly, and Carl. "The Boy Who Turned Yellow" was pretty silly but had some child imagination charm; average score was 4.9 but that ranged from 1 to 9! "Mary's Incredible Dream" was ambitious, campy, political, and sometimes disturbing. Again a wide range of scores from 1 to 10 gave an average of 5.7. Lowest scorer just couldn't stand Mary Tyler Moore, highest scorer thought it was among the most daring TV he'd ever seen.
SATURDAY, April 9, 2005 - Potluck starts at 6pm, movie at 7:30pm
THEME: Enlightenment
Please note that we are meeting the second Saturday of April, because the first weekend Rob and I are attending the Action/Cut filmmaking seminar in Boston.
FEATURE FILM: "Siddhartha" (1972,USA,95mins) - Drama
Director Conrad Rook's great adaptation of Siddhartha, the novel by Herman Hesse of a young man's search for wisdom. It was beautifully filmed on location by Sven Nykvist who was the cinematographer for Ingmar Bergman. The film became unexpectedly popular in India, but it wasn't received well in the US, being considered too arty and philosophical with no star actors. So Rooks got disgusted with America, quit filmmaking, and moved to India. If you miss seeing this with us, don't worry it is rentable in better video stores like Hollywood Express or City Video, having been rereleased on DVD last year.
GROUP REVIEW:
I can't recall which short we watched. Attending were Amy C. and husband Steve, Rob, Gitama, Carl, Kimberly, Alyssa, Pam, and Marjie. Average score was 8.2, which is pretty high! People said it Siddhartha was definitely beautiful, reflective, and for better or worse rather slow. Carl said it was too episodic but nice to see a whole life span. Many people liked the river metaphor for life. Before the movie, Carl and Rob related filmmaking desperation stories from the highly recommendable Action/Cut filmmaking seminar, such as the time director/teacher Guy Magar was filming with a rare specially striped snake, and it died, and no replacement could be found for the film to be finished, so they had to make it look like it was moving menacingly by pulling it with strings. No special effects awards went to that movie. At least they don't do that with people!
SATURDAY, March 5, 2005 - Potluck starts at 6pm, movie at 7:30pm
THEME: 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!
To celebrate our 2nd year of movie nights, we gave a voter's choice between 2 classic films:
1. an Italian farce called "Machine to Kill Bad People" about a demon giving a man a camera that can kill bad people (the power corrupts him until he has to take his own picture)
2. or an English time-travel romance about a scientist zapped back to the 1700's, falling in love with an ancestor (uh oh), then demonized as a witch for trying to introduce some modern inventions.
And guess what? The romance won 3 to 1! Aw you softies... well I don't mind, I want to see either film.
SHORT SUBJECT: "Vasarma's Lovers" (2002,USA,Short 15mins) - Drama
Rich with Hindu culture, this lovely short film was made by a young Indian woman in New York film school. The story is about a young man who is mystified to feel a great connection to one-half of a 19th century painting by a famous Indian artist, depicting him with his wife. Having only the side that shows the artist, and guided by his dreams, the man seeks out the owner of the other half to reunite the painting, and guess who has the other half, none other than his (the artist's) reincarnated soulmate...
FEATURE FILM: "I'll Never Forget You" (1951, UK, 90mins) - Drama, Fantasy/Sci-Fi, Romance
Stephen Simon is very proud that he produced the time-travel romance "Somewhere in Time" (1980) from a story by his friend the great fantasy/thriller TV writer Richard Matheson, and well he should be proud, it's a great film (made for a great high-school date flick as I fondly recall). But guess what? The story was taken from earlier ideas, and the time-travel romance genre goes way back. In "I'll Never Forget You" a physicist struck by lightning is transported to the 1700's where he falls in love with an ancestor, but when he tries to introduce modern science he is persecuted and goes back to the future, separated from his beloved. It stars hearthrobs Tyrone Power and Ann Blyth, and is based on a 1933 film which is based on a play (not by Matheson)
GROUP REVIEW:
As I recall, the feature was not too appreciated because it was old and melodramatic and a pretty fuzzy recording. But it had some sweet moments.
SATURDAY, February 5, 2005 - Potluck starts at 6pm, movie at 7:30pm
THEME: Let's Get Real (Amazing Documentaries)
Ok, Movie nights are on Saturdays this year, so we're not going to compete with Superbowl Sunday (last year attendance was low because of it.) After almost 2 years of amazing fiction, we're going to try some amazing fact. Some of you recently enjoyed "What the Bleep" (or didn't enjoy it, depending on your tolerance for a quirky uneven indie film). Documentaries have come into their own in the pop culture, and esoteric documentaries are nothing new (there's a lot of low-budget weird propaganda out there). Well rest assured, we're going to pick something really solid and good...
SHORT SUBJECT: "One Step Beyond: The Sacred Mushroom" (1961, USA, Short 25mins) - Documentary
Nine months before "The Twilight Zone" there came "One Step Beyond", arguably the most poetic, insightful, and greatest supernatural show ever. Host, director, and collector of true paranormal stories, John Newland would introduce each episode that recreated with remarkable sensivity an amazing but true story of dream premonition, spirit contact, reincarnation, or some other such esoteric mystery. I can't recommend this series enough, and even among all 97 episodes (about half are available on DVD), "The Sacred Mushroom" episode stands out. Before Timothy Leary, before the experimental generation to come, John Newland had heard of a rare mushroom revered by a South American tribe for its powers of heightening ESP. John gathered a team of scientists and anthropologists to go find this tribe and this mushroom. John took the mushroom and the tests were run. The results were positive. Let's see this rare controversial episode, not yet rereleased.
