Reviews

As a partial answer to first review, I have to say that you can't get much closer to what these experiences are like without trying the ayahuasca yourself, but wait, this must be done in the supervision of one of these shamans.

The surreal images are amazing, and a first. One must thank Kounen for giving us a visual glimpse (often accompanied by his own commentary) of what these experiences are about. The Shamans interviewed provide a way by which one could begin to understand their beliefs, also removing much of the exaggerations often found around the subject. Yes, we must be aware that there is A LOT MORE to it than images on the screen, but never less this movie treats the subject with respect. A hint for some of you: spirits are 'kind of' thoughts/perceptions.

Don't be fooled, Bucharest is far from what is being portrayed in this movie. There are less beggars than here, in Montreal, there are some stray dogs, but not 1000's of them. Picking the most dramatic beggars and with continuous exaggeration, the movie convinces the audience that Bucharest is a city full of poor mutilated beggars and 1000's of stray dogs. How far from truth, but director and actor Thom Fitzgerald can only rely on this sensation to create any positive interest in his movie. Putting down Bucharest also looks like a hidden denial, here at home in Canada, where one wonders how this country is now so behind even when compared to an ex-communist Eastern block country such as Romania. Bucharest is far more civilized than any Canadian city. (look up civilized in the dictionary) One should wonder what is a Canadian child-pornographer doing in Romania? Hmmmm....