The Source Family

This is a documentary about the so-called 'Source Family'--a cult built around an odd guru in California. This man, who renamed himself 'Father Yod', slowly took the group from one that saw him as a great spiritual leader to a god-like being who should be obeyed without question. This is actually pretty typical of many of the cults of the era but what makes this one a little confusing is the ending. Now, many years later, his followers are interviewed--and some sound as if they STILL think he was god, some see him as flawed but a good part of their lives and a few see him as a huckster--though this seems like the minority. So, if you are looking for clear answers, this isn't what you'll find. Instead, it's a film that you watch and make of it what you will. As for me, I found it mildly interesting but nothing more. In fact, I got far less out of it than "Commune"--a similar sort of documentary that was made very interesting due to folks' insights into their group today.

I joined The Source Family in 1970 and remained for the duration of the experience, so I feel that my review of this documentary holds some merit. I feel the filmmakers tried to present our story as honestly as they could given their limited understanding of it, especially since the pool of people interviewed were limited in scope by distance & proximity to where the actual interviews were done. The first time that I watched the documentary, it brought back a flood of memories for me from forty years ago and was somewhat unsettling and disquieting; although after watching it a few more times it began to feel less of an intrusion on my senses. And although my son's father was featured at the very end during the credit roll performing his song Woman Beyond The Sun, but did not receive even one credit for either his song or his performance; as well as credit for his song Every Morning being given to Ahom/Robin Baker because she had recorded it....those omissions aside, I felt it was a job very well done considering the source.

This documentary is excellent as a time-machined view back to the 1970-1975 California lifestyle as lived by a strange cult that was financed by a successful Los Angeles restaurant. It is very interesting to see so much unpolished archival footage. Thankfully it isn't "animated" or enhanced in the tacky way that other documentaries have done (In The Realms Of The Unreal). Videos, photos, and audio recordings fill-out this movie so well, that the viewer almost feels as if they are a frequent visitor to the Source Family's housing compound. Many modern interviews, both respectful and regretful, make for great color commentary on the events as they were lived by the participants. And, amazing to see Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) attest to the greatness of the ?music? produced by this group. Songs are played and concert footage is shown (Beverly Hills High School 1973) so that the viewer can then decide on the musicianship.

Both great and goofy, this movie has moments of clarity as well as opaque clouds of hazy gibberish. Luckily, the commune leader invested in recording equipment so that history can judge the transcendent quality of everything. Or the disposable folly of it all. But, there it is. A current Family archivist plays a major role in providing the raw materials seen on screen. Thankfully, the movie-makers do not inject their own viewpoints too heavily. Supposedly the Family numbered about 140, and only a fraction of that number is interviewed.

Ultimately, this movie is well worth seeing for anyone interested in cults, leaders, charisma, messiahs, hippies, hucksters, astrology, orgies, the 1960s-1970s, free love, psychedelic music, communes, utopias, and hang gliding.

A bit of 70's nostalgia. It's very much like most cult groups around that time. A contradictory older man reinvents himself and is elevated by rebellious kids who believe they're on a path to a higher purpose. Of course it's all BS, it's an opportunity to take drugs, rock out, and have sex with strangers (under age strangers). No matter the warning signs the panties just drop. Back then there were so many groups/cults getting around it was almost a competition of "we're the chosen ones!" I think the best thing to come out of the cults is studying the the way youth can be manipulated with hope and promise. The free life they come for, offered by their leader, always becomes far worse than where they came from, in this case it wasn't able to truly get that far. Drugs and mantra go together like peas and carrots. But, you can't deny that feeling of family and love they created.

The reviewers so far are commenting on their opinion of the SUBJECT of the film, not the filmmaking.

The job of the filmmakers is to get a reaction and experience the subject - good, bad or indifferent.

This is a terrific documentary. I have rarely seen a doc that has been so well researched and has so much archival material. Plus they have tracked down all these folks who were originally part of this crazy, cultural experiment. Amazing story.

As a cultural document is so strong, but with the addition of all the insider participation it transforms itself into a one-of-a-kind experience. One of the best of the recent Americana docs. - thanks.