Darshan - L'étreinte

This film is one of the most inspiring films in my life. Excellent pictures, excellent sound and the main figure is simply mind-blowing ;-). She has the biggest charitable network a single woman ever created and her untiring efforts to uplift the poor, sick and suffering is recognized throughout the whole world.

The director gives an impression of Amma's turbulent life - in her spiritual center in Kerala, on her tour through North India and during the celebration of her 50th birthday. She counsels, organizes and hugs almost 24 hours per day, hardly getting any food, drink or sleep. Her charities are so efficiently reaching out to the poorest of society that even the President of India donated his income of ten months to Ammas organization. Unfortunately the charitable network is hardly mentioned in the film. Ammas world-tour are missing as well. But this is outweighed by wonderful pictures of India and deep insights into the Indian culture and lifestyle.

If you are expecting a glossy, high quality picture or travelogue of some of the magnificent sites of India, you will be sadly disappointed. The work of a true master in service to humanity is seldom glamorous. Any illusions to the contrary will be put firmly to rest in the very first scene. Those who miss the true impact of this movie, the fact that it's very beauty lies in its simplicity will have missed the big picture. This is the perfect metaphor for Amma, herself.

I have met Amma and received darshan several times. I will admit, that though I have always respected her efforts, I did have some question as to her true motives. This movie quelled any doubts that I may have had with regard to her authenticity. In the opening scene of the movie we see her perform something so shockingly compassionate, that a Western mind can hardly comprehend it.

I have never been to India. The stark reality of the living conditions in this region firmly reminds one to be grateful for life in these United States. Though it may sound illogical, in my humble estimation even the homeless appear to have it better here. It's not every day that we are thrust into "lifestyle of the citizens of an emerging nation." If the sole intention for making this film was to stir the mind as well as the heart, then it is worthy of an academy award.

This visually spectacular but shallow documentation of revered saint Amritananda Mayi, or Amma as she is known to millions in her native India, will probably end up as an important piece of film for her devotees, but really does not cater to those who are not already steeped in her spiritual beliefs. Detailing a brief, rare glimpse into the "hugging saint's" travels across the country, interviews and explanations take a back seat to being in the moment as Amma leads packed temples through prayer. While the strict observational tone works wonders for the atmosphere of the film and does compliment the inherent non-physical tone, the makers of this film sacrifice much with their mere visual representation. People who have not been immersed into the Amma lore, nor have a budding passion for enlightenment will only be able to take in this work as a glorified, alternative concert video of sorts, as we are basically led through a tour of temples the smiling one passes by to pray and hug with the tens of thousands of people who daily seek her unique embrace. These devotees will literally wait twenty hours to simply be hugged by this woman for a few seconds, seemingly receiving an elevated form of love, compassion, and acceptance that cannot be found in everyday life. It is this essence of embracing that is at the heart of the visual powerhouse that is this documentary. While touching and profound, the true hero of this film is undoubtedly Jan Kounen's incredible direction. What could have been a tiny niche film that does not even explore the intellectual ramifications of it's subject becomes instead one of the most visually splendid and immersed exports to come from India that I have ever seen. Making up for some of the repetitious ceremonial footage, Kounen's alternating city footage is both intimate and far reaching, giving viewers the beautifully dirty access to one of the worlds largest populations that has become glazed over in most Bollywood fare. The final result, though nothing of a conversion for the uninitiated, is still an appropriate tribute to one of the worlds most exalted spiritual leaders, and even more importantly a tribute to one of the worlds most exotic countries.

This is the story of Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, an Indian mystic who teaches about love and peace and helps the poor and downtrodden. Well not so so much a story but a meditation on her and her work. It is filled with some of the most beautiful photography I have seen in a long time and nicely brings us to a particular place that is alien to most of the world. The film is also painfully dull and boring.

Call me unbeliever or a person with no attention span but this film had me nodding off ten minutes in. I learned nothing I didn't already know from brief TV exposes on the same woman. What am I suppose to get out of this film? That she is a nice person healing the sick and giving hope to the broken? I knew that going in. I wanted a sense of her as a human being (or since some say she is not human a reason to believe otherwise) , instead I got nice scenery and people gushing about this wonderful person who made a deep difference in their lives. Thats nice but how is that going to help me? I don't have a clue. Nothing in this film made me feel anything other than if I wanted a nap I could have saved the admission price and stayed home.

Don't get me wrong I do like films that are essentially meditations, Werner Herzog's Wheel of Time springs to mind, but where Herzog engaged your spirit he also engaged your mind and made you think as well as feel. That never happened here.

If you want to see some beautiful scenes of India see this movie. If you want to be enlightened spiritually or otherwise look elsewhere.

I am so very upset about this. I have been an Amma devotee for years now and I have to wait months to see this film and even then I have to travel over 150 miles to get there!!! I have checked several websites and it looks like it is only playing in a scattering of theaters across the country and, interestingly, over a period of a few months. Like there is only one copy of the film or something. Whats up with that? Also, I am wondering if I will be able to get a version of this for my home. I wonder if they are going to release it on DVD. I have a few other films on Amma but they aren't big productions. I have high hopes for this one. I can only keep my fingers crossed and wait and wait and wait until September when I will finally get to view the film.