They make it look in the trailer that this is the story of a family traveling the Earth. It's nothing like that though. Instead it's the story of medicine-men and women telling us how to live.... The journey is just a little part of the film. Dutch subtitles were correct but not complete. Rolf Winter's and his wife's voices are not the best narrating voice... Excellent pictures and music though. The message of the movie is good as well... It would be nice to see a part two of the movie where they explain more about the trip. How did they manage to stay away for so long? Did they stay with the Indians for 4 years and then travel for 1? Or did they travel for 5 years after? What are they doing now? Are they living the life as they tell us to live it or have they gone back to Western "civilisation"? Too many questions after seeing this.
14 Reviews
A bit reductive, a bit disappointing
myriadthingss15 August 2020
Some previous reviewers have spoken of how this film was a great awakening to them. To those people, your thoughts and experiences are valid. However, if you are a person who has already spent some time reflecting on your consumption and your existence on this earth, I fear that you may not find much new information here. Sure, as a Western city-dweller it is interesting to see how people live their lives in remote locations. Unfortunately, I feel like the film is quite reductive in its portrayal of these Earth Keepers and their communities. In this day and age, most things are interconnected. Even Indigenous peoples who live their lives according to the "olden ways" have messy interconnectedness with the "modern" society. What do the healers portrayed in the film think about modern medicine? Are they against it? Is it available to them at all? What are the life stories of the young people who get educated by the female Aboriginal leader in the segment from Northern Australia? And how did she herself end up where she is today? There are so many life stories I would like to have known more about. Instead, I feel like the movie almost plays into the old "noble savage" trope, there the all-benevolent "Other" is expected to hold all the answers and teach "us" how to be better human beings.
I'm not saying we shouldn't listen to Indigenous leaders - we absolutely should! But this film does not spark the deep reflection I had hoped it would.
Stupid Americans in search of the spiritual, VOL.2
pipi-212-17710715 January 2017
Highly Overrated. Pretentious.
No research, no plot, no editing, no photography...this doc has absolutely nothing to be worth watching. A very superficial approach to an old dismantled subject.
There is absolutely nothing interesting about an American rich family who goes on an extended trip around the world (well, 3 or 4 countries), meeting local shamans and other(supposedly) wise personality, trying to extract something out of their traditions, understanding, culture.
Stay home and get a Dalai Lama's book or watch the Wizard of Oz. Either could be of a much more inspiring than this movie.
No research, no plot, no editing, no photography...this doc has absolutely nothing to be worth watching. A very superficial approach to an old dismantled subject.
There is absolutely nothing interesting about an American rich family who goes on an extended trip around the world (well, 3 or 4 countries), meeting local shamans and other(supposedly) wise personality, trying to extract something out of their traditions, understanding, culture.
Stay home and get a Dalai Lama's book or watch the Wizard of Oz. Either could be of a much more inspiring than this movie.
just incredible
arnold-637 December 2016
A view days ago this movie left me speechless, wandering through the city with a strange almost alien feeling.
But not because of some sort of a gloomy undertone. The film leaves you with hope. Hope because you have known so many things since your childhood, so many things where you knew you were right, so many things that could be explained in much simpler ways. This film will remind you to that, it will make you remember it. And if you never had this experience before it will give it to you instantly.
Pure awesomeness and . . . well no I leave the review like this . . .
Thank you for putting this out, reaching so many people already. It is worth every effort to spread the word even further!!
But not because of some sort of a gloomy undertone. The film leaves you with hope. Hope because you have known so many things since your childhood, so many things where you knew you were right, so many things that could be explained in much simpler ways. This film will remind you to that, it will make you remember it. And if you never had this experience before it will give it to you instantly.
Pure awesomeness and . . . well no I leave the review like this . . .
Thank you for putting this out, reaching so many people already. It is worth every effort to spread the word even further!!
Boring Boring Boring
iljahuis8 January 2017
Watching this film we feel a dramatic urge to sleep. Just close our eyes and sail away from this horrible, over-hyped film. It told us nothing new at all. Everybody knows that people like Indians or Inca's are living more close to nature. Of course: they have to because their home is in the middle of a desert or jungle..... Everybody knows 'nature people' are more spiritual. They live together with dead ancestors. And natural medicines in their surrounding. There have been so many films and books about this subject. This is just one of them. One which isn't even nice to look at, because there's no real story line. WHAT's NEW? NOTHING. This movie was really a waist of time!
Soul reaching movie!!
boliemans27 October 2016
LOVE LOVE LOVE this movie/documentary! It's so much more than just a movie, it reaches the soul, my soul at least :) Because of the recognition on so many levels it gives you a feeling of "connection". (This sentence you might understand better when you've actually seen it ;)
I think it's wise for everyone, no matter what age, to see this movie (at least ones) But I saw it twice already. Let it take you through all of your layers and surfaces into your depth, receive it there because this movie will stay with you, for at least a while. Very unconventional but the better for it. Hats off to the makers! Great Stuff!!
XX Barbra
I think it's wise for everyone, no matter what age, to see this movie (at least ones) But I saw it twice already. Let it take you through all of your layers and surfaces into your depth, receive it there because this movie will stay with you, for at least a while. Very unconventional but the better for it. Hats off to the makers! Great Stuff!!
XX Barbra
This could have been something.....real
alfranatic12 January 2019
In its format,the one real exciting thing is the marketing of the same docu by launching it every 5 years..!!
And -kudos for this- creating the same hype again and again...??
But when you have so many hours of unedited film ,just lying around. I feel a little fooled by watching the same again. And appearences on the TED circus. So much for quitting the western lifestyle. But ..a nice film/docu...
