Customer Reviews

Meetings With Remarkable Men [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I first saw this film when pretty young - its effect was devastating. It was on a double bill with Zeffirelli's epic film about St. Francis, "Brother Son, Sister Moon." (I saw both films for a dollar!) Not knowing anything of the movie beforehand, I went for years wondering what was the name of this remarkable movie, before finally stumbling upon it at a video store whilst visiting friends in another city.

Repeated viewings show it to be, while a bit of its period, still holding up. There is such a sense of the spiritual here entirely capturing the excitement of the beginning of Gurdjieff's journey.

There is much throughout the film to give one time to pause and reflect, but then the film ends with what is now well-known as the 10 minute dance/movement sequence and Brook knew what he was doing ending the film with this. I remember my heart nearly exploding in the theatre a sense of spiritual energy and awe from others in the theatre who were reacting the same as I.

I remain a bit perplexed as to how and why this amazing, enlightening and enriching film has not yet been transferred to DVD. Hopefully, when that happens it will receive the "Criterion treatment" - with interviews and commentary by Peter Brook, a good widescreen transfer and cleaned up sound from its VHS incarnation.

I saw this film years ago in the theater and have bought the video just so that I could watch it again and again. I am most drawn to the remarkable music and dance sequences. As a student of music and spirituality, I can say that these are amazing art that reach beyond intellect, beyond conscious awareness, to speak to something very central. I weep every time I see it. Watch this movie with an open, listening soul.

This film wisely avoids trying to provide deep answers. Instead it shows the intense and somewhat obsessed questioning of one well-known philosopher/seeker. I think many of us fantasize about taking the search for spiritual understanding to the same apex that Gurdjieff did -- to ignore career and the common pleasures to become part of a special group dedicated to the cultivation of higher values. It was a pleasure to follow vicariously as Gurdjieff searched and found.

This is perhaps one of only a half dozen movies ever made that captures the spiritual experience. You actually FEEL the spiritual feelings that they are experiencing on the screen. This is almost unheard of. The only other movie that did this for me recently was Koslowski's 'Blue' of a few years back. The movie is a true journey of the seeking of individuals -- as well as the journey of the soul.

It is tremendous feat.

I especially love the very exotic location. It starts in the mountains at the intersection of Armenia, Afghanistan, Russia, where a mystical contest takes place. Then it continues on across the Gobi desert, to Egypt, as Gurdjieff and friend visits what seems like every bearded guru in West Asia.

The film has a few awkward moments; but overall the film is a treasure.

I hope they develop a version that's not grainy (which is the ones that seems to be going around in the theaters the last twenty years). I also hope they can make a DVD version out of this revelation of the spirit.

This is perhaps one of only a half dozen movies ever made that captures the spiritual experiences. You actually feel the spiritual feelings that they are experiencing on the screen. This is unheard of. The only other movie that did this for me is Kaslowsi's Blue of a few years ago. The movie is a true journey of individuals, and of the soul. It is tremendous feat. I espeically love the very exotic location; it starts in the mountains at the intersection of Armenia, Afhanistan, Russia, where a mystical contest takes place. Then it goes across the gobi desert, to egypt, and to what seems like every bearded guru on earth. It has a few awkward moments; but overall a treasure. I hope they have a version that's not grainy (which is the ones that seems to be going around in the theaters the last twety years.)

This film is worth seeing for a few select moments: the music, which is heard throughout the film, and the "dances" (movements) at the end. Other scenes (crossing a desert on stilts) seemed questionable. Reading the book's account of the desert crossing would give the viewer a greater appreciation of the ideas represented behind such scenes, albeit between the lines. The movie does not in any way come close in value to the book (of course), but I would still suggest it to a select crowd. A crowd that can overlook the questionable scenes and appreciate the philosophy behind them. I guess I would actually give this film a rating of three and a half stars.

This film tells the story of the early life of G.I. Gurdjieff, during which he fervently searches for a source of knowledge that will help him begin to understand the meaning of human existence. The film's chief virtues come from the fact that the storyline and production were overseen by responsible elders central to the organization that Gurdjieff himself established to carry on the study and practice of his teachings after his death. Moreover, the sacred dances seen near the end of the film are actual examples of "movement exercises" performed by pupils of Gurdjieff as an aid to self-study, and they are seen performed not by actors or professional dancers, but by highly practiced pupils themselves.

This film tells the story of the early life of G.I. Gurdjieff originally expressed in the book of the same name...which is also brief; concise; and filled with hints....tracks extremely well with the Ouspensky books....This movie was made in the 70s....the special efx are incredible considering the time of production....

Does it really give you what you want??? Well....no more than the Starr report.... BUT, for those who can see beyond the 30 frames per second....yes....and more. Almost 20 years later, I've ordered a copy. I spent more than 5 years in a WORK school in the 70s. The movie is as close as it gets without being there. A fine tribute with typical limitations....by that I mean this movie, of course, failed at the boxoffice....what do you expect???? But if you've been there....the connection is immediate.

The WORK is out there....

This is a simple yet extraordinary film which gives you an idea of the beginnings of a remarkable life. I saw it years ago and had never owned it until know.

When I was going through a classic, or, perhaps, mundane, midlife crisis, searching everywhere for answers, someone recommended "Meetings With Remarkable Men" to me. It was an entertaining read. That's it. Not a spiritual journey. Then I learned that a film had been made. When I saw the film, I was blown away. It was, cinematigraphically speaking, the finest film I had ever seen. Just Beautiful. Anyone who thought about it knew the work was apocryphal, even silly. Just entertainment. I think the author had a following. People who thought he spoke a truth with which they connected. He struck me as being a kind of a harmless scoundrel. So I ordered a video of the film from Amazon.com. When I played it on my VCR player, you couldn't make it out at all. Like the early days of TV when sometimes all you could see was ghost images. I should have returned it, but never got around to it. Maybe someday I'll order another copy and find out whether all copies are bad or I just got a lemon.