FEATURE FILM: "Investigation Into the Invisible World" (2002, France, 87mins) - Documentary
Taped just this month from its debut on the Sundance channel, this is a feature length documentary shot in Iceland about the relationship between humans and invisible beings such as elves, ghosts, angels, sea monsters, and extra-terrestrials. Icelandic culture is unique in its remoteness and individualism. In the land of fire and ice it is accepted that perfectly rational people will have otherworldly contacts as part of their daily lives. Filmmaker Jean Michel Roux encountered this fact while location scouting for a sci-fi project, and he was so impressed that he made this incredibly beautiful and unbiased film. Learn how elven cities are hidden between the frames of our reality, and how angels, extraterrestrials, and ghosts contact the material world, in this amazing documentary. See how many of us move to Iceland after watching this film...
GROUP REVIEW:
Attendees included Rob, Gitama, Carl, Kimberly, Annika, and others (I can't find the exact list). The group was quite positive on both documentaries. "Sacred Mushroom" got some discussion going of psychadelic culture, and some names in the movie were recognized. The Icelandic feature covered such wide ground that, though it was a bit uneven and shallow, there was something for everyone to enjoy.
SATURDAY, January 1, 2005 - Potluck starts at 6pm, movie at 7:30pm
THEME: HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Wow, the movie potluck is on the 1st! So this is basically my New Year's party (with Kimberly still in Texas), and maybe it's a good omen for the spiritual story film projects that more of us are moving toward. (Remember, January 29 is international Indigo day, with Stephen Simon's new film getting important industry test showings in the Boston area, tickets online only at http://www.indigothemovie.com/)
SHORT SUBJECT: "Happiness is helium filled potatoes (with straws) " (1999, USA, Short 13mins) - Comedy, Fantasy
For some New Year's silliness, this is as goofy as it sounds, and it's made in Massachusetts too. A man has died in a car crash with a potatoe truck, spilling potatoes everywhere, but he needs to go through several symbolic afterlife dreams (with potatoes) before he can realize the truth.
FEATURE FILM: "Lavender" (2000,China,111mins) - Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Ok, last month we saw a mystery thriller that mostly had guy appeal, so now we bravely show what could be more considered a true "chick flick". No offense intended, i like 'em too! -- A new-age aromatherapist named Athena has been depressed ever since her boyfriend died during his police training exercises. One day her guardian angel becomes physically injured in the sky above and falls through her skylight. Athena nurses Angel back to health, and Angel befriends Athena's flamboyant gay neighbor (yes, heaven accepts gays). Ultimately, Angel teaches Athena to recover from her emotional wounds and open to new love, which becomes easier when Athena sees that her lover is safely reincarnated, although he is no longer romantically available to her.
GROUP REVIEW:
We had a good turnout including Annika, Caren, Kimberly, Carl, Rob, Gitama, a visitor who works at a NY tv station, and others (I misplaced the exact list). "Lavender" was surprisingly complex, mostly appealing to romantics but also having elements of social justice with a gay character, contemporary urban Chinese culture, and arty pop segments. It was a little confusing at times with no clear genre or aim, but many satisfying and beautiful scenes rounded out what remains a favorite film for several people including Annika.
SATURDAY, December 4, 2004 - Potluck starts at 6pm, movie at 7:30pm
THEME: Secret Identities
SHORT SUBJECT: "Santa's Little Helper" (2003, USA, Short 12mins) - Comedy, Romance
A nice holiday short, a woman on the rebound is appalled to discover that her blind date is an elf working for Santa. But the elf is really a nice guy with her best romantic interests in mind.
FEATURE FILM: "The Invisible" (2003,Sweden,91mins) - Drama, Mystery/Thriller
"The Invisible" is a great great film, one of my all-time favorites that I'm happy to watch again so I can share it with you. It's a modern Swedish ghost story that has been compared to "Ghost", which was a great film but in some ways "The Invisible" is better because it is so non-Hollywood. A high school boy is killed, and finds himself in a strange purgatory state, including very interesting divergent reality effects. His only hope is to communicate through the conscience of his teen killer, a remorseless delinquent girl who is in her own way just as invisible and pitiable. This is the best (and probably the only) restorative justice supernatural thriller you will ever see: when killer and victim can acknowledge each other's existences, their troubled spirits will be able to move on. (This film may or may not ever reach US markets and was seen only in some film festivals, but a remake is scheduled for 2006)
GROUP REVIEW:
I can't remember exactly who attended, but it included Ben and his son, Michelle and her son Jason, Carl, Kimberly, Rob, Gitama, Annika, and Caren. The short was cute and well liked. The feature was hugely enjoyed by the two young teens, who said they didn't know a subtitled film could be so good. Many adults cringed and found it too violent and disturbing. It's not gorey but it is about violence, and the ending is redeeming but emotionally intense. Several of us loved the film too, so it was a very controversial pick.
