Becoming Nobody

I feel two ways about this film

The first, I was happy for the opportunity to get a quick glimpse in to how Ram Dass spent his last days in Maui, I liked seeing his gnarled hand and wheel chair because I realized the pain he must have been in constantly and how he overcame that.

However I feel this film was the producer's ego trip, I spent many moments wondering who this person was sitting with Ram Dass telling him that his (filmmaker's) theories were "much more advanced" than what Ram Dass was saying. I found the filmmaker to be a cringe worthy hanger-on type. He was not identified and it was perplexing as to what the hell he was doing there in the middle of the film. And yet Ram Dass saw him and verbalized to him that he could not see himself for who he truly is, which was beautiful. Compassion.

I saw the clips of Ram Dass were edited so he always spoke immediately and clearly, I would have preferred to see him in his true state, long silences and struggling with the aftermath of his stroke but still shining through. His humility was lost in this film in this way, as well as his real point.

I found myself caught up in the visual film clips played while Ram Dass's old lectures were played, to the point that it distracted away from what he was saying.

This film was not what I had hoped and I feel that it is not an accurate legacy of Ram Dass's life and that one would be better served listening to his lectures on youtube, or where ever they can find.

I feel a void left because there does not seem to be anyone as eloquent as him to carry on his legacy. He is not gone, true, but his work touched so many people and the real loss is we do not have the authentic human being that was himself here now.

Not a bad movie but not much more than a retreading of all those "vaguely eastern" philosophies that any westerner living (or becoming alive) after the New Age movement of the 70s west has heard before. Again, it's not a bad thing - sometimes you need to hear those things again and sometimes there's a hidden gem that particularly resonates with you.

Perhaps the director should have decided to lean more into making either a documentary of eastern philosophies or a love-letter to Ram Dass. The middle-of-the-road approach doesn't particularly deliver in either aspect, seems superficial and may, in fact, be a detriment to the man himself, even though the guy manages to exude a fair amount of charm and charisma despite the movie's shortcomings.

This is a very easy and interesting watch. Contrary to some reviews here I don't think the director gets in the way at all. Ram Dass is quite frail at the time of filming and to get more out of him Director Jaime Catto needs to engage a bit. As soon as Ram Dass is talking the director backs off and lets us listen.

I love Ram Dass to begin with, I've listened many of his old talks and watched the movie, Going Home as well. His humor, humbleness, his honesty about his own journey, openness about his own feelings and thoughts make you feel much closer to him and relate to as well. He is not preaching, as he says in the movie, he just tells his story like a close friend and a beautiful soul, so that we can see and discover the truth and the path to freedom in ourselves.

Although there a few things that would better not to take place in the movie, first being the producer's long talks that even outtalk Ram Dass most of the time and the clips that cause so much distraction that it becomes harder to concentrate on what Ram Dass is saying (that's why I've closed my eyes and just listened him most of the time), I still found the movie really beautiful and meditative.

I've just finished watching in the middle of the night in silence and it made me cry so much and I felt his presence in my heart. For me he was not a "perfect being" or a "saint" or a "guru", he was a beautiful human being who has gone through more or less the same journey and difficulties as all of us, has never played a role of a "guru" and has always been open about it with his humbleness and humor. I really love him and although I think the movie could have been better, I still loved it and would definitely recommend everyone to watch it.

The world has so much to learn from his love, compassion, beauty, humor and humbleness.

I'm glad for having the chance to know you Ram Dass.

Namaste.

I do not agree with reviewers that felt Jamie Catto was speaking too much or was egoic at all. I felt he asked good questions, beared his soul at around the 1hr 7 min point in thinking about losing Ram Dass, and from that point onward, it was the purest concentrated dose of Ram Dass's pure wisdom...absolutely beautiful, inspiring, heart opening, ego reducing, and reminding us to continue letting go and to keep evolving. Thank you Jamie Catto for this magnificent film that I have now watched for the 3rd time and still frantically writting notes on!! I love Ram Dass. I love this film. And love to you Jamie Catto!