Customer Reviews

The Workshop

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

 

 

You have to be from the seventies to really appreciate this film. It is hard to believe but we used to think this way. Paul, the guru, appears to be a genuinely kind man--sensitive enough not to push people when they don't need pushing but strong enough to say when enough is enough. Nevertheless, you must be kind when viewing this self-indulgent flick. Here, are people stripped (quite literally) and trying to cope with what turns out to be their own deamons. Nevertheless, these straight people reach their limits--and while there is one gay fellow exploring his world--in the end, their limits are, well, limited--which is to say, it is kind of a chick flick which some may find daring and others, well, interesting.

Few films take on issues of sexuality and personal growth with as much integrity and clarity as Jamie Morgan's THE WORKSHOP. A work of such honesty is a rarity in the world of documentary.

Morgan adopts a confessional and intimate tone that allows viewers to get deeply inside the minds and souls of the participants of the titular workshop. Spanning the course of a ten-day program in self-discovery, the film provides us with close-up portraits of a set of diverse characters, all of whom stand both literally and metaphorically naked before the camera.

If you have ever considered where your own boundaries lie, or if you have ever been curious as to what desires and fears hide within you, this film will provoke you to consider those questions with greater insight. Beyond the implications of the subject matter, the sheer sincerity of the execution makes THE WORKSHOP a film well worth owning.

Not bad

though not the greatest example of

a personal development (PD) camp workshop-seminar retreat

BUT

compared to anything on TV,

especially on Sky or Fox TV,

it's a blockbuster must-see!

Alas, this particular PD camp is just too 'mental'.

There is nothing at all spiritual,

or personal energy educational about this, though, as an insight into things you probably knew nothing about, a real eye-opener.

There is a group in Norway called "Aruna",

who do this kind of thing,

but a million times better - with spirituality (non-denominational!),

with education about personal energy fields - and support after stripping people of their egos!

These things Paul, the guru & 'star' of this docu, fail to give.

Paul is no doubt a very intelligent chap and he may well be a very balanced person but he strips people of their clothes, tells them to be themselves, in the here and now, then gives them no introduction to personal energy work, nor help with psychic self-defence, which, quite honestly, you need after being exposed within such a radical arena, with ever-present & ever-ready resident psychic vampires. Neither is there any spiritual development (whether that's an introduction to chakras, kundalini, qi gong, zen, et al, or something more involved); nor any protection against how suddenly stripping away ones inhibitions and programming may leave many very lost souls very angry or depressed ... or prone to sexual predators.

Lost sheep becoming lost wolves, in many cases. Though many do far better!

This film is not meant to be about sex though there are orgy and menage-a-trois scenes and more full frontal nudity than you get in "Shortbus", including ... quite frankly, more humanity

(and more exhibitionism!)

In summary, this is an insight into the kind of place where you can find yourself transformed for the better - for the much better - or for the orgy-wasteland worse.

This film was so raw with human emotion and the feelings we create for ourselves on a daily basis. It was a wonderful ride watching the lovelies respond to the workshop stimuli. There was no where to hide and all thier usual behaviors came out in these intimate intense relationships. I just fell in love with all these characters warts and all. The joy on their faces was infectious and their fearlessness should be commended. The editing on this doc was first rate and the manner in which the story unfolded was riveting. great stuff. One of the best documentaries ever. Regardless of your take on the monogamy issue.

This had some good shots of naked people, but not enough and really boring to watch. A lot of the dialogue was bland as well. There should have been more sex scenes and older women in this too. They followed a pathetic single guy around and it was boring. He gets propositioned for sex the first day that he is ther by a decent looking woman who says that she likes his penis. Nothing happens that we see, except him crying and the old guru chanting some jive BS about things. Very hippy stupid. Should have been all about sex and nudity and nothing more. should have followed a woman around.

Doco is all about sex-camp, nudity and gratifying desires covered with something like "You will never ever know if you never ever go".

Educative.

Sorry seeing a movie with a bunch of women who are shaped like OLive Oyl doesnt do anything for me. I want to see some thick bottom cuties and how they deal with letting it all hang out. This movie was boring and for hippies.