SATURDAY, November 6, 2004 - Potluck starts at 6pm, movie at 7:30pm
THEME: Spooky Times
We have a particularly wonderful and overlooked modern all-star ghost story film for this especially powerful and strange Halloween/Election season!
To review, most Halloween rituals come from the Celtic pagans, who used the end of harvest as the time to celebrate the end of the year and the beginning of the next. They called November 1 Samhain (pronounced Sow-when), which conniving Christians changed to All Saints Day or Hallowmas to help conversions. The plan was to link pagan spirits to the saints and get everyone celebrating all the saints instead. Halloween is thus short for Hallow's evening, or All Hallows Eve, on the last night of October.
Now in this year's Halloween season, there is a preceeding full moon lunar eclipse on the 27th, and some including Marjie say that the coming of a red harvest moon over New York City predicted the winning by the Red Sox (who went on to play another red team, the Cardinals, as Boston's star pitcher continued to bleed for his team's historic sins in his doubly red socks). But with the election coming between Bush and Kerry, we can hope that the eclipse and Halloween indicates a change for the better (think of symbols like the shadow of the earth eclipsing the lunar madness, and the spirits of the people overriding business as usual - at any rate, vote!, since even if your state is a lock, you're grounding the energy for your candidate in the voting ritual.) Interesting isn't it, that while the western New Year is no longer celebrated at its pagan point in the calendar, everyone's November 2 election expectations for a new beginning are still riding on a Celtic schedule? Just can't keep the old ways down.
So by the next movie night, we'll be crying or celebrating the election as we watch "When Pigs Fly" (spooking you already, I know!) This movie is no slouch - it's produced by Jim Jarmusch, set in contemporary New York City, stars veteran actor Alfred Molina and music legend Marianne Faithfull, with a soundtrack by Joe Strummer of the Clash. Critics loved it at film fests but no major distributor picked it up, so you've never seen it and can't rent it (limited release vhs can be bought). It's a tender funny ghost story, about a jazz musician whose girlfriend gives him a rocking chair she found in the storage of the bar where she works. Two ghosts haunt the chair, a young 19th century girl and a 20th century housewife. He befriends the ghosts, and when they discover that the bar's boss caused the housewife's death, they all work together to bring him to justice. I've been saving this film for a good occasion, and I believe it'll be a real crowd pleaser.
SHORT SUBJECT: "Dreamscapes" (2003, USA, Short 6mins) - Animation, Documentary
A variety of people's dreams are portrayed in animation, using a variety of techniques to match the dreamer speaking of their dream. Delightful, straight from real interviews.
FEATURE FILM: "When Pigs Fly" (1993, USA, 94mins) - Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Two friendly ghosts haunt a NYC jazz musician's rocking chair, until he and his girlfriend help them seek justice. Produced by Jim Jarmusch, stars Alfred Molina, Marianne Faithfull, music by Joe Strummer.
GROUP REVIEW:
I forget the exact attendees, but I do remember that artist Esta Carnahan brought her NYC parents who appreciated the film perhaps more than it was worth. "When Pigs Fly" had its moments, but mostly it was so independent and low budget that it felt amateurish and scattered, so it didn't score that well with the group.
SATURDAY, October 2, 2004
PRE-EMPTED! By the Mystical Art and Talent Show!
SATURDAY, September 4, 2004 - Potluck starts at 6pm, movie at 7:30pm
THEME: The Pick-Your-Own Festival of Shorts!
Summer's ending, and hopes for fun are still high while attention spans are getting shorter with the days. So what could be better than a festival of great mystical short films? How about a pick-your-own festival! For everyone who comes early enough for the potluck, Carl will offer a menu of short films with brief descriptions. He'll tally up the votes for the order of shorts that we'll watch for the evening, until time runs out. Want some examples to get excited about? Check out four synopses below, or view the entire menu as html or word doc
"Luz" (2000, Spain, Short 8mins) - Animation, Experimental
STYLE: computer animation, MOOD: meditative, mysterious, wonder
A stick figure girl wanders into a theatre of self-awareness and re-enters an expanded reality. Not your usual computer animation, this film is incredibly beautiful with a sweeping classical soundtrack by Debussy.
"Gabrielle" (2001, USA, Short 15mins) - Drama
STYLE: live action, MOOD: spiritual, thoughtful, relationships
A spirit between lifetimes views her next incarnation with the help of a higher guide. When she sees hardships ahead she has second thoughts, but remembering her commitments to growth she chooses the life.
"Northern Ice, Golden Sun" (2002, USA, Short 9mins) - Animation, Fantasy
STYLE: hand-drawn animation, MOOD: playful, mythic, magical
The last work of famous animator Faith Hubley, who teamed with her daughter Emily (who did the animated sequences in Hedwig and the Angry Inch) to portray Eskimo shamans and their spirit animal guides as they face the modern world.
"Longbranch" (2001,USA,Short 13mins) - Comedy, Drama
STYLE: live action, MOOD: funny, lively, curious
A man orchestrates synchronicities while watching TV. How does he know just what to do to save the lives of two strangers in his yard? Outrageously clever and well-made.
SATURDAY, August 7, 2004 - Potluck starts at 6pm, movie at 7:30pm
THEME: The Summer Blockbuster!
