The American Ruling Class garnered a rating of 4 out of 5 stars from Curled Up With A Good DVD!   Curled Up with a Good DVD By Eric Renshaw February, 2009 Americans like to pretend we have a classless society. It’s not usually a topic for polite conversation. Lewis Lapham, long-time editor of Harpers magazine, guides two Yale grads in their decisions to either join the American ruling class or to follow their conscience. Lapham asks them at their graduation party what they will... 
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Join us for a screening of The Atheism Tapes at Revolution Books in New York City on August 20th and 27th. We will be screening Jonathan Miller’s interviews with Daniel Dennett, Colin McGinn and Steven Weinberg on August 20th and Denys Turner, Richard Dawkins and Arthur Miller on August 27th. Revolution Books presents A Screening of The Atheism Tapes August 20th & 27th 146 W. 26th Street Admission $5 Q&A afterwards  Read More →

If you are in the area be sure to check out these upcoming screenings of Absolutely Safe! Port Townsend Film Festival September 26-28 Port Townsend, Washington www.ptfilmfest.com   Eugene International Film Festival October 1-5, 2008 Eugene, Oregon www.eugenefilmfest.org   Charlotte Film Festival September 25-28, 2008 Charlotte, North Carolina www.CharlotteFilmFestival.org  Read More →

Last year nearly 400,000 women in the United States got breast implants. At a time when more women than ever are making this choice, fewer voices than ever seem to be asking “Why?” And fewer still are asking “Are they safe?” Absolutely Safe takes an open-minded, personal approach to the controversy over breast implant safety. Ultimately, Absolutely Safe is the story of everyday women who find themselves and their breasts in the tangled and confusing intersection of health, money, science,... 
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In this day and age, breast implants are thought to be “absolutely safe,” a claim that filmmaker Carol Ciancutti-Leyva examines in this thought-provoking documentary. As Ciancutti-Leyva notes at the outset, her mother Audrey chose augmentation after a mastectomy in the 1970’s, a time when the procedure carried greater risks (and before saline became an alternative to silicone). Over the years, Audrey experienced ruptures, joint pain, and chronic fatigue, eventually speaking before an FDA Safety... 
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Antonio Ferrera and Albert Maysles’ documentary “The Gates” has been acquired for North American distribution by Richard Lorber’s nine-month old distributor Alive Mind. “The Gates,” which chronicles the conception and evolution of artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s Central Park installment by the same name, will be Alive Mind’s first theatrical release. It will open in New York this spring followed by select venues throughout the country. The film... 
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Come check out these Alive Mind titles screening at a theater near you in June: Fierce Light at Waterfront Film Festival in Saugatuck, MI June 11-14   Fierce Light at Santa Fe Film Center June 12-14, 19-21   Intangible Asset #82 at Santa Fe Film Center June 12-24, 19-21   FLicKeR at Anthology in NYC June 13-14   Fierce Light at Noetic conference in Tucson June 17-21   Fierce Light at the Maui Film Festival June 10-11   The Gates at Circle Cinema in Tulsa July 11-17,... 
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Robert Frank’s The Americans (1958) transformed the landscape of contemporary photography. An exile from Europe, Frank criss-crossed the United States with his camera, searching for the uncomfortable truths of his adopted home. The resulting book was the defining work of photographic art in the 20th century. Fifty years later, French director Philippe Séclier decided to follow in his footsteps, retracing his path step by step. He explores the spirit of the “Beat Generation” by examining the... 
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          New York, NY, February 23, 2009 — Richard Lorber has acquired the U.S. home entertainment rights to the controversial hit Israeli comedy series ARAB LABOR (Avoda Aravit), it was announced today. The deal was negotiated by Keren Shahar for Israeli producing broadcaster Keshet (Channel 2) and by Richard Lorber and Elizabeth Sheldon for Lorber HT Digital.  The pact was facilitated by Steven Lawrence for Link TV, the independent television network which premiered... 
