By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Maurizio Benazzo | Nick Day
Country: united_states
Year: 2004
Running time: 85
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420723/combined
Georgette says: “Every 12 years a massive Hindu festival takes place in Prayag, Uttar Pradesh where the Ganges (Ganga) and Yamuna rivers meet. The holiest swamis, gurus, and living saints gather to discuss religious doctrine, sing, and most importantly, bathe in the holy waters of Mother Ganga. The festival has been taking place for more than 2,500 years, and in 2001 over 70 million people attended. It was the largest gathering of humanity in one place in the history of mankind. This festival is what drew Maurizio Benazzo and Nick Day to India to film their documentary.
“Early in the film we meet Swami G, who becomes an informal guide to the Hindu religious tenets and the festival. He is a young man who knows how to talk the talk and walk the walk, but it’s clear that he is still on his spiritual search. If only he could be a saintly swami and have a Mercedes too.
“The film shows a variety of swamis and gurus, some of whom can perform amazing tricks and stunts. There is the man who wears shoes of nails and sits on a nail chair suspended over hot coals. There is a woman who is buried in a pit for three days. And then there is swami who does something I still can’t believe.
“And then there are the holy people. A woman spoke with incredible eloquence about finding what you really want and renouncing whatever it takes to get to your ideal. Another woman couldn’t have been more than 15 years old, and her wisdom was both spiritual and practical. She saw right through Swami G.
“The Dalai Lama was also there. Of course he is always mesmerizing, but his laugh took me by surprise. It’s the free, open laugh of a child, and it was a pleasure to hear.
“On the bathing day that was shown in the film, 25 million people walked into the river. Maurizio was able to be in the river to film the bathers, but what was more impressive was seeing the masses of people on shore.
“When I left the theatre after the Q&A with the filmmakers I thought this was definitely a four cat film. It’s been two days now and I’m bumping it up to five. I can’t stop thinking about this film. It’s message of religious tolerance and harmony are particularly powerful at this point in time.
Check out the Web site for a trailer and more info and photos: melafilms.com. 5 cats”
Diane says: “Had to see this before Janet and I head off to India. Docu shows the diversity of Indian people and their spirituality through a mega-religious festival on the Ganges. A review I read said that filmmakers Benazzo and Day capture a ‘tawdry spectacle’ of ‘charlatans and commercial opportunists.’ There’s certainly some of that, but I don’t think that’s their point. Unfortunately, they ended up using a couple of Westerners who editorialize unhelpfully on the Kumbh Mela experience. I would have preferred to hear from the non-guru Indian people there as to what they were getting out of it. Quite an amazing thing: 70 million people spending a couple of weeks together being enlightened. 3 cats.”