Becoming Nobody

Captures the essence of Ram Dass perfectly! This movie is a vibe. Love

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.

While an interesting subject, the director/interviewer (Catto) seemed more interested in inserting himself into the narrative of Ram Dass instead of providing an insightful dive into Ram Dass' teachings.

The hypocrisy of Catto's ever present ego on film felt at odds with the true spiritual teachings of Ram Dass. Nevermind that 50% of this film was random stock footage hap-hazardly laid over narration.

Stock footage is an ok tool, but when it has nothing to do what's shown on screen it leaves the audience wondering if they're watching a real movie or an amateur's college term project.

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.

After seeing some other reviews of this film that I don't believe did it justice (based on my experience) I felt compelled to write this review.

Overall, I was coming to this film the way I would go to a dharma talk. To hear Dass share wisdom, and see some of him in the process. Didn't really know what to expect.

What I found left me very moved and at the end absolutely transfixed, and deeply in touch with my being and truth. One interaction in particular between Ram Dass and the film maker moved me so deeply that I could learn more of his teaching from the interaction than from the talks.

Other views are certainly valid. I felt the need to share because depending on the mindset and expectations you have going in, you may find this film speaking to you in a way the raw score would not suggest.

Blessings.