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Arab Labor is a raucous and irreverent critically acclaimed comedy series from Israel about Amjad, a Palestinian journalist and Israeli citizen in search of his identity. His personal quest for status and success as a journalist at a Jerusalem newspaper is foiled by the humiliating searches he endures everyday when he leaves his Palestinian neighborhood to commute to his job. In the midst of a walloping identity crisis, Amjad jockeys between two cultures as he tries to polish his image for his Jewish... 
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In 2007, the dollars spent on breast augmentation surgery in the United States was $1.5 billion. By 2012, the numbers are projected to top 2 billion per year. Statistics from The American Society of Plastic Surgeons show that breast augmentation headed the list of surgical procedures in 2008. For those women who have had mastectomies, implants will be presented as a standard part of the recovery process. Carol Ciancutti-Leyva, director of the documentary “Absolutely Safe,” is the daughter... 
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September 8 - November 2 - (8 Weeks) LIT STAR TRAINING - MEMOIR, BIOMYTHOGRAPHY, & STORIES LOOSELY BASED ON THE TRUTH Taught by Ariel Gore This fall, we’ll focus on memoir writing, biomythography, and fashioning powerful fiction stories from real-life experiences. Over the course of this class, you’ll make time to write, produce new material with weekly deadlines, and improve your craft with practice and critique. You won’t even have time to worry about creative blocks. Class... 
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Art of Faith is a visually sumptuous series revealing outstanding examples of the art and architecture of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The films bring to life many of the greatest and most significant religious buildings through stunning photography and interviews with the people who know and love them. The programs are filmed in twenty-seven key locations in eighteen countries, from Russia to the USA, India to Egupt, and the UK to Hungary. The architecture and art of each building is explored... 
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Dear Karinna, I’m not that good being on top. I get bored. Can you please help me? That is my boyfriend’s favorite position. – K. Dear K., First of all it takes courage to ask for help in your intimate life so I want to congratulate you for taking that first step. To transform your boredom on top into excitement and fun– and possibly even make it one of your favorite positions– I want to discuss what may be happening to you. Ideally an “on top position” will stimulate a... 
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Dear Karinna, I have been out of a long term relationship for a little over two years now. The relationship was intense and provided a lot of opportunities to look at many things within myself. I would now like to be in a committed partnership again and am currently trying one of those on-line dating sites– but notice the “creepy” way it feels at times. Do you have any other suggestions to start anew and meet someone? – K. Dear K., As for on-line dating, I have to say it... 
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Dear Karinna, My boyfriend never wants to have sex anymore– unless you call once a month acceptable, and I don’t. I’m afraid I will seek sexual satisfaction elsewhere is this doesn’t change… please help. – S. Dear S., It is very painful when your mate does not show the same interest level in sex as you do. There are multiple reasons why this might be happening. I am going to give you a couple of possibilities and what you can do to have more sex with your partner: 1. You’ve... 
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Dear Karinna, I have been with my fiancé for six years. Before we even thought about children our intimacy and sex life was great. But since our third child was born and I had my tubes tied, there is no sex or intimacy anymore. I feel that getting my tubes tied made me feel like having less intimacy and left me with no sex drive. I want to give him my all, but for some reason there is no strength in me to even try to make passionate love to him. I don’t feel open to negotiate options with... 
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Dear Karinna, How do I develop intimacy with my wife if we haven’t had intercourse in the last one and a half years? – R. Dear R., While couples go through cycles of being less intimate, such as during the time when a woman gives birth or there has been an illness or you have gone through a big life challenge, it is important to bring your focus back to why you came together in the first place. Here are some suggestions for getting your intimate life back on track: 1)Talk to Her. It is... 
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As part of the making of the ground-breaking series “A Brief History of Disbelief,” Jonathan Miller filmed conversations with some very distinguished minds. Jonathan, of course, could not resist the temptation to make these conversations wide ranging and so – naturally enough – their final contributions to “A Brief History of Disbelief” are only a small part of the original interviews.In these off-the-record interviews, neurologist turned playwright, filmmaker and self-described... 
