Darshan: The Embrace

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Starring: Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Type: DVD
Directed By: Jan Kounen
Studio: IFC
Release Date: 2006-11-14
Running Time: 106 minutes
A glowing introduction and travel diary deep inside the life, work and heart of the spiritual leader "hugging saint"- Amma. -Amma was the winner of the Gandhi King Prize (2002) for her work against poverty and illiteracy (past winners included, Nelson Mandela and Kofi Annan) -Limited theatrical Release July 2006

Spiritual garbage
i dont see a point to put on sale a documentary made in such poor way, taking the camera and go into the street. all respect to Amma. My younger daughter talk the same thing, and yet i will not to India and dress my self in yellow or white and star to sing, dance and being a part of silly shardae while worship some miserable junk who live in middle of garbage and *hit. India is so dreadfuly dirt, overpopulated and it is normal to see idiots like sai baba, saraswati satyananda that sell to the people all stuff teached by Buddha 2.500 years ago. All that you may find in book and if you are disapointed by a western life you dont need to go to india and live there to being "less than dust". I was in Bagan, Ayutaya, Angkhor, Abyaneh in Iran, Amorgos a small Greek island... in all of these places you may find you inner peace without worship noone and without making a sharade as the indian guru does with their blinded followers (including the frusrated westeners). Spiritual life can be different instead of living in a rubbish and dirty india. Masha glupa si ko k.... . Who of you will ever take a courage to do for example in Iran? Visit Abyaneh and stay ther for 6months like i did. Go to the waterfall of Maragoon, west from Shiraz. There you will find peace without all this silly indoctrinations!!! Sorry for my bad and rude english writing

beautiful, meditative, similar to baraka
i'm really glad i own this -- it reminds me a lot of Baraka in that it's much more of an experiential movie than the typical documentary. there's a lot of spectacular cinematography of india just with music, or the ambient sounds of the environment. it makes me feel like i'm a silent observer in the room, rather than being the recipient of a story being told AT me. i love putting this dvd on when i'm feeling blue, or need to quiet down. moving, powerful, and makes me long to go to india.

Powerful and moving, beautiful to watch
To make a film of one of the greatest saints alive cannot be easy. How do you show what it means to perfectly fulfill the two supreme commandments (to love God with all your heart and love others as yourself) in a two hour movie? The film itself is largely visual. Many scenes do not show Amma herself but the surrounding land of India. This creates an austere, meditative quality that would be lost if there was a documentary voiceover or further commentary.

I think this film is best approached with a devotee's heart. We can take great hope and inspiration from it: that we, too, can live lives of divine compassion and spiritual mastery. It is easy to begin with a sceptical, critical attitude, and that is alright. But when you get to the end of this film you see Amma embrace the crowds, and you learn that she has hugged over 45,000 people for 21 hours without the slightest repose. And when you consider how hard it is for most of us to be loving in our daily lives, how often we fall into conflicts and bitterness even with our closest friends - it becomes clear that she simply must be connected to a spiritual power that is very real and fully transforming.

I believe that future scholars will regard Amma as a great epoch in the spiritual history of the world. She will be talked about with the same reverence as figures like Ramana Maharshi, Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, and even Buddha and Jesus. It really is a wonderful time in which we live - when we can all see as such a radiant embodiment of God's love walk this earth.

BEAUTIFUL FILM!
I watched this film recently, what a piece of art! I love no narration in the documentary. . If you love this film watch Kumbh Mela Songs of the River. Highly recommended!

thoughtful, artisitic, sensitive and informative
While those familiar with Amma will surely enjoy this intimate and touching film about her - people with no awareness of who Amma is would probably also enjoy this film as: an introduction to Amma, gurus, Hindu religion, Darshan, pacifism or just as a beautifully executed film that is a visual pleasure to watch.

The thoughtful editing and diverse and artistic footage really conjured up the timelessness, power, love and intimacy I have experienced in Amma's presence.