It's summer, the time of the movie blockbusters. Arresting titles, sky-high fantasies, special effects, famous directors! So what would constitute a blockbuster alternative for our mystical movie nights? How does this sound: man invents machine to view his night dreams. Using it, he learns about reincarnation and his past lives. He seeks his reincarnated soulmate while the ghost of her past life haunts him. But this ghost can only be seen by his robot, who philosophisizes with her about angelic evolution as she makes plans for romantic destiny. Yes you heard right, this film has got it all, including the most amazing title ever: "Don't Die Without Telling Me Where You're Going". Still unreleased in the United States, this is by the great South American new age director Eliseo Subiela (he did Little Miracles, the hit at our March movie night about a girl who works with fairies). Eliseo says "Don't Die Without Telling Me Where You're Going" is the single most important career-defining film he ever made, because he had a near-death experience while making it. Intrigued? You should be! Come join us.
SHORT SUBJECT: "Longbranch" (2001,USA,Short 13mins) - Comedy, Drama
A man orchestrates synchronicities while watching TV. How does he know just what to do to save the lives of two strangers in his yard? Outrageously clever and well-made.
FEATURE FILM: "Don't Die Without Telling Me Where You're Going" (1995,Argentina,120mins) - Drama, Fantasy, Romance
The ultimate in reincarnated dream soulmate ghost and robot movies (see explanation above)! Director Eliseo Subiela, based on novel by Hermenegildo Sabat. In Spanish with subtitles.
GROUP REVIEW:
The idea here was to show a new age blockbuster that would combine lots of metaphysical thrills, and boy did this one deliver! Kurt, Linda Clave, Rob, Gitamo, Ann K., Kimberly, and Carl skipped right to the feature film (skipping all the shorts lately is one reason why September will be shorts night) and gave it a high average score of 8 (did it help that we're meeting in a more comfortable room with a new sectional sofa now?) In the story, Thomas Edison's assistant William K.L. Dickson who invented the movie projector (true) reincarnates as an Argentinian projectionist/inventor haunted by his past life's soulmate (fiction). There was a talking robot, mediumship, plant communication, a reincarnated ghost, aura reading, dreaming, afterlife journeying, and so much more! Linda lived in Argentina and attested to the Argentinian style of this long, meandering, and perfectly satisfying film, which will be finally released in the US in November by facets video.
SATURDAY, June 5, 2004 - Potluck starts at 6pm, movie at 7:30pm
THEME: Quirky Romance
SHORT SUBJECT: "Santa's Little Helper" (2001,USA,Short 11mins) - Comedy, Romance
Why is Cindy's blind date dressed like an elf and talking about working for "the Claus"? Can he really help her get her Christmas wish of true love? You don't have to wait until the holidays to enjoy this charming award-winning short.
FEATURE FILM: "Finding Joy" (2002,Australia,95mins) - Drama, Comedy, Romance
This is a great film for the New Age community, because it's a semi-autobiographical tale made with total sincerity by an actual New Age comedy/music husband and wife team. "Finding Joy" is also a sweet romantic comedy unlike anything Hollywood could possibly make. An awkward but smart 40-something woman fears she will never meet the love of her life, but everything changes after she takes in a stray dog, an act that opens her heart. Her tarot-reading roomate sees changes ahead, and a channeler at a psychic fair agrees. Joy attends a workshop to release her inner voice and meets Peter, an apparent soulmate. Together, Joy and Peter work through insecurities and exes to become a happy singing duo at the local pizza pub. The director is also a pet psychic who runs a shelter, so there is a strong animal advocacy message throughout this fine story. ("Finding Joy" was a great first choice for the debut release from Stephen Simon's breakthrough new DVD subscription service at www.spiritualcinemacircle.com )
GROUP REVIEW:
Let's see, it's been a while (we missed July for our annual fireworks potluck). We skipped the short, but the feature was a good solid entertainer. Rob W, Claire, Taylor, Tony R, Kimberly, and myself gave "Finding Joy" a high average score, about 7. Being an independent film debut from Australia, Tony found it a little too amateur, but there was something for everyone in this romantic new age dog-lover comedy. And afterward, Claire had an urge to rush home, where she arrived just in time for her oldest dog who was about to have a seizure! Claire helped her lab and learned to trust her intuition more, so I think our pets appreciated this film as well.
SATURDAY, May 1, 2004 - Potluck starts at 6pm, movie at 7:30pm
THEME: Reincarnated Love
Ah, what could be more romantic and enduring than the dream of eternal love? Nevermind the details of how time works, how separated couples will find each other, whether there are one or many soulmates, or how many people's minds are closed from hurt and dogma. With spring in the air, let's just trust life's journey and enjoy some films that know enough to celebrate reincarnated love. There are great titles to find in your video store, like "Chances Are", "Made in Heaven", and "What Dreams May Come", but we've got some more you've probably never heard of.
SHORT SUBJECT: "Vasarma's Lovers" (2002,USA,Short 15mins) - Drama, Romance
Rich with Hindu culture, this beautiful short film was made by a young Indian woman in New York film school. The story is about a young man who is mystified to feel a great connection to one-half of a 19th century painting by a famous Indian artist, depicting him with his wife. Having only the side that shows the artist, and guided by his dreams, the man seeks out the owner of the other half to reunite the painting, and guess who has the other half...
