Some years ago, as an afterthought to a conversation, an acquaintance recommended a little known film, Mindwalk, as one that would probably resonate with me. And resonate it has - becoming one of my most favorite films. Coincidentally, I had recently read the best-selling "Tao of Physics," by Fritjof Capra, who co-authored the Mindwalk screenplay, which is based on another book of his, "The Turning Point." I would imagine that those involved, made Mindwalk as a labor of love. The photography and dialogue sparkle, enhanced by Philip Glass' original musical score. Within the film, the physical setting in and around France's Mont St. Michel serves to inspire the characters' dialogue. Outside of the film, the marvelous photography and music enliven our own responsiveness to the ideas expressed in that dialogue.
The "plot" of Mindwalk is almost entirely dialogue, which incorporates interactions of three major viewpoints (politics, art, and science). The viewpoints are expressed through three major characters. Jack Edwards (Sam Waterston) is a failed Democratic nominee for the US presidency. Thomas Harriman (John Heard) is a poet/playwright (and Jack's former speechwriter), living in France. Sonia Hoffman (Liv Ulman) is a scientist taking a summer sojourn with her daughter. These three characters/viewpoints interact to discuss how humankind has progressed by viewing the world through a (Newtonian/Cartesian) paradigm in which we disassemble a complex system into simpler components, which we then attempt to manipulate individually. Yet, as useful as this approach has proven, we increasingly we seem to be encountering its limitations in our (increasingly interdependent) modern world. Mindwalk makes/explores the suggestion that a different paradigm is needed to supplement the Cartesian paradigm. This different paradigm (modern systems theory) views a complex system as much more than the mere sum of its component parts; it views every component, not individually in isolation, but holistically, in the way it relates and interacts with all the other "components." My dry and terse comments here are presented within the film through engaging dialogue, unusual music, and striking photography. If you have abiding interest in philosophy (especially metaphysics) or holistic approaches to life and thought, this film may well enthrall you, and inspire post-viewing cogitation. You don't have to be a member of Mensa or The Santa Fe Institute for this to happen, but Mindwalk is not for everyone - certainly not for those seeking mere escapism.
The "plot" of Mindwalk is almost entirely dialogue, which incorporates interactions of three major viewpoints (politics, art, and science). The viewpoints are expressed through three major characters. Jack Edwards (Sam Waterston) is a failed Democratic nominee for the US presidency. Thomas Harriman (John Heard) is a poet/playwright (and Jack's former speechwriter), living in France. Sonia Hoffman (Liv Ulman) is a scientist taking a summer sojourn with her daughter. These three characters/viewpoints interact to discuss how humankind has progressed by viewing the world through a (Newtonian/Cartesian) paradigm in which we disassemble a complex system into simpler components, which we then attempt to manipulate individually. Yet, as useful as this approach has proven, we increasingly we seem to be encountering its limitations in our (increasingly interdependent) modern world. Mindwalk makes/explores the suggestion that a different paradigm is needed to supplement the Cartesian paradigm. This different paradigm (modern systems theory) views a complex system as much more than the mere sum of its component parts; it views every component, not individually in isolation, but holistically, in the way it relates and interacts with all the other "components." My dry and terse comments here are presented within the film through engaging dialogue, unusual music, and striking photography. If you have abiding interest in philosophy (especially metaphysics) or holistic approaches to life and thought, this film may well enthrall you, and inspire post-viewing cogitation. You don't have to be a member of Mensa or The Santa Fe Institute for this to happen, but Mindwalk is not for everyone - certainly not for those seeking mere escapism.