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Dear Karinna, I am 46 years old and need to know how to make love to a man. I was married for 26 years and never kissed or made love. He used to just roll me over and that was it. Now he’s deserted us and the man I’m involved with says he wants to go down on me. I don’t even know if you are supposed to shave down there. I know you just don’t lie there, but what movements am I supposed to make and what makes him aroused? I have had three children and feel I am very unattractive.... 
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Susan Retik and Patti Quigley were two ordinary soccer moms living in the affluent suburbs of Boston until the tragedy of September 11 struck. Rather than turn inward, grief compelled these women to focus on empowering widows in the country where the terrorists who took their husbands’ lives were trained: Afghanistan. As Susan and Patti make the courageous journey from their comfortable neighborhoods to the most desperate Afghan villages, they discover a powerful bond with each other, an unlikely... 
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Please join us for a special screening of Carol Ciancutti-Leyva’s documentary Absolutely Safe at Bluestockings, a radical bookstore, fair trade cafe, and activist center in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.   EVENT DETAILS HOST Bluestockings DATE & TIME Wednesday, March 11, 2009@ TBA LOCATION Bluestockings 172 Allen Street (between Stanton & Rivington) New York, NY 10002   To view a full list of Bluestockings’ event please Click Here!  Read More →

Brilliant Moon: Glimpses of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche chronicles the life of the writer, poet, and meditation master Khyentse Rinpoche, one of Tibet’s most revered 20th-century Buddhist teachers. Known as the instructor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Royal Family of Bhutan, his life and teachings were an inspiration to all who encountered him. Two of his admirers are Richard Gere and Lou Reed, who provide the narration for his dangerous journey out of China and the subsequent spread... 
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Dear Karinna, I was going out with a guy for 5 months while we lived in 2 different cities in Asia. (He is British and I am Chinese.) We shared great happiness together and saw each other every 2 weeks. Recently he was sent to Europe for good for his work. Now he is so busy with his new assignment that we are not communicating as often as we did before. How should I approach the situation when I still feel so much for him? Thanks. –P. Dear P., There is nothing better than just being straight-forward... 
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Dear Karinna, I haven’t seen my boyfriend due to some problems. I will be seeing him in the next week and I really want to make the night extremely special, romantic, and intimate. But due to money problems I need some cheap ways and good tips to help make this happen. We’ve been together for over a year… and I just want to have a night with him that he will remember forever because it was so romantic and it was a time where we could both just think about of how much we love each... 
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CineKink and Anthology Film Artchives are pleased to invite you to a special screening of Jamie Morgan’s festival favorite The Workshop, a wild and sexy head-trip where regular people discover their true, naked selves at a commune north of San Francisco.       EVENT DETAILS HOST CineKink & Anthology Film Archives DATE & TIME Friday, February 27, 2009 @ 6:45pm LOCATION Anthology Film Archives 32 Second Avenue (@ 2nd Street) New York, NY 10003       For... 
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CineKink and Cinema Purgatorio are pleased to invite you to a special screening of Pola Rapaport & Wolfgang Held’s HAIR: Let the Sun Shine In at KGB’s Kraine Theater.     EVENT DETAILS HOST CineKink & Cinema Purgatorio DATE & TIME Sunday, March 29, 2009, 4:30-6:30 pm LOCATION KGB/Kraine 85 East 4th Street (@ 2nd Ave) New York, NY 10003   For additional information or to purchase tickets please Click Here!  Read More →

DON’T MISS Columbia Alumni Association’s Exclusive Screening of the Entertaining New Film “HAIR: Let the Sunshine In” A Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of “HAIR” its Relevance, Spirit and Wonderful Music   A Festive Evening with Discussion and Q&A featuring: Esteemed Columbia Alumnus and Media Luminary Richard Lorber, HAIR Film Distributor and Chairman, Film Forum and Pola Rapaport, HAIR Film Director   EVENT DETAILS: November 19, 2008, 6:30PM Cost: $15/person Tickets... 
