Naked in Ashes

A huge festival like Kuma is complicated enough to make sense, so India is something to be experienced. Paula Fouce's documentary puts more attention on the practices of Sadus, yogis, babas, nagas and those hermits that continue the ancient and traditional austerities for clarity.

Think about it. In western minds—to prove one's spirituality—is overly complicated, while these holy men live simply, and use their time on earth to harmonize with her rhythms. To western thinkers, these acts of austerity are amazing or odd.

Some wonderful things I remember: A yogi explains "God sends us back to earth because someone might benefit from our knowledge or experience. Youth itself is a form of God." As a Sadu in the Ganges explains "The flow of life is eternal. Man uses a vessel to carry the Ganges for his flow, as man is a vessel for God."

And about other reviewers who comment how everyone "is nude and often covered in ashes". Isn't this obvious from the title? If people are too prudish to purview penises, then they will miss the point entirely and should go pray in their pews for redemption.

Excellent edits and beautiful choices of music with moods in the stories; this film is very sincere about the spiritual quest for less materialism.

India has a population of 1 billion people. 13 million of those people are considered holy men (or "yogis"). Naked In Ashes is a documentary about all of them. We only actually meet a handful of Hindu Yogis, and from these few examples we're supposed to learn how wise and spiritually superior these men are. I know that as an anthropologist I'm not supposed to judge other cultures, just observe their similarities and differences to my own culture. I tried to be an objective observer, but I couldn't help it. I did not like these men, and I wasn't impressed with their lives or lifestyles at all. And I actually felt pity for the poor souls who worshiped these men.

The yogis depicted in this film wore little-to-no clothing (they were naked and covered in ashes, hence the title), they lived in poverty, none of them had jobs or did anything of value, and they lived off the handouts of others. And yet somehow, one of them managed to have a TV and cell phone. They talked a lot, but they had nothing of value to say. They didn't read spiritual books or seek spiritual guidance because they all assumed they already knew everything about the meaning of life.

I was, however, impressed when one of the yogis walked (naked and without shoes) through the snow and ice covered Himalaya Mountains. I couldn't do that. I also couldn't pull a car for a mile with my penis (not that I have a penis). Yes, you actually see an old man wrap his penis around a staff and pull a car! That was impressive.

But even with footage like that, Naked In Ashes is still not worth the price of a ticket. It's amateur, unfocused, and uninteresting. If you're looking for a movie about the meaning of life, might I suggest a Monty Python movie instead?

Illuminating. Thoughtful presentation of these fantastic holy men, blending storytelling with visuals that are stunning . We all know a little about the yogis, but this film took us to the home fires and festivals where we see their influence and devotion. LOVED this documentary. More from this Director, please!

I loved it and it made me realize that it's time for some of us to think a bit more, work on our discipline and make more sacrifices....we are way too spoiled.... Not that we all have to be like that, but it's amazing what discipline they have, what they give up in order to follow their believes, how open minded they still are, how they don't have all the problems we have...and not to forget the beautiful scenery, and these beautiful people...yes, why not unite and take a big bath together....I think it would be nice if we could be doing something together without judgement....Great film!! I also saw Paula Fouce's film Origins Of Yoga which I liked a lot as well as I am practicing yoga and that's a must-see for Yoga practitioners. I can highly recommend both these films and I can't wait for the next one. I saw a trailer on their website, it's called By Many Names and features the Dalai Lama. I hope it will come out soon.

This movie shows what it's really about to be a Yogi and what it really takes to be a Yogi. As a big Yoga fan myself, I never realized how true it is what real Yogis sacrifice in order to be a true Yogi. We read these things and chuckle. If all of us would only have a tenth of their discipline, the world would be a better place. I loved this film. It was so fascinating, very well written, and awesome all around. The people are beautiful and the scenery is breath taking. My next trip may be to India, who knows..... You know when people say "mind over matters". That is so true. You can see in this movie how the Yogis are able to set their mind to accomplish something, even if it seems so unreal to us. They have much better focus and will power than we do. I have a lot of respect for that and this film made me re-think the way I think and the way I act. I sure hope that there will be more movies like this as I am convinced that watching these kind of movies, esp. when created so beautifully, can only better a person.