FEATURE FILM: "The Fridays of Eternity" (1981,Argentina,90mins) - Drama, Comedy, Romance
Not a lot is known about this film in English references, and I haven't seen it yet myself. But it was popular in South America, based on a book by Maria Granata and made by successful director Hector Olivera, so it seems safe to go on reputation. Latin American film is famous for adapting the literary style of magical realism, in which fantastic things happen in the context of everyday events and relationships. Argentina is not so much known for magical realism as much as romantic tales that are outright supernatural, and in March our movie group enoyed "Little Miracles" about a girl who is helped by fairies to find her true love. In "The Fridays of Eternity" we meet two lovers who have pledged their enternal devotion, but their love is tested by various misunderstandings and adventures. The tone is light-hearted so the ending should be happy. (in spanish, subtitled)
GROUP REVIEW:
Hmm, this movie night kind of flubbed. Anne K. joined me and Kimberly, and we skipped the short to go straight to the feature film which wasn't so great. Though it had interesting moments in the magical realist style, it's not much of a love story. "Fridays of Eternity" is a collection of semi-humorous scenes in an eccentric village, including a woman who has trapped a ghost to help her become a seer. We gave it a medium score (no pun intended).
SATURDAY, April 3, 2004 - Potluck starts at 6pm, movie at 7:30pm
THEME: Adventures in Consciousness
A.C. is Kurt Leland's shorthand for consciousness experiences like lucid dreams and lessons from spirit guides (see Kurt's site now at www.KurtLeland.com ) Last year, Kurt really enjoyed the 1944 spiritualist morality play-made-movie called "Between Two Worlds" that we showed, so this time we've got at his request another great rare film in the same style, preceded by two beautiful shorts worthy of being called Adventures in Consciousness.
SHORT SUBJECT: "Mind" (1999, France, 4 mins)
Director Steve Moreau seems to have a feel for the out-of-body experience, as his short films often feature soaring flights through nature that return to a person with their eyes closed. This one is about a meditating girl.
SHORT SUBJECT: "Loon Dreaming" (2002, Canada, 6 mins)
From the view of a loon flying from ocean to a lake, this otherworldly animation evokes a non-human consciousness. As trance music plays, the bird soars past spirit lights and over psychadelic auras that make all of nature glow.
FEATURE FILM: "The Halfway House" (1944, UK, 95 mins) - Drama, Fantasy
At the beginnings of WWII, a popular young orchestra conductor is weak with illness, and on his doctor's orders he takes a holiday to a bucolic country inn. Little does he know that he will be the first guest to a hotel that is now halfway in this world and halfway in the next, for it was bombed in last year's air raids. Two gentle spirit guides, played with eerie calm by a real-life father-daughter team, now run the house to help the living gain a higher view on their issues of death and internal judgements. This wonderful ensemble film is reminiscent of the spiritualist classic "Between Two Worlds" which our movie group so enjoyed last year, and similarly it is a forgotten gem of spirit guidance that you won't see anywhere else. For complete film analysis (don't read if you want to keep surprises) see review
GROUP REVIEW:
A smaller turnout, maybe older movies interest fewer folks? I won't take it personally. Kurt was definitely a fan of the film, and Eduardo M. joined us for the first time and dug it too. Kurt pointed out how significant it was that this film was actually made while the war was still on. There was clearly guidance from the other side to get through with a message for the times, since much of the plot was about a mother obsessed with contacting her son who had died in battle. While the mother learned that spirits are real, she also learned to move on with her life. Average rating: 9, not counting Ann K. who fell asleep!
SATURDAY, March 6, 2004 - Potluck starts at 6pm, movie at 7:30pm
THEME: The Gift to be Different
Sometimes being different may seem like a curse, but at those times we just need a little help to see the gift we really have been given. These films can give you some of that courage.
SHORT SUBJECT: "The Delicious" (2002, USA, 16 mins) - Comedy, Fantasy
This is one of my favorites! A businessman starts channeling a bizarre new dance that makes him feel good but alienates his friends and family, until he discovers that he is not alone. Very funny and strangely comforting for all us non-comformists.
FEATURE FILM: "Little Miracles" (1997,Argentina,106mins) - Comedy, Fantasy/Sci-Fi, Romance
Argentina has a tradition of magical cinema, and one of their greatest directors is Eliseo Subiela. His films consistently explore characters in profound metaphysical situations, with unexpected insight and drama and humor. Only a few of his works are known in "America" (note the quotes), including "Man Facing Southeast" which was a dead ringer for "K-Pax" years before that other (arguably better) film, about a gentle man in a psych hospital who may yet prove that he's an extraterrestrial. "Little Miracles" (aka "Pequenos Milagros") likewise seems to predate another better-known film, in this case "Amelie". Are the directors in the know stealing Subiela's ideas? In "Little Miracles", an impishly sweet girl named Rosalia discovers her powers for granting other people's wishes, but what she longs for most is her own soulmate who, unknown to her, is synchronously on his way. Yes, that does sound like Amelie doesn't it! But wait, there's more. Rosalia may actually be an incarnated fairy, because fairies keep guiding her in her dreams, causing her to wake up singing Gaelic and having insights on the veil between the worlds! Subiela is a genius and "Little Miracles" is a New Age delight. Unfortunately it's unreleased in the US, so we'll have to put up with the awkward subtitles of an otherwise excellent Asian import.
