Becoming Nobody

This film was an acute disappointment. Director Jamie Catto took wonderful archival footage of Ram Dass, inserted himself incongruously, and then threw it together in a slapdash manner. The message of the wise teacher is interrupted repeatedly with intrusive, barely relevant stock footage (black and white scenes of families and old cartoons), and jarring editing. The director uses precious interview time with Ram Dass to indulge in his own rambling therapy session. The music was subpar and too loud at times. Only at the end when reading the credits, did it become apparent that the director created that as well! Ironically, I was thinking all through the slog that he should have used the brilliant East Forest music, and we get a small serving of that at the conclusion. This director needed an experienced executive producer to tell him to let Ram Dass speak and not insert himself too much. Yet, the director ran rampant, and gave himself endless credits at the end. Seriously - count how many times the director's own name appears in the credits - all of this in a movie about dissolving one's ego. If you are interested in the pure teachings of Ram Dass, unspoiled by poor editing choices and jarring juxtapositions, then seek out: Here and Now podcast, the book Be Here Now, and the brilliantly done music East Forest featuring Ram Dass.

I've listened to/watched over 50+ of content including podcasts and films (and bought a book and have not yet started it though) about Ram Dass now. The most impressive part of this documentary for me is when he talks about what death means and how one should handle it. Basically, how life should be lives- understand death first. A lot will find this stance depressing, but it is not as much depressing at it could be for some who do not have a grip on this until much later in life. I loved the movie and will keep rewatching it, lest I stray away.

A wonderful introduction and distillation to Ram Dass

This movie is worth watching for the simple reason that it's chock full of Ram Dass lecture excerpts, as well as some charming interviews with an older Ram Dass, whose speech faculties had started to diminish. However, on its own terms it's a frustrating watch, ironically marred by the ego of the filmmaker and a frantic, desperate-for-attention editing style that too often distracts from the subject matter. It's funny how ego traps pop up, even for the spiritual acolyte. There is a podcast called Ram Dass Here and Now that disseminates pieces of Ram Dass's lectures. The host's introductions are usually over 15 minutes of him talking about his experiences and thoughts on the subject matter before he gets around to playing the content that listeners are actually there for. It's ironic how even someone doing a great service by spreading Ram Dass's teachings about confronting the ego needs to insert themselves into the story as much as possible. Likewise, director Jamie Catto is awkwardly stuffed into his own documentary, going so far as to seat himself next to and in frame with Ram Dass in interviews. The editing style of this movie is also at cross purposes with the clarity and mindfulness Ram Dass advocated for. Besides the fact that there rarely seems to be an arc or train of thought to follow in the film edit, the use of spastic cartoon snippets and kitschy retro film cuts shoved together over Ram Dass's sublime teachings is obnoxious and unnecessary. A proper Ram Dass documentary needs to reckon with stillness and simplicity. I have to praise the original score though. One of the best soundtracks I've heard in a documentary. Exceptionally beautiful. Unfortunately it's only available on bandcamp and the composers (one of whom is the director) have chosen to not make individual tracks available for purchase, forcing people to pay full price for a product they may not want entirely. A capitalist move if there ever was one. There is still no definitive Ram Dass documentary. But this is worth a watch.

While an interesting subject, the director/interviewer (Catto) seemed more interested in inserting himself into the narrative of Ram Dass instead of providing an insightful dive into Ram Dass' teachings. The hypocrisy of Catto's ever present ego on film felt at odds with the true spiritual teachings of Ram Dass. Nevermind that 50% of this film was random stock footage hap-hazardly laid over narration. Stock footage is an ok tool, but when it has nothing to do what's shown on screen it leaves the audience wondering if they're watching a real movie or an amateur's college term project.

Horrible director/on cam interviewer. Director was so self absorbed that he couldn't see to stay off-screen and that Ram Dass is who we'd like to spend time with as an audience. Showed how much ego and falsity is within interviewer/director. Could have been a good film if the director had actually BECOME NOBODY.

I think everyone should see this film. I watch it for the content, and do not have a critical eye for how the film was edited, so the 5 stars is for the inspiration and evocation of love in one's heart .. what's better than that?

Beautifully woven together core insights from one of the greatest teachers of the 20th century!