This Way of Life

Watching this was like being there. The method used to film and document the life of the Karena family was perfect for enabling viewers to truly connect on a personal level with the entire family, circumstances and location. As the story progressed I became emotionally bonded with Peter and Collen and their children, in such a way, I wanted to meet them, support them, praise them for being who they are and for fighting for their way of life. When the film ended, it didn't end for me... I cried the whole way home, and since ... the lives of the Karena family have stayed with me. No other documentary or film has ever had this kind of impact on me. I commend all those involved with the making of "This Way of Life".

Our family just finished watching This Way of Life on Knowledge Network, and all I can say is not a word was spoken through the whole program. I was amazed at this family's strength, love and grace. I must admit I had tears streaming down my face many times, my husband wiped at his eyes a few times as well. What struck me so hard was Peter at times almost speaking lovingly of this man who was never a father to him. How horrible for the father to live with such anger, hate and resentment. It also made me wonder where his mother was through all this. Colleen was beautiful, caring and sensitive and a wonderful mother. Thank you for bringing this to us. It's a film our family will never forget.

This small, unexpected New Zealand film is simply mesmerizing and an unconditional must-see. No, really. This Way of Life is a documentary tracking the Karena family through a story that is so remarkable, you couldn't make it up. Two parents and six children live happily in relative poverty, making ends meet by working on the land, farming pigs and riding wild horses, and living a truly wholesome "good" life. Their life is simple, and beautiful for it. But as with real life, there is drama along the way, and some of it must have seemed a Godsend to the film-makers, who can't possibly have anticipated what transpired. The interviews are heartfelt and touching, and you cannot help but leave the cinema with a new perspective on life. Highly recommended.

This Way of Life is an unlikely fairy tale, replete with bucolic settings, physical prowess in the face of nature's power and a battle against a domineering stepfather. A cynic could say that it rehashes the oft-sketched theme of back-to-the-earth survivalism, or that it offers the consequences of poor planning. Upon quiet reflection, however, it becomes clear that the film evokes the better angels of our nature. It gives us a family dedicated to shedding the impulses of materialism. It reminds one of what is solid in this world: commitment to a partner, integrity in daily decisions, and creating a landscape of emotional beauty within which children can grow. The Burstyns have created an especially prescient documentary for individuals across the globe to have the good fortune of viewing.

Lifting the lid on another world; a gentler, kinder, calmer, slower, less consuming world which a number of us caught in our own wee rutted worlds love to hear about. Documentary mode worked well - the focus on "the man of the house" was evident but fantastically accompanied, and clearly made possible by, his stoic wife and his delightfully ALIVE kids. Most poetic part of the film is the metaphor-making moment when the son falls from a horse (which looks massive compared to the wee fella!). He stamps his feet in anger/frustration in the sand.... and then climbs back on the horse (helped by his Dad). Classic. A gentler, simpler time for us all to be reminded of. Happiness doesn't live in long-life cartons down aisle 4 of the supermarket; nor does it come with a 3 pin plug and only in need of 240volts!! My wife loved the horse/rider scenes in the water and the swimming/jumping off rocks with the kids - I thought the naked scenes were a tad gratuitous/sensational (perhaps some jealousy on my part I am prepared to admit !) I don't doubt it was absolutely natural, but it came across to me as a tad intrusive in that case. All up, a great reminder for us all of to take stock, consider our needs versus our manufactured/manipulated demands. A man who didn't even consider being afraid to share the simple truths of his feelings. Nice one.