But when you have so many hours of unedited film ,just lying around. I feel a little fooled by watching the same again. And appearences on the TED circus. So much for quitting the western lifestyle. But ..a nice film/docu...
Life changing for me!
renavandelangenberg9 March 2017
For me this film was life changing: it was the final push I needed to quit my job to follow my heart. The film made me realize that being your true self is the highest goal to strive for. I am confident that the film will inspire others to live the most beautiful part of their selves. Especially leaders and employees in organizations can use the lessons of this film to unleash the dormant human potential that is already there. Both organizations and individuals can benefit from the lessons of the film to contribute to a sustainable future for themselves and the generations to come. I highly recommend this film!
Touched my soul
ibizasome24 September 2018
There are very few times that I have seen a film that speak to me so deeply.
The film took me on journey to see myself. Meeting all the indigenous leaders in the film made me realise that there is hope that we will be able to leave a healthy planet for our children if we make a change now.
Inspiring movie that awakens people
isabelleluykenaar9 March 2017
During my sabbatical this summer I read about 'DOWN to Earth' in a magazine . I felt I had to see this movie as soon as it would be launched, so I did. And it gave me just what I needed at that moment in time: the push towards starting to live my own live i.s.o. some one else's.
The film shows wonderful settings and inspiring dialogues with native people around the globe, awakening us about how we (mis)treat our planet. Although most of us are already aware of how our actions destroy our planet, and although we do our little contributions to prevent from that, it seems we are waiting for systems to change i.s.o. just be the change we want to see in this world.This film shows that each individual had a huge potential to create change; but that we - somewhere along the way - lost the connection of this knowing and doing by the heart.
The voice over of the film, which is mostly by Nowaten ('He who listens'), has a very calming effect on people and gives hope that we can make a change. What captured me most was his phrase:"It's time you start living your own truth in stead of some one else's." For to long I felt forced to work and live in systems that didn't match my feelings. So now I'm changing that by starting my own agency and working on things I feel good about.
Each time I visited the film (3 times so far) I noticed this calming and awakening effect at the rest of the audience as well. People stay in their seats and share their feelings afterwards. This sharing creates a connection instantly between people who have never met each other before. This seems quite unique in a world where everybody almost lives in their phones.
The film shows wonderful settings and inspiring dialogues with native people around the globe, awakening us about how we (mis)treat our planet. Although most of us are already aware of how our actions destroy our planet, and although we do our little contributions to prevent from that, it seems we are waiting for systems to change i.s.o. just be the change we want to see in this world.This film shows that each individual had a huge potential to create change; but that we - somewhere along the way - lost the connection of this knowing and doing by the heart.
The voice over of the film, which is mostly by Nowaten ('He who listens'), has a very calming effect on people and gives hope that we can make a change. What captured me most was his phrase:"It's time you start living your own truth in stead of some one else's." For to long I felt forced to work and live in systems that didn't match my feelings. So now I'm changing that by starting my own agency and working on things I feel good about.
Each time I visited the film (3 times so far) I noticed this calming and awakening effect at the rest of the audience as well. People stay in their seats and share their feelings afterwards. This sharing creates a connection instantly between people who have never met each other before. This seems quite unique in a world where everybody almost lives in their phones.
Beautiful and moving
jannepetroci30 April 2017
Really loved this movie, although it's quit intense and in my opinion it would have been better to split it in 2 and go deeper in detail. They give to many very interesting information in a very short time.
It moved me very deeply, it makes you think about how you are living your life spiritually and if this really is what you want.
Very beautiful music and places, I didn't expect it to look so professional at all.
It moved me very deeply, it makes you think about how you are living your life spiritually and if this really is what you want.
Very beautiful music and places, I didn't expect it to look so professional at all.
Uplifting, amazing and warning for the changes we all have set in motion
michelbuyssens22 April 2017
One can't really give a review that fits the impact of this film. Please just watch without prejudice and try to remember just what is the purpose of your life on this planet. If you forgot then this will hopefully awaken you to the real meaning of your existence here down to earth. Listen to the earth-keepers, they talk in one voice, right to the core of our existence. Become aware, rejoice, help and act. We all might become earth-keepers!
Thought-provoking
rich-812809 March 2017
If you have any kind of interest in the world that we leave for future generations, this film is really worth taking a look at. In an ever more connected world, it's heart-warming to see another side of being 'connected'. This film will certainly have you questioning the way you live your own life.
Reviewers can be interesting
dr-ehpage21 August 2020
It seems like most people loved this film as much as I did. Yet, the negative reviews are so dismissive of the film. It did not meet their expectations and that is the point of the film. Because of our expectations, we not only have ruined the earth and the lives of indigenous people, but are ruining our own lives. The film is unique in that it explores the idea of letting go. It shows a family on a journey of self-discovery that they were able to film. They do not center their own experience but the knowledge of the wisdom keepers and this time, their knowledge states: we are dying out and what we try to pass onto the children may or may not prevail, and even may not last. It is a film about how long they have striven to hold the world together for the rest of humanity. It is about the desolation many of them have been thrown into by the desires we in the first world have been chasing. It is about the wounded soul yearning to be healed by a return to nature that we will not choose and ultimately may be compelled by loss to revisit. It made me ponder these things. It allowed me to ponder the beauty and wisdom of these elders. It helped me to see how all aware people are struggling to join together in consciousness in a local way to live a real life freed from the mass mind of consumption, industrial medicine, and commercialized identity. One day the people who are bored with this film will no longer have to see any such thing because the one's who are trying to show us how to correct our course are still largely being ignored or worse, minimized and dismissed. Please do allow this film to help you to correct your course. If it cannot help us to save the world, can it help you to save yourself? I think it takes a giant step in that direction.
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