Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action

This movie is excellent. If you want to think about the world without sinking into hopelessness this is the movie you should see. Velcrow Ripper seems to be always at the right place and the right time, but more importantly, in this movie he brings to the crowds the leaders with cutting edge thinking for the future of this world. An army of amazing thinkers and simple ideas that will inspire you and leave you with a feeling of belonging. The content is charged with positive messages, conveyed in words, and strong images. Unique moments stolen; I felt so privileged to take a peak in the past, when these events were happening, moments that I would have never been part of.

This documentary is abundant with information and insight, and above everything, a clear, strong vision of possibility-when spirit meets action.

Gives hope and direction to all of those who feel they are alone in this world wanting things to change for the better. After finishing the film I felt like maybe there's a chance that humanity will make it through the current world crises and that is no small accomplishment! Fierce Light has taken social action and activism going on all over the world and through history and connected it all into a web of inspired action that transcends politics and religion. After seeing this film I feel less alone and more hopeful, like the world has many genuinely spiritual people trying to make the world a better place whether they label themselves that way or not. A truly powerful documentary and work of art with masterful direction and sound design.

A great way to interact with this film is to join The DVD Club - it's like a book club but for film, and is a part of First Weekend Club - a non-profit organization that promotes Canadian film. For October, Fierce Light is the Official Selection, and Velcrow, Cher Hawrysh (producer) and activist/journalist Judy Rebick and artist/activist Carly Stasko are online to answer questions and spark debate.

The DVD Club is free to join and is a fantastic way to extend the life of Canadian film beyond the cinema release date! First Weekend Club is a cross-Canada organization that promotes and celebrates great Canadian film. Check it out at www.firstweekendclub.ca/DVD-club

It's difficult for me to dis this perfectly well-meaning guy with committed, if vague, political and religious beliefs. The first five minutes of the movie were the strongest, and yet they also revealed the film's flaw. At the start we learn about the filmmaker's friend, who went to Chiapas to film a peaceful protest and was shot. Afterwards, the foreign journalists all left, and the lone filmmaker, our narrator, stands alone against the stormtroopers. That is when my wife said, "I don't like his voice."

But why not? His voice is perfectly fine. I think it goes to the larger issue, which is that every filmmaker has a voice, just like every writer has a voice. And this voice is a little too centered on the filmmaker. When the filmmaker faced off against the troops, he said "I was scared." That kind of on-the-nose writing is a real buzz-kill.

Because when a stranger tells you "I'm scared," the first thing most people think of is, "You're probably just a wimp." A movie shows, it's not supposed to tell. A horror movie is not a description of a scary event, a horror movie is supposed to scare you, or its not a movie. And anyway, what is the filmmaker, a white American, what business does he have being scared? The people of Chiapas, talk to them and you will hear about how scary it is. After all, you did take a plane to get there.

So that's the problem, in a sense. A self-narrated piece has a dangerous tendency to accidentally portray the narrator as the hero in their own story, and in a documentary where people's lives are at stake, that can seem a little selfish.

As a long-time activist and some-time film maker, I attended Velcrow Ripper's latest film with an open heart and a critical mind. The subject matter is so important to express in a widely accessible way yet, in a world where we are necessarily kept from accessing this point of view, it will be a miracle if we can see this high quality film taken up for broad distribution and viewing. You, dear reader, can make that miracle happen if you insist that this film be show in your town, wherever that may be.

Fierce Light honours a diverse selection of activists who have committed deeply, fiercely and lovingly to initiating and following through with compassionate actions that create the world we need right now. From the famous and well-known personalities to people we may never hear of again, Fierce Light captures beauty and love in the faces and words of people just like we are in our collective dream of a world of peace and justice.