GROUP REVIEW:
We had a great turnout of 9 people for a delicious potluck and movie, Saturday is definitely a good time! Ann K., Amy and Steve C., Donnamarie, Rob W., Caren M., Tony R., Carl and Kimberly all enjoyed "Little Miracles", giving an average score of 8.5 out of 10. Hilights were the realism of fairy and dreamworld knowledge, the tender emotional subplots, and the beautiful cinematography and music. Having had fair warning, the bad Asian-release subtitles didn't actually bother anyone, and just a few people felt the movie was on the slow/artsy side. More than one person said it was one of the greatest movies they've ever seen, and felt emotionally validated for connecting with spirit guides and/or fairies, noting that such things are much more accepted in many cultures other than our own. Even the warm-up short film "The Delicious" elicited a great response, with laughter and admiration for the concise storytelling with quick effective camera angles.
1 year anniversary!: It's been one year since we started hosting dinner potlucks followed by rare spiritual movies, for friends and select movie buffs. Since March 2003, a couple dozen people have joined us (not all at the same time) on first Sunday evenings to see many great films and contribute to great conversations before and after. The only disappointment has been the number of people who couldn't make it on a Sunday, and the last film, a great Czech fantasy about energy-healers and parallel dimensions, only brought one other person (well it was super bowl Sunday, and the one joiner was our neighbor Anne whose secret mystical Czech identity is safe with us.. oops!). SO WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH TO FIRST SATURDAYS. Originally I had thought, wow, we can't compete with people's social lives. But then I realized, you know, we're getting older, we need our beauty rest to go to work on Monday, we don't go clubbing... this *is* our social life! So first Saturdays should give us better attendence and weekend relaxation to see some really groovy flicks. Now if it just doesn't get too crowded (more than 10-12) we'll be all set...
SUNDAY, Feb 1, 2004 - Superbowl Sunday
THEME: Providing the Alternative
SHORT SUBJECT: The Superbowl?!
...oh wow, this was different. Annie suggested that we turn on the superbowl, turn off the sound, and do a meditation for higher vibrations. When we opened our eyes, results were mixed: we felt more connected to this curious cultural ritual, and the Patriots had scored a point. But then there was that sad fatal riot afterwards, which united Boston in both fingerpointing and healing prayers even as victory parades clogged our commutes for the next couple days. Life is so complex...
FEATURE FILM: "Akumulator 1" (1994,Czech,102mins) - Comedy, Fantasy/Sci-Fi, Foreign (subtitled)
Ah, those crazy Czechs! If you have never seen one of the great Czech New Wave metaphysical comedies, like "The Cat who Wore Sunglasses" (the gaze of a magician's cat lights up people's auras) or "Who Killed Jessie?" (a treatment for bad dreams is really just banishing the nightmares into reality, causing comic book characters to run the city) then you are in for a treat with "Akumulator 1". A man who spends too much time watching TV is one day interviewed on the street. After being seen on TV he goes into a coma; it turns out that a parallel world is growing inside the TV dimension which sucks people's energy, and couch potatos are the first to go! The man apprentices under an energy healer who teaches him to master the life force from exercise, wood and trees, art, and tanta (yes, as in sex, and some mature though not exploitative European-style scenes make this not a kids film). He learns to see auras and send and receive energy, eventually confronting the TV beings and turning off TVs to save the world! Part social satire, part new-age fantasy, this is fun and silly on the surface but profound and timely underneath. I just know you'll want to watch it with us! And frankly, you won't see it anywhere else.
GROUP REVIEW:
Kimberly fell asleep so it was up to Anne and me to enjoy this film. We gave it at least an 8 out of 10! This was an amazing blend of East European fairytale, modern sci-fi, European romantic comedy that we both really appreciated. The title refers to accumulating energy in the primary world, rather than in the fantasy world.
SUNDAY, Jan 4, 2004
THEME: Women's Spiritual Journeys
SHORT SUBJECT: "That Strange Person" (1999, USA, 6 mins) - Animation, Fantasy
Artist Eileen O'Meara looks into the mirror at a party and flies us into a strange world of her imagination, where alter egos of goddesses and devils abound. This is one of those wonderful animation shorts with morphing drawings that will delight and amaze every audience.
FEATURE FILM: "Eden" (1997,USA,106mins) - Drama
The wife of a boarding school teacher has multiple sclerosis, but is this just another disease of the week movie? No, not quite! She starts having out-of- body experiences and raving about the cosmic oneness of all living things, which freaks out most everyone except a kind male student with whom her husband accuses her of having an affair. Ultimately she realizes that her spiritual awakening has made a kind of guide for all the men in her life, so having lost the fear of death she must choose to take charge and teach others about real strength. This remarkable independent film is rarely seen or discussed, though it is still available for rent in some stores that didn't throw it away. The woman's spiritual journey is inspiringly realistic, and with its OBE-triggered enlightenment the film is comparable to that Ellen Burstyn classic of NDE awakening "Resurrection" (1980).
