By Arielle Ford

Rumor has it that the world-renowned director Mira Nair (MONSOON WEDDING, VANITY FAIR, THE NAMESAKE), was in Bombay, stuck in traffic on Marine Drive and in the midst of a movie-maker’s equivalent of writer’s block when she discovered the source of traffic was hundreds of women dressed in all white crossing the street. She was so intrigued, that she ditched her cab and followed these women with her DV camera — some time later, the LAUGHING CLUB OF INDIA was born.

In this compassionate and entertaining documentary, award-winning director Mira Nair has captured a unique slice of life in contemporary India…the Laughing Clubs. From shop workers laughing to relieve stress, to widows cackling to forget their grief and children gleefully giggling with their teachers; THE LAUGHING CLUB OF INDIA documents the thousands of people who come together foregoing their caste or class, to laugh for 40 minutes and to belong to a community dedicated to creating more joy in the world.

This delightful film explores the power of laughter through the popular phenomenon of laughing clubs founded by Madran Kataria, a jovial, energetic, laughter-loving Bombay cardiologist. Dr. Kataria’s passion for bringing the healing power of laughter to the world comes from a deep belief that laughing daily is the key to happiness and well being. In the early days Dr. Kataria would begin club meetings with jokes to get people laughing but he soon discovered that by just pretending to laugh or simulating laughter, real laughter would soon follow. He invented several different kinds of laughs; the greeter, milkshake, and lion. You have to see them to get the full comic effect.

More than 1300 Laughter Clubs now exist throughout the world. The Laughing Clubs meet in parks, offices, private homes, community centers and rooftops, just about anywhere. Throughout the film we get up close and personal with club participants including Dr. & Mrs. Kataria, a stockbroker, three bawdy women, a musician, a widow laughing to cope with grief, and two old men - friends since school days who meet daily to laugh.

The healing power of laughter has been well documented and has been shown to boost the immune system. THE LAUGHING CLUBS OF INDIA will not only make you laugh till you cry and double over in stitches, but will inspire you to make laughing a daily practice.

The Spiritual Cinema Circle, America’s fastest growing DVD club, will feature THE LAUGHING CLUBS OF INDIA in the January 2008 collection along with Knights of the South Bronx starring Ted Danson and two wonderful short films. For a limited time, new subscribers to the Circle can receive a free trial membership (for a nominal shipping fee) by visiting: www.spiritualcinemacircle.com or by calling: (800) 556-0129.

I recently saw a powerful new movie called The 11th Hour. Produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio (Opens in Dallas on August 24th at The Angelika Film Center). The movie is about the human drive to ensure its own survival and quality of life. Over 50 leading scientists, thinkers and leaders present the facts and discuss the most important issues that face our planet.

I found this film to be a wake-up call to all of us about what is happening to the home we all share. It is so easy for us to believe that our individual actions, positive or negative, don’t make a difference. Yet, multiply these actions by 365 days in a year and by billions of people and I think you get the picture.

What I liked about this film, is that not only did it address the problems, it also provided solutions. I find that when we focus on problems, they feel so big, yet when we focus on solutions, we feel empowered and realize that we can change things in a positive way.

Watching the devastation from weather changes, resulting in events such as Katrina, makes me realize how ill-prepared we are to face these natural disasters that are becoming more frequent. It makes me want to find ways to be more self-sustaining and self-sufficient. My husband and I have been replacing some of our light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights, we recycle, we store several gallons of water, and we have already reserved a solar system for our home.

I believe that things happen for a reason and that out of our difficulties, we can come together in a positive way. Perhaps this global crisis that affects the home we all live in and the air we all breathe, can unite us together in a way that has never occurred before.

Fortunately, the technologies to solve many of our problems already exist. I hope that the 11th Hour will be our finest.

Watch The 11th Hour trailer at AffordableSolarPanels.com

Check out the film’s website at: www.11thhourfilm.com as well as the 11th Hour Community site: http://www.11thhouraction.com/ and media site: http://www.11thhouraction.com/media

Love & Light,
Felicia Weiss

Dan Millman’s book Way of the Peaceful Warrior has inspired spiritual seekers worldwide for over 20 years. Fans of this classic will thoroughly enjoy the movie. Peaceful Warrior is faithful to the story and message of Dan’s beloved book. Nick Nolte gives a stellar performance as “Socrates” the wise shaman who transforms Dans’ perception of reality and, consequently, his life.

The power of cinema to transform the perception of the viewer is fully realized in Peaceful Warrior. Allow yourself to fully experience the lessons presented in the movie and you will feel a shift in your own perception.

Peaceful Warrior depicts the conflicts and challenges of the master/student relationship between Dan and Socrates. More importantly, we experience the pain and heartache that Millman endures as his world-view is turned upside-down, and we feel the shift as Millman opens his mind to the reality of the present moment.

Peaceful Warrior has all the elements of a great movie: a fantastic story that transcends time, an engaging presentation, memorable characters, and fine acting. Scott Mechlowicz gives a moving performance as Dan Millman, and fans of Amy Smart will enjoy her performance as Joy.

Peaceful Warrior is a film suitable for all ages and, unlike The Matrix, whose hero’s story was set against a background of violence and anarchy, Peaceful Warrior brings home the message of personal transformation in a light and engaging manner that will change the way you see the world forever.

What is the sound of one hand clapping? Does a falling tree make a sound if no one is there to hear it? Do these questions interest you? Then you’re sure to enjoy the sequel to the underground movie hit, “What the Bleep Do We Know?!“.

I wondered if a director’s cut–with more material and several new interviews–would be more interesting than the first, groundbreaking, “What the Bleep” movie. “Down the Rabbit Hole” is not only more interesting, but the material is more clearly presented. The new interviews shed more light on quantum physics principles, and the new animations are positively captivating in their clarity. (Some, like the double-slit experiment animation, are freely available for download and are being used in school physics classes.)

The interviews with Dean Radin Ph.D., on the nature of intention, stand out as the most interesting new material in the film. Radin’s work examines how intention can affect the outcome of physical experiments in present time, or in past time. While some of the presentations (such as the nature of entanglement) can be confusing Radin’s work is clear and raises many questions on the nature of consciousness and time itself.

What The Bleep: Down the Rabbit Hole brings quantum physics to life and illustrates ideas and concepts that are otherwise abstract and non-intuitive. I won’t say that you’ll actually understand all of the material, and some of the interviewees enjoy expounding on the weirdness of it all without explaining anything. With an open mind, I think you’ll find that What The Bleep: Down the Rabbit Hole will alter your perception of what you consider “real”.

Recommended reading: Itzak Bentov’s Stalking the Wild Pendulum and Gary Zukav’s The Dancing Wu Li Masters, the Dalai Lama’s The Universe in a Single Atom : The Convergence of Science and Spirituality.

What would you do if someone gave you a lot of money to sell drugs? Legal drugs, that is, pharmaceuticals. Would you lie to make your sales quota? Would you conceal the truth?

A new indie movie called Side Effects tackles these issues head-on and does it with remarkable candor, humor, and balance. This is not some hard-hitting documentary that calls for dismantling “Big Pharma”. Side Effects entertains as it illuminates. This film, shot for less than $200,000, is a romantic comedy wrapped around an important message.

Written and directed by a former drug company rep, Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau, Side Effects is based on Slattery-Moschkau’s real life experiences in the industry. Timely, provocative, and entertaining, Side Effects opens on the heels of the Vioxx recall and greater awareness that something is deeply wrong with the pharmaceutical industry.

See the Side Effects website for a schedule of openings across the U.S. (World opening at Dallas’ Angelika Film Centre, Friday, September 9).