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Join filmmaker John Kirby and producer Libby Handros at Cool Vines to celebrate the launch of their critically-acclaimed documentary, The American Ruling Class. Taste some great wines and celebrate the election victory and the beginning of a new political era. EVENT INFORMATION WHEN Tuesday, Nov 18, 2008 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM WHERE Cool Vines 344 Nassau Street Princeton, NJ 08540 WHAT DVD Launch for The American Ruling Class and Wine Tasting Event  Read More →

An ordinary man, sure, but through his eyes, an extraordinary tale of perseverance, survival, and life. As the film opens, 94 year old Jack Beers rips a phone book in half. As if that weren’t inspirational enough, he rips in half again. Holes In My Shoes is his story, born almost a century ago to very humble beginnings, and while performing some interesting feats, has remained humble himself. In the 20’s as a young lad, he became one of the early “strong men” whose career was cut short through... 
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If you ever doubted that a TV show about Palestinian Arabs living in Israel could be funny, you must see “Arab Labor” immediately. Shown at last year’s San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, this hilarious series created by Arab Israeli Sayed Oashua could be considered the Middle Eastern “Everybody Loves Raymond.” The plot revolves around Amjad, a secular Muslim journalist trying to assimilate his family into the Jewish world. He buys a car with messed-up gears so he won’t... 
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Scottish filmmaker Amy Hardie built a career on making science documentaries, reflecting her staunchly rational mind. Then one evening she had a haunting dream of her horse dying, waking to discover that her beloved horse had passed away that same night. Shaken, she tried to pass it off as mere coincidence. But then she had another disturbing slumber, a nightmare where her deceased ex-husband predicts that she will die at age 48. After a foreboding doctor’s visit, and with her 49th birthday mere... 
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SCREENED AT THE 2009 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL: Intangible Asset Number 82 seems to have become a fascinating movie almost by accident. Certainly director Emma Franz would have covered much of the same material if things had gone according to plan, but when life hands you a road movie, you roll with it. Simon Barker is a jazz drummer, and a great one; likely Australia’s best, and one of the best in the world. Part of the reason for that is that he takes interest in and draws inspiration from music... 
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Elvis Presley may have been born with the rock ‘n roll in his blood but without poverty, southern culture and a mother whom he adored, Elvis Aaron Presley might have been just another poor white guy rather than the King of Rock ‘n Roll. Narrated by prolific country musician and actor Kris Kristofferson, this feature-length documentary takes an intimate look at Elvis’ childhood growing up in Tupelo, Mississippi. Before the gold records, movie deals and infamous variety show performances, Elvis... 
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Dear Karinna, I am going to have my first baby next month. My fiancé and I have a wonderful relationship and a great sex life, however, I am a little afraid of how things will develop in our sexual life when the baby is here. I have heard that it is kind of tough to keep it going. I don´t want to expect that! So I just want to know if you have some comments or suggestions on this subject. – M. Dear M., Congratulations on the upcoming birth of your first child! You will be very busy initially... 
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Over 40 years ago, on October 9, 1967, Ernesto Che Guevara was executed by the Bolivian army, aided by the CIA. Guevara’s diary, a detailed, personal account of his futile 11-month attempt to foment revolution in Bolivia, is the basis of this moving portrait. Che’s relationship with the mysterious Tania, his betrayal by local peasants, his constant battle with asthma, and his distress at the death of his comrades is recounted. Interviews with Bolivians who met Che during these final days, coupled... 
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Fela Kuti is to African music what Bob Marley is to reggae: its prophet. All contemporary forms of black music, from funk to electronic, owe something to the irresistible groove of the Afrobeat sound that he created. He recorded more than 60 albums and spent a lifetime fighting against political corruption in his homeland of Nigeria, where the people affectionately called him their “Black President.” Shot in Lagos at the peak of his career in 1982, this documentary contains interviews with... 
