Eden

Eden, a film about out-of-body experiences, might seem like the movie of choice for Psychic Friends Network fanatics, but it's actually much more. Helen (Joanna Going) is a woman caught between her duties as a ‘60s housewife and her desire to be independent. Raising her two kids, answering to the calls of her somewhat self-centered husband Bill (Dylan Walsh), and suffering from a debilitating disease, Helen longs to liberate herself from her daily grind. One day, while taking a nap after vacuuming, Helen realizes she has a gift--her spirit can leave her body. Soon, she gets caught up in her out-of-body trips, and starts spending more time napping than staying awake. Yet each time she returns to her body, her condition worsens. At times a little schmaltzy, Eden is still a worthwhile, well-crafted and captivating film with a political message promoting gender equality. A strong optional purchase. (M. K. Lau)