A profound and poetic encounter with cultural and spiritual icon Ram Dass, at his home on Maui toward the end of his life. Ram Dass is one of the most important cultural figures from the 1960s and 70s, a psychedelic pioneer, former academic and clinical psychologist, author of the influent book Be Here Now, beloved spiritual teacher, and outspoken advocate for death-and-dying awareness. Ram Dass is now himself approaching the end of his journey. Since suffering a life-changing stroke twenty years ago, he has been living at his home on Maui and deepening his spiritual practice--which is centered on love and his idea of merging with his surroundings and all living things.
Filmmaker Daniel McNicoll explores the emerging movement to reclaim the ancient medieval and renaissance martial arts in this documentary narrated by Welsh actor John Rhys-Davies, and produced on corroboration with Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson. The Medieval and Renaissance blade was a remarkable weapon crafted with the utmost attention to detail. Though the history of the sword remains largely shrouded in mystery for younger moviegoers, their presence on the big screen can still be felt in the Star Wars saga, as well as films like Chronicles of Narnia and The Pirates of the Caribbean. Join host Davies as he traces the history of this remarkable weapon throughout the ages, in the process giving us a better understanding of the sword's unique role in both history, and films.
A feature documentary about the Soviet Union and the most successful dynasty in sports history: the Red Army hockey team. Told from the perspective of its captain Slava Fetisov, the story portrays his transformation from national hero to political enemy. From the USSR to Russia, the film examines how sport mirrors social and cultural movements and parallels the rise and fall of the Red Army team with the Soviet Union. RED ARMY is an inspiring story about the Cold War played out on the ice rink, and a man who stood up to a powerful system and paved the way for change for generations of Russians. From Oscar nominated and Emmy award-winning filmmaker Gabe Polsky.
Among the ranks of the Wehrmacht there was limited opposition to Hitler. Most officers initially felt enthusiastic about the prospect of war and were grateful to Hitler whose war-mongering had furthered their personal careers. Furthermore all soldiers had to make an oath of allegiance to the Führer and, up until the very end, there were many who felt unable to break this pledge. There were, however, some officers who opposed Hitler. For some it was on moral grounds and for others because they thought that his military tactics would lose them the war. There were plots against Hitler and attempted coups, the best known being the July bomb plot led by Claus von Stauffenberg. Some soldiers refused to bear arms and were shot, others deserted, others still carried out quiet acts of sabotage and subversion. By and large, however, the Wehrmacht carried out the orders Hitler issued, even if it involved perpetrating acts of atrocity.
It is fairly extraordinary that this film exists. The level of access attained by Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger over their 15-month period embedded with the Second Platoon, Battle Company, 173rd Airborne Brigade allows for an incredibly unvarnished account -- including footage of deaths both civilian and military. It's perhaps the most intimate and unflinching examination yet of the processes of modern warfare -- and an exhilarating, heartrending, profoundly moving film in its own right.
‘Retrograde’ offers a deeply intimate account of the end of Americas's longest war and humanizes the individuals most impacted through both US and Afghan perspectives. With a character-driven, cinema-verite approach, the film functions as an up-close record of a turning point in American and Afghan history while also providing an emotional reminder of the human costs of war. ‘Retrograde’ focuses in the relationship between American Green Berets and the Afghan officers they trained.
Ram Dass is now himself approaching the end of his journey. Since suffering a life-changing stroke twenty years ago, he has been living at his home on Maui and deepening his spiritual practice--which is centered on love and his idea of merging with his surroundings and all living things.