GROUP REVIEW:
Carl, Kimberly, Rob, Gitamo, and Anne enjoyed this film quite a lot, with a high average score of about 8!
SUNDAY, Dec 7, 2003
... snow cancellation, 2 1/2 feet!
SUNDAY, Nov 2, 2003
THEME: Halloween Fun!
SHORT SUBJECT: "Night on Bald Mountain" (1933,France, 8 mins) - Art, Fantasy
Six years before Disney depicted Mussorgsky's classic spooky song with a mountain of animated demons in Fantasia, the French made this amazing black & white version perfect for Halloween.
FEATURE FILM: "The Monitors" (1969,USA, 92 mins) - Comedy, Fantasy/Sci-Fi
"We are here to serve humanity, here to reaffirm gentility, light the way from fear to sanity, carefully promote tranquility". So sing the Monitors, those strange Magritte-like gentlemen in black buttoned overcoats and bowler hats who have so politely and nonviolently invaded Earth to prepare it for entry into the galactic federation. "Be kind. Kindess is strength. The Monitors are kind." Slogans for peace are everywhere and some say it is the second coming, but a growing rebellion of out-of-work trouble-makers want their old lives back before they get indefinite detention! This sharply intelligent and psychadelically campy 60's satire was brought to you by Chicago's distinguished Second City comedy troupe, and is now available mail-order only.
GROUP REVIEW:
Carl, Rob W., Ann K., and Marjie H. gave the film an average score of about 6, with lower marks for the uneven and dated production values compensated by extra points for uniqueness.
SUNDAY, Oct 5, 2003
THEME: Mystical Romance
SHORT SUBJECT: "The Second Coming" (1996,USA,12 mins) Comedy, Romance
A legal secretary finds herself with Jesus Christ the morning after a one-night stand.
FEATURE FILM: "Freaky Chakra" (2003,India,90 mins) - Comedy, Drama, Romance
A Bollywood (Bombay Hollywood) screenwriter has writer's block in creating a story about a woman doctor who is grieving her husband's death. So the writer throws some changes into the story including a new love interest, and the characters come alive to play out the changes with unexpected results.
GROUP REVIEW:
Carl was taking a chance on ordering this film from India, thinking it was going to be about spiritual chakras more than it was. There were synchronicities, symbols for going in circles (chakra means wheel), eclectic songs, and some goofy humor, but mostly Kurt, Carl, Rob Wo., and Pam Christen had to agree, this was lesser pop culture entertainment and only slightly interesting for its look at contemporary Indian film.
SUNDAY, Sept 7, 2003
THEME: "Authority Figures"
SHORT SUBJECT: "Me and the Big Guy" (1999, USA, Short 8 mins) - Comedy
A man in Orwell's 1984 really wants Big Brother to be his friend, so he tells bad jokes until Big Brother begs to be left alone.
FEATURE FILM: "The Guru" (1969,USA,112mins) - Drama
This very rare film from Merchant-Ivory (the people who brought you Howard's End, Room with a View, etc.) was enjoyed by Anne Kay, Marjie Harrison, Donna Marie and Kate Kavanah, Courtney Walsh, Ron and Sandra Kaffler, Kim English, and Carl Schroeder. A young Michael York plays a British musician who goes to India to study with a sitar Guru. This fictionalization of George Harrison's first visit to India in September 1966 to study with Ravi Shankar featured some very groovy 60's costumes, lovely sitar music, and fascinating location shots.
GROUP REVIEW:
The group rated it about a 6 out of 10 for being dramatically uneven in portraying the dual nature of the guru and his culture; he could be wise and kind one minute, then chauvanistic and immature the next.
SUNDAY, August, 2003
No movie night, vacation!
SUNDAY, July 6, 2003
THEME: Creation
SHORT SUBJECT: "Divine Fate" (1993, Canada) - Animation
A beautiful animated dreamtime version of the Garden of Eden story. Made by acclaimed artist Ishu Patel, available from National Film Board of Canada.
FEATURE FILM: "The Man Who Could Work Miracles" (1936,UK,82mins) - Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
The gods test humanity by giving one simple shopkeeper the power to perform miracles. Based on H.G.Wells, this is a highly entertaining fore-runner of the new movie Bruce Almighty. I consider the original to be a near-perfect film, with effects much more advanced than you'd expect for being 67 years old. For complete film analysis (don't read if you want to keep surprises) see detailed review.
GROUP REVIEW:
The feature was greatly enjoyed by just Anne Kay, Marjie Harrison, and Carl. For everyone who missed out, maybe you can find a rental!
SUNDAY, June 1, 2003
THEME: Entering The Afterlife
SHORT SUBJECT: "Go Down Death" (1981) - Animation
In this haunting animation of a famous poem by important black author James Weldon Johnson, God sends Death for sister Caroline.
FEATURE FILM: "Between Two Worlds" (1944,USA,112mins) - Drama, Fantasy
This is the snappy classic version of the afterlife play "Outward Bound", which debuted in London in 1923 and went on to international success. A group of Londoners who don't realize they've died find themselves on a mysterious steamship through the fog, on their way to judgement by a wise old spirit guide. With wonderful theatricality, this movie is not available on video and only occasionally appears on pay cable TV. When we took a vote last time for what movie to see next, Ann saw an angel behind me voting for this film! For complete film analysis (don't read if you want to keep surprises) see detailed review.
