Ram Dass: Fierce Grace
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Movie Reviews of Ram Dass: Fierce Grace
Movie Review: Stroke of genius
Summary: 4 Stars
This documentary-biography is presentations by Ram Dass helping us cope with aging and bringing us his experience with a stroke.
The presentations not well focused; however it is much better than many of the sound bite presentations produced now days. There is no way to come from ground zero and bring you to today's view in the few minutes of this presentation. In many ways this viewing this can be quite emotional.
This also helps fill in his life from childhood as Richard Albert and the many people he came across that changed his views through out life. We also get introduced to his books as "Be Here Now" and "Still Here: Embracing Aging, Changing, and Dying".
The DVD I viewed has many scenes tat did not make it into the original film. Do not over look the extras.
Movie Review: Psychedelic Lovers Should View This
Summary: 4 Stars
This is an ongoing glimpse of Dr. Richard Alpert's transformation as Ram Dass, now going through the experience of 'being stroked' and dealing with the ramifications. There's a good chunk about psychedelics in this, a very brief capture of Dr. Timothy Leary's face, and Ralph Metzner also shows up for a few friendly words.All in all, this is a piece of the puzzle to Ram Dass and his era. I recommend this DVD to a select audience whom have already become acquianted with the book BE HERE NOW, and perhaps GRIST FOR THE MILL. And of course, you should be familiar with yoga and LSD25, otherwise this will probably have little meaning to you.
Movie Review: Following on the Path
Summary: 4 Stars
I am one of the original readers of Be Here Now when it came out in 1971. When I found this DVD available it was a good way to see where Ram Dass had been traveling these last 3 decades.
It was nice to revisit an old friend and was inspiring. It would be a good video for young ppl on the path to see.
Movie Review: Maybe an unfilmable subject . . .
Summary: 3 Stars
Knowing the younger Ram Dass from recordings of his talks to devoted and appreciative audiences, I was familiar with an immensely articulate and affective advocate of Eastern spirituality - able to speak with a familiar voice and an accessible vocabulary about a subject that goes beyond language and reason. What is disappointing about this film is how post-stroke aphasia has affected the man's ability to speak so clearly, precisely, and eloquently. Watching the film, I kept thinking that the film's editors were making him seem more articulate than he now is.
I gather from those who speak highly of Ram Dass that you literally have to *be there* with him to fully grasp the impact of his presence as a teacher. A lengthy scene at the end of the film records a session with a young woman who comes to him for help dealing with the violent death of a dear friend. The camera attempts to capture what transpires during that meeting, but I think it's very difficult to tell to what extent the force of his presence (given his difficulty with language) has in the situation. It may have been profound or superficial - it's really hard to tell for sure, and that is, I think, a problem with the film.
Others here have blamed the filmmakers, and I don't know if that criticism is fair. The medium of film, with its attention to surfaces, is handicapped in dealing with a subject like this. I would recommend this film only for people who are already fans of Ram Dass. And if you are older, don't look for much insight into aging. To that extent, the film shows him at a reading of a new book about this subject, and if you aren't troubled too much by the obvious role played by his editor (which we see in one scene), you may find the book more illuminating than this film.
Movie Review: A True Cultural Symbol--Unfortunately.
Summary: 3 Stars
I was hoping that this would be a documentary about the life of Ram Dass, but, alas, it is not. The film is a study of the would-be prophet after his stroke, and shows his struggle with language and aging as it makes illusions to his earlier life. It showcases the way in which he continues to inspire and be admired by thousands. We see him interact in with therapists and give speaking engagements. Numerous interviews are held with those who know him. I must note that, even though I don't give a darn for its subject, the movie is very well-crafted.
However, I can only give it a tepid recommendation because there is no critical evaluation of Ram Dass-or at least a person interviewed who does not think he's great. This is needed as, contrary to unconventional wisdom, Dass is not a profound man. His observations, then and now, were a stringing together of banal clichés involving words like "love, consciousness" and "spirituality." If you're the type of person who regards taking acid as "a religious experience" then you'll be receptive to a guy like this. For those who have had enough of sixties emotionalism, you might not want to see the hailing of this vapid fellow for ninety minutes, but that's what Fierce Grace amounts to. Dass finds nobility in most of the things he does and with the film he hopes to show baby boomers what age has in store for them, but that spoiled generation may be the only one in history who regard death as not being absolutely necessary or that maybe it doesn't apply to them. For the rest of us, we understand that oxidation and returning to ash are inherent to our existence.