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In these times of crisis, there is an electric charge in the air, a burgeoning renewal amongst both people who have focused their lives on the spiritual, and those whose lives are centered around the struggle for change. Featuring Velcrow Ripper’s stunning cinematography, a compelling soundtrack, and dramatic stories of resistance and transformation, FIERCE LIGHT: WHEN SPIRIT MEETS ACTION is a feature documentary that captures the excitement of Spiritual Activism that is catalyzing the planet.... 
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http://fiercelight.myfilmblog.com/index.php  Read More →

What do the American civil rights movement, an exiled monk’s return visit to Vietnam, and a community of people trying to save an urban farm in L.A. have in common? According to Canadian documentary film-maker Velcrow Ripper, they are all examples of what he calls spiritual activism, and they are just a few of the inspiring stories featured in his latest film, Fierce Light. “Spiritual activism,” Ripper explains in a recent phone interview from his Toronto home, “comes from the heart. It’s... 
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It’s been exactly eight years since the terrorist attacks on New York’s World Trade Center, and 9/11 seems like a perfect date for Northwest Film Forum to host an all-weekend appearance by documentary filmmaker Velcrow Ripper and his inspiring film, “Fierce Light,” which chronicles the increasingly global movement of spiritual activism. In many respects, the film represents a culmination of response to 9/11 and its earthshaking aftermath — a global embrace of nonviolent... 
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Be sure to catch FLicKeR at the 2009 Big Sky Documentary Festival in Missoula, Montana on February 16. For more information, please click here.  Read More →

FLicKeR screens at the New Museum Thursday August 12 at 7pm and Sautrday August 14 August at 3pm. Free with museum admission. Read more about the screening, and the Brion Gysin: Dreaming Machine exhibit here. The New Museum will present “Brion Gysin: Dream Machine,” the first US retrospective of the work of the painter, performer, poet, and writer Brion Gysin (born 1916, Taplow, UK–died 1986, Paris). Working simultaneously in a variety of mediums, Gysin was an irrepressible inventor, serial... 
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Be sure to catch FLicKeR at the Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Art Center in New Orleans, LA from January 13-18. For more information, please click here.  Read More →

FLicKeR will be making its New York City premiere on Saturday June 13 at 8pm.  The film will be showing at the Anthology Film Archives, located at 32 Second Avenue, with another showing on Sunday June 14 at 8pm. Director Nik Sheehan will be in attendance along with special guests.  DJ Spooky, That Subliminal Kid will be on hand for the Q&A on Sunday. ANTHOLOGY FILM ARCHIVES 32 SECOND AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10003; fax For Immediate Release       May 15, 2009 Contact:... 
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http://flicker.myfilmblog.com/index.php  Read More →

This award-winning documentary about poet, artist, calligrapher and mystic Brion Gysin, portrays the life and legacy of an artist who believed art could revolutionize human consciousness. FLicKeR chronicles Gison’s complex ideas, friendships and influence with some of the 20th century’s key counterculture figures, such as William Burroughs, Kurt Corbain and Marianne Faithful. Gysin was fascinated by identity. He saw himself as incarnating the 10th-century King of Assassins, trained in... 
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$34.98 $17.49 Never before in our collective human history have so many women had such autonomy to construct a life of their own creation. Yet, the terrain is still rocky and ‘choice’ does not necessarily bring happiness, let alone freedom. Meanwhile, old models of femaleness still haunt women everywhere. In this six-hour tour de force, Flying: Confessions of a Free Woman, master storyteller Jennifer Fox lays bare her own turbulent life to penetrate what it means to be a free woman... 
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Never before in our collective human history have so many women had such autonomy to construct a life of their own creation. Yet, the terrain is still rocky and ‘choice’ does not necessarily bring happiness, let alone freedom. Meanwhile, old models of femaleness still haunt women everywhere. In this six-hour tour de force, Flying: Confessions of a Free Woman, master storyteller Jennifer Fox lays bare her own turbulent life to penetrate what it means to be a free woman today. As her drama... 
