MOVIE REVIEW,'Embrace' keeps its subject at arm's length

[Guest guest]

http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2006/08/18/embrace_keeps_its_subject_at_arms_length/

 

MOVIE REVIEW

'Embrace' keeps its subject at arm's length

 

By Wesley Morris, Globe Staff | August 18, 2006

 

A documentary that keeps an off-putting distance from its subject,

``Darshan: The Embrace" lands itself in the vicinity of the beloved

spiritual guide Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, as she tours the world

and presides over services at her southern Indian ashram. People travel

the world to seek darshan (or a holy look or touch) from Devi, who's

known to her vast flock simply and maternally as Amma. According to

several sojourners who speak in the film, Amma is the embodiment of

love. And according to her website, it's her religion, too.

 

Basically, this cherubic, hug-dispensing, deeply holy-seeming woman is a

lot more intriguing than she appears in this movie. Its Dutch director,

Jan Kounen, noodles pretentiously with atmosphere. The smooth, steady

camerawork includes drifts up stairwells, trips onto verandas, and

attempts to traverse congested Indian roads. We're taken down the aisles

of crowded temples. We see a Frenchwoman meditating and later watch as

she and a friend hang blankets and sheets on a clothesline, while a

simple note of music swells on the soundtrack. There are scenes of

children on merry-go-rounds and slow-motion shots of a Ferris wheel.

 

Kounen shows up for one of Amma's services, then splits not long after

it begins, preferring to hit the streets. Soon we see Amma out and

about, too, charmed by a dancing elephant that is clearly even more

excited to be in her presence. The film gives us snatches of Amma's

biography. Shots of her as a child and young adult are accompanied by

voice - over narration from someone else about what an altruist she has

always been. (She's been giving her own food away to the hungry since

she was a girl.)

 

Occasionally, we hear from Amma herself, and we deduce that she must be

so averse to conflict that she can't even bring herself to delineate the

differing views about the guru-student relationship. Other pertinent

information is presented as overheard from, say, footage of television

newscasts.

 

I suppose Kounen is taking a lyrical approach. It's admirable that he's

bypassed the usual routes of the docu profile in the name of concocting

a mood. The effect, however, is tranquilizing. It's disorienting and

misleading, too, having the unintentional effect of making the holy

woman seem like a mysterious kook. Kounen's approach also carries a

nagging odor of tourism. The vistas are frequently breathtaking and the

locals rarely engaged. It's a dubious sign when a movie about

spiritualism leaves you more eager to see the sights than search your soul.

 

Wesley Morris can be reached at wmorris (AT) globe (DOT) com.

© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.

 

--

"Naan Amme Snehikkunnu"

Be Love,

Nischala

http://www.ammasgirl.com

[Guest guest]

>From my perspective, this was pretty accurate. Although it had some powerful moments,

I've felt no desire to see it again, in the same way that I have with some of my favorite

Amma videos from MA Center (especially Face of Love!). I'm not sure that I'd call the

distance "off-putting," but it was definitely less than compelling for me. I was left a little

bit wondering, "that was it?!" after all the great promos...though, as a devotee friend said,

for what ever reason, this was the film that Amma wanted to put out there. Iswari

 

Ammachi, Nischala <ammasgirl9 wrote:

>

> http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2006/08/18/

embrace_keeps_its_subject_at_arms_length/

>

> MOVIE REVIEW

> 'Embrace' keeps its subject at arm's length

>

> By Wesley Morris, Globe Staff | August 18, 2006

>

> A documentary that keeps an off-putting distance from its subject,

> ``Darshan: The Embrace" lands itself in the vicinity of the beloved

> spiritual guide Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, as she tours the world

> and presides over services at her southern Indian ashram. People travel

> the world to seek darshan (or a holy look or touch) from Devi, who's

> known to her vast flock simply and maternally as Amma. According to

> several sojourners who speak in the film, Amma is the embodiment of

> love. And according to her website, it's her religion, too.

>

> Basically, this cherubic, hug-dispensing, deeply holy-seeming woman is a

> lot more intriguing than she appears in this movie. Its Dutch director,

> Jan Kounen, noodles pretentiously with atmosphere. The smooth, steady

> camerawork includes drifts up stairwells, trips onto verandas, and

> attempts to traverse congested Indian roads. We're taken down the aisles

> of crowded temples. We see a Frenchwoman meditating and later watch as

> she and a friend hang blankets and sheets on a clothesline, while a

> simple note of music swells on the soundtrack. There are scenes of

> children on merry-go-rounds and slow-motion shots of a Ferris wheel.

>

> Kounen shows up for one of Amma's services, then splits not long after

> it begins, preferring to hit the streets. Soon we see Amma out and

> about, too, charmed by a dancing elephant that is clearly even more

> excited to be in her presence. The film gives us snatches of Amma's

> biography. Shots of her as a child and young adult are accompanied by

> voice - over narration from someone else about what an altruist she has

> always been. (She's been giving her own food away to the hungry since

> she was a girl.)

>

> Occasionally, we hear from Amma herself, and we deduce that she must be

> so averse to conflict that she can't even bring herself to delineate the

> differing views about the guru-student relationship. Other pertinent

> information is presented as overheard from, say, footage of television

> newscasts.

>

> I suppose Kounen is taking a lyrical approach. It's admirable that he's

> bypassed the usual routes of the docu profile in the name of concocting

> a mood. The effect, however, is tranquilizing. It's disorienting and

> misleading, too, having the unintentional effect of making the holy

> woman seem like a mysterious kook. Kounen's approach also carries a

> nagging odor of tourism. The vistas are frequently breathtaking and the

> locals rarely engaged. It's a dubious sign when a movie about

> spiritualism leaves you more eager to see the sights than search your soul.

>

> Wesley Morris can be reached at wmorris

> © Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.

>

> --

> "Naan Amme Snehikkunnu"

> Be Love,

> Nischala

> http://www.ammasgirl.com

>

>

>

>