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Friday, January 6, 2006
Spirit of inquiry shines despite naivete of 'One'
Here's the pitch: A guy (Ward M. Powers) and his two best friends, all non-filmmakers armed with only a video camera, a list of 20 questions and the innocent spirit of holy fools, set out to make a documentary about the meaning of life. Here's the punch line: It's no joke, and neither is their film.
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"One" is naive and almost crippled by the effusive false modesty of its narration, but within that naivete is a spirit of inquiry.
When one subject answers the question "What happens after you die?" by channeling the spirit of a dead man, you may be ready to roll your eyes. I did. But despite the cast of all-stars of spiritual thought, the words are important more than their attachment to a speaker (many of whom are not identified until the end credits).
The title is a giveaway -- what unites the human race? -- but there is something more interesting under the surface. Set against the talk of compassion and acceptance and inclusiveness of spiritual leaders, religious figures, mystics, authors and intellectuals from all faiths and beliefs, the parochial pronouncements of fundamentalist folk who proclaim salvation solely in the acceptance of their own (and only their own) religion is disturbingly exclusive, isolationist and a reminder of the state of the real world.
It's also the best argument for spiritual philosophers, religious mystics and well-meaning filmmakers. Powers and his collaborators may not have the answers, but they end up with a better understanding of their quest. That's a start.
The filmmakers will appear to introduce the movie and answer questions at screenings tonight at 7:15 and Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m.
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