The Forbidden Garden

This leisurely, atmospheric exploration of "ethno-psychiatry" came with a slick, colorful promo sheet that promised "rare footage of shocking spiritual practices and mesmerizing mystical rituals." "Mystical" might also describe the narrative style used in this documentary purportedly about modern incarnations of the ancient esoteric Jewish philosophical tradition known as Kaballah, since just what exactly is meant by the term "Kaballah" here remains a bit murky. Viewers will hear serious-looking professorial types hold forth on ethno-psychiatry, and see much ritual (the urgency of many of the featured ritualizers as well as the gritty quality of the visuals contribute to the presentation's solemn but intense mood). However, Kaballah is kind of a broad subject to cover easily in an hour, and the somewhat haphazard approach here suggests that viewers should be knowledgeable of the mystic aspects of this particular division of Judaism prior to viewing. Confusing though it is, this program would still be a strong optional purchase for related subject collections. Aud: C, P. (M. Tribby)