Mindwalk

It might be a little hyperbolic for me to say this movie changed my life, but it has certainly been a mainstay since a friend and I discovered it quite by accident several years ago. We knew Fritjof Capra as an author and knew that one of his books is what brother Bernt used as a skeleton for the movie. I find it HIGHLY ENTERTAINING over and over to this very day, because I understand that GOOD CONVERSATION is a lost and discounted art. This movie captures, in a breath-takingly beautiful and dynamic setting, one of the best dialogues in the history of thought. It communicates in relatively simple terms some of the most important and expansive issues of today, but it does not spoon-feed the viewer. It includes discourse on politics, scientific concepts, influences on perspective, as well as having some great lines, interesting quotes, and memorable, well-presented poetry. Its theme is to communicate through dialogue, monologue, descriptive prose, music, guided visual imagery, constant changes in setting (all in one locale, VERY IMPRESSIVE cinematographical work) and (yes) even drama and antagonism between the characters. The theme is borne of a new school of thought, and understanding and assimilating the message is something a person can actually do to make the a world better place.

IMHO: I stumbled across the work by chance; it happens that the subject matter has everything to do with exactly that. Then I decided it was worth further review, and behold, couldn't locate it for months. Figures. Finding it only recently, I'll skip the storyline that others have analyzed to death or something like that, and merely emphasize that it has its' points --- and I was surprised to find Sam Waterston and Liv Ullman at work in such manner. It's a strange movie that doesn't fit most of "the rules", indeed cerebral yet not really to preach an aspect but to instill wonderment. Joe 6-packs might not easily relate up front at first but if they would just try and ponder ---

I'm inherently biased being a scientist though that's exactly NOT what the theme is truly about despite the honest bent: perspective, practicality, necessity, and compromise.

Nice camera work on location, too. Give it more than a once-over if you can, time not wasted.

Being an egghead of sorts and a student of so many philosophies, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie the first time I watched it, and each time after that. Sam Waterston, Liv Ullman, and John Heard star as 3 people who meet by chance while touring an island. They then spend the rest of the movie talking about various scientific and philosophical concepts. There are brief (and very wooden) appearances by Ione Skye as the daughter of Liv's character.

The topics they discuss are fairly heady, but despite the edgy nature of their topics, the discussion never becomes heated or even mildly animated. Others have made the perfectly valid point that the dialog is one-sided, and I completely agree. Topics of this kind of importance and scope demand a discussion with all viewpoints represented. Otherwise, it can't approach the real heart of the issue, and it spirals rapidly into intellectual propaganda. These are good topics and valid points; they deserve better treatment. Nonetheless, the movie was enlightening on some levels.

I you're going to watch it, don't watch it to be entertained or awed by an auteur's cinematic masterpiece (which this isn't); watch it to expand your mind. Pay no attention to the plot (thin as it is) or the acting (stiff and clumsy at times). Just open your mind to the ideas expressed, then think about it after the movie has ended, because the topics discussed can go so much farther. The movie falls a bit short in expressing them; you'll have to finish the journey yourself.

Mindwalk opens with two friends going on a visit to Mont St. Michel in Normandy, France. A beautiful and significant place for its embodiment of the visions of early Western Civilization.

While walking among the island the poet and politician meet a scientist and all three join together in a day long conversation. I love these kind of talk movies, like "My Dinner With Andre", but I love other movies as well, but to date to be different and inject ideas into movies is something I really respect, even if I don't agree with the ideas.

"Mindwalk" is a 1990 feature film directed by Bernt Amadeus Capra, based on his own short story, based in turn on the book The Turning Point by his brother Fritjof Capra, the author of the book The Tao of Physics. I've never been impressed with unscientific and non- mathematical illuminations of physics, but "Mindwalk" is not really about physics, it is about the mind of Western Civilization and where it has been and where it is going.

This movie was made in 1990, released September 9, 1990, and in the intervening 23 years a lot has changed that I would say totally is in harmony with what was said in this movie about how the mind of man, the scientist, in this case a woman, critical, has created so much but has used it in ways that have brought about so many problems and so much pain.

Mont. St. Michel is an island monastery, a fortification, an apt place to analogize the Western mind. On that island are the remnants and institutions that have held Western Civilization together, and indeed expanded it. At one point in the movie they enter the torture chamber with all its implements of pain - used on anyone who had a different thought.

Now it is starting to dawn on us that progress comes from the people who have different thoughts. This is a beautiful and intelligent movie. There is no real plot, no action, no explosions, romance or sex, but it will provoke a thought a two. Lucky we don't get sent to the torture chamber these days for that, although reading some people's reviews I think there are those people still out there stuck in the 500's. Not the crowning times of Western Civilization.

10/10 ... an outstanding movie with real ideas expressed beautifully and courageously.

Wish this DVD was widely available My Dinner Andre Ullman

if you are fan of foreign non English language film and art films you can be prepared to understand and like this film same goes that it might help that you are educated? wordy? articulate? if you saw the fabulous film by Louis Malle My dinner with Andre you can decipher what kind of film this is.

the depth and breath of the info covered in this film is astounding. also of most interest is the way they approach each other with their "Arguments-Points of view" cinematography and scenery is breath taking. Mont. St. Michael, France. I was (am not) familiar with Director Bernt Capra except I finally found a nice biography of him on tcm turner classic movies website.

this film is highly recommended 5 stars watch it a couple of times and think (respond?) I really cant believe this film is not more widely circulated it has long had a cult following and really deserves a much wider audience. Maybe he should make another movie or two?