Mana: Beyond Belief (2004)

Mana is a Polynesian word used to describe sacred power that resides in things. This documentary explores several of the countless ways Mana is revered in the world. There is no dialogue or narration in this film which I found wonderful. It allowed the viewer to discover for him/herself the message of the film which follows pilgrimages to sacred sites, ancient structures, and cultural centers all over the world. Beginning with shots of the far East, it is easy to figure out what Mana is, but it really gets interesting when the scenes travel to the West and we see how our culture imbues meaning into objects, sometimes to the point that we revere them as sacred. From the Australia's Red Rock to Elvis' Graceland, this film will captivate anyone interested in cross-cultural spirituality. I found it truly amazing that without narration or dialogue one can learn so much about the way people all over the world practice their beliefs and place significance on them.

No comments:

Post a Comment