Today I saw Lucky People International in my Visual Culture class. It made me do my first review here in IMDb because it was different and I can honestly say that it is quite difficult to see something original these days. Along the move I tried to figure out how to answer the question "What is it about?" in one sentence, but I failed. I highly recommend the film to people who want something original, something … hmm, a documentary musical about cultural differences … that's a nice description in one sentence. I give it 8 out of 10 which for me is Excellent! The reason is that it has such a good soundtrack you can't tell it is 1998 movie. It is beautifully directed and even though, there might be some complains about some gore parts, I'll go on and prepare the ladies - it's a documentary and tribal rituals almost always have some kind of sacrifice. Other than that I think the move is relaxing (mainly due to the perfect soundtrack) and all the time I was imagining myself watching it at home with friends and a hookah (narghile). Well I don't want to plant my opinion on the move to anyone who hasn't watched it yet and has the rare opportunity to do so, so I'll only add: highly recommended. Enjoy if you find it, and tell me where you found it.

This manifesto of a will away from modern life of credit cards and fear of death is composed of images juxtaposed against each other, urban skyscrapers against mother nature, Japanese noise artists against African tribal people. We see Bill Clinton and Dalai Lama. Different people tell their view of life, like the Maori, a man living in the jungle for six years, one scientist discover the power the gibbons scream evokes, a porn actress from the happy days of porn teaches the gospel of ecstasy and so on.Somehow it failed on its course, we get the point, but its lacking in depth. The montages as well as the music could be done better.

The first third of this film, thrilled me. I was piqued by the connections the directors made between song, dance, religion and ecstasy. But gradually it began to irritate me that the makers apparently couldn't see beyond their own New Age eco-narcissism. Step by step the movie becomes a political manifesto and most of the good intentions go to waste. It is still a very interesting film and despite its shortcomings in image quality, it should be viewed by anyone who liked Baraka.

Lucky People Center International takes us on a journey around the world, navigating by means of people's inner life. The use of music and rhythm and the pulsating form of the film are reminiscent of the aesthetic tools of music videos, and provide a fresh approach to documentary filming.The film team spent two years travelling the world looking for people and ways of living reflecting the world as it approaches the year 2000. The people we meet open different doors to belief and life-affirming vigour, and embody different stances in a world characterised by unrelenting change. Dreams, a sense of quest and critical thinking are seen to be matters of concern for all life on earth. We encounter voodoo powers, the investigative methods of a brain research scientist, Buddhism's view of death, a former porn actress and her thoughts on pleasure, a banker and his ecstatic needs, and much more, all held together by musical rhythms and the song of the gibbon.