Naked In Ashes - Movie Review

[Guest guest]

Thanks to msbauju posting an ad for this film on the message board,

I attended its opening last night in Los Angeles, and would like to

share my thoughts and experiences of that with Shakti Sadhana group

members. This is not a spoiler review - I don't want to give too

much away - but I do tell some of what is in the film.

 

The film features many yogis and an exploration of their lives and

yogic practices. Featured is a mention of tantric practices of

eating flesh of bodies on funeral pyres before and during cremation,

a young man who has chosen never to sit or lie down (which causes

visible effects to his body), and another man who has held his right

arm up straight in the air above his head for approximately 13 years.

 

I admit to feeling overwhelmed at times during the film. Some people

left before the movie was over, which allowed me to acknowledge that

I also felt like leaving before the end. The movie seemed slow-

moving, yet I think my reason for wanting to leave was that the

things depicted in the film were so difficult to witness; I think in

a sense that I just wanted to shut it out. At one point, I felt

nausea as I watched cow dung venders, and a yogi prepare his

meditation space and light a stack of cowpies on fire on top of his

head.

 

In addition to all that, one of the yogis stated the reason for

their austerities: they were cleansing themselves of their sins so

they could take on the sins of others. I was reminded of

Catholic/Christian self-flagellation, and of course, Jesus dying on

the cross for our sins.

 

I am happy to say that I did not leave the theatre before the film

ended, and in fact, I stayed to hear the filmmakers talk about their

experiences in making the film. This lent a context that allowed me

to feel more at ease with the film overall. It's producer/director,

a woman named Paula Fouce, has lived in India. She said she was not

even intending to make this film. It came about while she was making

another film called By Many Names which is soon to be released. This

film came about because the yogis invited her into their lives and

practices to the extent they did, and wanted her to share the

information with the world.

 

I think the measure of a good film is whether it stays with you,

makes you think or feel things you may not have contemplated before.

This is a good film by that definition, and I would recommend it to

anyone interested in India, yoga, spirituality, and/or social,

cultural and political issues.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for sharing your impressions, Mary Ann.

I'll be watching for it on DVD.

 

I googled up two reviews from film critics.

 

The first thought the movie was "beautifully crafted"; "[The film]

acquaints the viewer with a number of [...] yogis, who help provide

a rounded view of the experience, with its unique challenges and

rewards [....]

 

The second reviewer didn't much like the film; she thought the

editing was "frantic" and the musical score "grating", and wished

the producer had let the yogis speak more.

 

http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/nakedinashes

 

, "Mary Ann"

<buttercookie61> wrote:

>

> [....]

> The film features many yogis and an exploration of their lives and

> yogic practices. [....]

> I admit to feeling overwhelmed at times during the film.

> [....]

> This film came about because the yogis invited [the producer]

> into their lives and practices to the extent they did,

> and wanted her to share the information with the world.

> [....]

[Guest guest]

Hm, that's interesting. I think the filming was beautiful. A lot of

time was spent with the yogis. I mean, the entire film! About the

soundtrack, one of the movie makers said he, himself, hadn't even

noticed the soundtrack because he was engrossed in the film. This is

true of my experience, too. I found that the soundtrack only

occasionally made itself known, and never in too conspicuous a way.

Some audience members asked if the soundtrack was available, the

answer was that it may be, but isn't currently.

 

Reviewer number 2 sounds like she needs to make her own movie. It

reminds me of Rita Mae Brown saying years ago: If you don't like my

book, write your own! Speaking of funny book statements, at a Patti

Smith concert years ago, she was making a comment on something and

an audience member shouted out: "Not in MY book!" She said without

missing a beat: "Well, I ain't readin' YOUR book!"

 

One of the yogis was really pretty amazing, the guy who pulled the

SUV with his penis (this is mentioned in an official ad for the film

so I'm not giving anything away that's not already been given away).

He is probably responsible for the film being made, AND this

probably isn't the last we'll see/hear of him. Maybe he'll get his

own show on Amrita TV

 

 

 

, "msbauju" <msbauju>

wrote:

>

>

> Thanks for sharing your impressions, Mary Ann.

> I'll be watching for it on DVD.

>

> I googled up two reviews from film critics.

>

> The first thought the movie was "beautifully crafted"; "[The film]

> acquaints the viewer with a number of [...] yogis, who help

provide

> a rounded view of the experience, with its unique challenges and

> rewards [....]

>

> The second reviewer didn't much like the film; she thought the

> editing was "frantic" and the musical score "grating", and wished

> the producer had let the yogis speak more.

>

> http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/nakedinashes

>

> , "Mary Ann"

> <buttercookie61> wrote:

> >

> > [....]

> > The film features many yogis and an exploration of their lives

and

> > yogic practices. [....]

> > I admit to feeling overwhelmed at times during the film.

> > [....]

> > This film came about because the yogis invited [the producer]

> > into their lives and practices to the extent they did,

> > and wanted her to share the information with the world.

> > [....]

>