At the last minute I decided to attend the festival this
year and these are my thoughts about my experience.
The festival itself still has that small totally cool hippie
town feel. You walk into a festival put on by people who share vegetables from
their gardens with each other. There is a definite Topanga vibe and if that is
the experience you are looking for, this festival has it. If you want
convenient parking, comfortable theater seating with great audio and
video projection, this is not for you.
After looking forward to the Faith Street Corner Tavern film I was disappointed. It had lots of
beautiful images, interesting characters and music but the story didn’t flow.
The entire film was packed with seemingly self-indulgent rants of dialog and random
shots of the main character dancing around. There is a deep touching story behind
the film, but you have to exercise tremendous patience to get all the pieces.
It appeared the filmmaker was so attached to all the footage and the many many
songs in the film that he was unable to cut it down into a form suitable for an
audience unfamiliar with the story and the main characters. The film is a
passion piece showing what the artist likes. It is not a film for everyday
entertainment. One audience member commented “This would be better on some good
bud”. Another said she would like to use it in her work with cancer patients
and hospice. Some will love it and some will hate it, I would have enjoyed the
story better if it had been presented differently.
The Source Family film Undoubtedly influenced by
mainstream media messages about “hippie” communes and cults, I expected a
creepy film about real depravity. This movie was made primarily from film
collected by a member of the Source Family and insight from actual members. It
shows a full reality from within the Source Family, rather than
sensationalizing only seedy aspects. It allows an intimate understanding of
cults and of these particular people. Yes there was danger, pain and human
damage. There was also tremendous growth, enlightenment, health and miracles. This
film takes you on a trip into an extreme alternative lifestyle and it is an
entertaining and interesting journey.
After the film there was a question and answer session with the
filmmaker and a couple members of the Source Family. This led to the entire
audience standing up and participating in the Source Family’s morning star
exercise. Had this been at another festival I doubt everyone would have
participated, in fact it probably wouldn’t have even happened. It was another
authentic Topanga experience and it was really enjoyable.
The SEA Change Panel
discussion delivered everything it promised and the panelists freely offered
insight and encouragement to participants regarding their individual projects
afterward. It was a place of synergy for those working on creating a better
world through film.
I also hung out on the patio of the Rosewood, which is an experience in itself, but to top it off, at
twilight one evening a small buck sprung by on the hillside just a few feet
from me. I had many intense discussions with others as passionate as I am about
creating positive change in the world. Unfortunately, because of other things
in my life I wasn’t able to completely tune into the Topanga Vibe. Now I know what to expect. Next year I plan
to come better prepared to engage more fully in the experience of the Topanga
Film Festival. Hope to see you there.
- Chris Gray
