Spiritual Seekers: Stories of the Lifetime Journey

The five middle-aged men and women profiled in filmmaker David DeWitt's Spiritual Seekers trace the diverse spiritual paths taken after leaving traditional faiths. Turned off by rigid orthodoxies or apparent contradictions, most of the interviewees began their quest during their teenage years, some experimenting with born-again Christianity, others exploring meditation, chanting, or collective consciousness. Facing the camera, these seekers recall their "defining moments" (leaving the church, attempts to grow as a spiritual person, the effects on careers and family), while the video shows examples of a Zen Buddhist prayer ceremony and a feminist liturgy. Whether it involves a commitment to counsel prisoners or simply a desire to reconnect with their family, these five seem mostly happy with their spiritual search (which they credit for stress reduction; feelings of strength, focus, and wholeness; and an increased sense of wonder regarding the gift of life), yet describe the process as a lifetime quest with no final certainties or eternal beliefs (just "suspicions"). Allowing these articulate adults to speak for themselves (there's no narration), Spiritual Seekers nevertheless suffers from a certain lack of focus and cohesion. Still, this would be welcomed by spiritual study and discussion groups, and should be considered a strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)