GROUP REVIEW:
The feature was enjoyed by another great turnout including Carl, Kimberly, Lori Lundberg, Ann Kay, Kurt LeLand, Courtney Walsh, Donna Marie, and Maureen Crosby. People laughed and ooohed in the right places!
SUNDAY, May 4, 2003
THEME: Community
SHORT SUBJECT: "Leunig Animated" (2002) - Animation, Fantasy
We'll show a selection of surreal 1 minute claymation shorts from Australian comic artist
FEATURE FILM: "The People" (1972,USA,TV 74mins) - Drama, Fantasy
A community of gentle psychic Amish-like people from another world is discovered by a doctor (William Shatner) and a school teacher (Kim Darby). The teacher encourages the school children to develop their telekinetic gifts and draw psychadelic images from their race memories. Very spiritual and inspiring, based on famous stories by Zenna Henderson. For complete film analysis (don't read if you want to keep surprises) see detailed review.
GROUP REVIEW:
"The People" was enjoyed by a great turnout including some new faces! Carl, Kimberly, Ann Kay, Chris Riopelle (wish her and Tom new happiness in Florida!), Andy Lutts, Rob from Gloucester, Deanna, Alan, and Kurt. Overall the movie was given high marks, with those who read the book saying if you like the movie then you should read the book.
SUNDAY, April 6, 2003
(Daylight Savings Time so remember to set your clocks forward!)
THEME: Between Lives
SHORT SUBJECT: "Gabrielle" (2001,USA, Short 15 mins) - Drama, Fantasy
A woman's spirit reviews her next incarnation, and learns to accept the pain with the joy.
FEATURE FILM: "Saved by the Light" (1995,USA,TV 95mins) - Biography, Drama
The true amazing story of Dannion Brinkley's near death experience and resulting powers of prophecy. Wonderful imagery from the afterlife where he met 12 light beings in a crystal hall. For complete film analysis (don't read if you want to keep surprises) see detailed review.
GROUP REVIEW:
Daylight Savings time made this the perfect day for "Saved by the Light". The movie was given high marks for its many spiritual moments by Ann K., Chris R., and Alex D., Carl, and Kimberly.
SUNDAY, March 2, 2003
THEME: Enlightenment
SHORT SUBJECT: "Match Scratch Fever" (2002, USA) - Animation, Comedy
This is a charming computer animation of a dancing matchstick finding en-light-enment (get it?)
FEATURE FILM: "The Pyramid" (1975, USA, 90 mins) - Drama
A very rare and fascinatingly semi-autobiographical independent film about a news reporter in Dallas Texas becoming sick of covering tragic events, so he investigates the holistic counter-culture and ultimately joins it.
GROUP REVIEW:
The feature was seen by Carl, Kimberly, Alex D., Chris R., Tom M., Libby, Ann K., and Andy. The group rating was only 2 (out of 10) for this low-budget 70's New Age confessional film that was comparable in some ways to Easy Rider, but everyone had a good time and Alex appreciated the cameo appearance by astronaut Edgar Mitchell talking about his Noetic Institute research. Much slicker films are in store, fear not, as this one was just to test your spiritual dedication (plus Carl really did like it).
MYSTICAL MOVIE TITLES FOR CONSIDERATION
Great movies that you could rent or find on cable TV to see on your own (great Boston rentals at Hollywood Express)
Defending your Life (1991,USA,112mins) - Comedy - a yuppie dies and undergoes a life review in heaven
Eden (1997,USA,106mins) - Drama, Romance - a crippled woman has a spiritual awakening with her out-of-body experiences
Farewell, Good Brothers (1992,USA,TV 77mins) - Documentary, Fantasy/Sci-Fi - interviews with the first generation of UFO witnesses who met good aliens bringing peace
Happenstance (2000,France,90mins) - Drama, Romance - mystical synchronicities bring a couple together
Lathe of Heaven, The (1980,USA,TV 105mins) - Drama, Fantasy/Sci-Fi - (original PBS show) a man whose dreams change reality tries to make the world a better place with mixed results
Made in Heaven (1987,USA,102mins) - Drama, Romance - a couple meet in heaven and then try to find each other when they reincarnate
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970,USA,129mins) - Comedy, Drama, Musical, Romance - Barbara Streisand sings in a regression therapy reincarnation romance (very nice though long)
Out on a Limb (1987,USA,TV 160mins) - Biographical, Documentary - Shirley McClaine meets soulmates, aliens, and channeled entities (superb movie but at almost 3 hours just too long for a group)
Resurrection (1980,USA,103mins) - Drama - Ellen Burstyn plays a woman who gains healing powers after her near-death experience, first feature film based on Raymond Moody's research
UFOria (1980,USA,93mins) - Comedy, Drama, Romance - Bible revivalists join UFO believers in Texas, fun and good acting
Vibes (1988,USA,99mins) - Comedy, Romance - Cyndi Lauper and Jeff Goldblum are friendly psychics who get into an Indiana Jones adventure using mediumship and astral travel
Copyright 2002 Carl J. Schroeder