366. Down To Earth; movie review

DOWN TO EARTH
Cert U
90 mins
BBFC advice: Contains no material likely to harm or offend

No material likely to harm or offend? What about the use of hallucinogenic drugs?
As I watched a tribe leader nearly fall into a fire after going into a trance, it struck me that what had been evidenced would normally be seen by the British Board of Film Classification as drug misuse.
However, the BBFC has awarded Renata Heinen and Rolf Winters' Down To Earth a U certificate.
It seemed to me that the images and deeds of indigenous people in this movie were not given equal judgment to those in others.
I digress.
Heinen and Winters were inspired to tour the planet in search of wisdom after becoming more and more disenchanted by the hamster wheel of the western world.
It is not clear how they afforded to take their three children on such a voyage of discovery or do they talk about any of the dangers along the way (although, to be fair, sickness is mentioned).
I suspect they might say such negatives would be muddying the waters.
The focus of Down To Earth is on them moving from the unfulfilling corporate world, where greed is seen as good, to meeting people to whom a balance with nature is a life foundation.
They visit remote tribes and those who have deliberately cut themselves off from society.
I was particularly intrigued by the Aboriginal elder who has set up rehabilitation for troubled youngsters on an island off the north coast of Australia.
There is no doubt that all of those interviewed are charismatic and give emphasis to some home truths which we should all take on board.
But, sadly, words such as theirs have been falling on deaf ears for centuries so I was left fearing that Heinen and Winters had merely found affirmation of their own beliefs.
True, their extended holiday is more adventurous than those of most backbackers but I wondered how they would pass on their findings to those who need converting.
And I questioned there assumption that there is validity in everything their subjects assert.
For example, some might argue that they could sit in any house, anywhere in the world and take halluginogenic drugs and feel as if they can see the next dimension.
Others would add that the advances in the developed world mean that people live longer and have a better standard of living.
In addition, it is also inevitable that the world's resources are used to help mankind progress and survive.
The debates surely have to be over which resources and how much. After all, even a tribal villager hunts, kills and scavanges.
Therefore, seems that what we are lacking is a happy medium in trying to achieve a balance with nature.
All of that said, if Weinen and Winters provoke a debate, their film has achieved more than most.

Reasons to watch: Puts the chaos of the earth into perspective
Reasons to avoid: The answers are a bit too easy

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 7/10

Director quote - Renata Heinein: "Adjusting to a life in nature felt completely natural. We experienced a great sense of freedom and adventure by moving into the unknown."

The big question - If living in nature is so natural why did man ever more away from it?

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