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Forgiveness: Stories of Our Time focuses on four individuals who have lived through events so painful and horrific they are unimaginable to most of us. Lesley Parrott’s young daughter was stalked, raped and strangled. Anne Marie Hagan’s father was murdered by their next-door neighbor. Alan McBride’s wife and eight others were killed in an IRA bombing in Belfast. Reverend Julie Nicholson’s daughter was killed on the London underground in an al Qaeda bombing in 2004. Through heartfelt interviews... 
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Filmmaker Johanna Lunn’s documentary Forgiveness tells the storis of four individuals who suffered enormous personal losses but worked hard to overcome their grief and rage, ultimately forgiving those responsible for their pain. Toronto woman Lesley Parrott’s young daughter was raped and brutally murdered (but Parrott’s opposition to the death penalty remains unshaken); Anglican vicar Julie Nicholson’s daughter was killed on the London underground subway during the al Qaeda bombing in 2005;... 
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Dear Karinna, I have never had sex and I am getting married soon. How is the first encounter? Does it hurt? I don’t want to disappoint my bride. Are there any exercises and techniques I can teach myself to be ready? I want to make sure that I don’t just focus on getting the pleasure alone without the fulfillment of my wife. What will it take to have a pleasurable moment, especially on our wedding night? Please advise! – K. Dear K., Congratulations on your upcoming marriage! The... 
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  Oct. 3 - Oct. 17, 2009 May 29-June 10, 2010 October 2-16, 2010   Join us in search of the Goddesses of ancient Crete . . . Feel Her power in holy mountains, sense Her mysteries in the darkness of caves, pour libations of milk and honey on Minoan altars. Contact a sacred energy that will transform the way you feel about women, about yourself. Walk on the stones of the ancient sites of Knossos, Phaistos, Juctas, Malia, Kato Zakros, Kamilari, Mochlos, Myrtos, and Kato Symi. Discover... 
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A vibrant chronicle of one of today’s most notorious and revered live bands, Gogol Bordello Non-Stop follows Eugene Hütz’s gypsy-punk brigade around the world as they spread their liberating libertine musical gospel. Filmmaker Margarita Jimeno tracks their raucous gigs from 2001 to 2006, from NYC to Italy, as the band rises from dingy basements to festival main-stages. The cast is a rotating circus of polyglot personalities from Israel, Russia and America, who dish on their music, their... 
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A universal experience whether or not we can admit it, death is the sole counterpart to life. From the moment we take our first breath, death is our only guaranteed experience. This is something Stephen Jenkinson not only understands but something he loves. And he wants you to feel the same way. Griefwalker, a feature length documentary by Tim Wilson, sets its lens on Jenkinson in an unforgettable exploration of death phobia as a culture. Stephen Jenkinson, a Harvard educated theologian, is one... 
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Hail to the New Chief and the First Lady in Love! I, like so many Americans and world citizens, am very impressed by our new president and first lady for many reasons and am very excited for this new era in American leadership. However, as you know, I am not a political commentator but a relationship one, and so to mark the beginning of this wonderful new couple in the White House I thought I would comment on my perception of what they are currently modeling as a couple for all of us to witness. I... 
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Alive Mind & Cactus Three present the documentary “HAIR: Let the Sun Shine In” New York, NY (July 22, 2008) – Alive Mind and Cactus Three are proud to present a screening of Pola Rapaport and Wolfgang Held’s acclaimed documentary film HAIR: Let the Sun Shine In. This special preview, in collaboration with New York City’s National Arts Club, is in honor of the forthcoming DVD release of the film on the Alive Mind label and the special summer performances of the legendary musical in Central... 
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Come check out the Hair movie screening, Q&A and DVD release party at the Bowery Poetry Club! The event takes places at February 22 at 8 pm with a $5 admission fee to support Bowery Arts and Science. To learn more about the event, please click here.  Read More →

HAIR: Let the Sun Shine In has been selected to be screened at these upcoming film festivals. If you are in the area be sure to check them out! Mill Valley International Film Festival Northern California Monday, October 6th at 9:30pm www.mvff.com Denver International Film Festival Denver, Colorado November 13th - 22nd, TBA www.denverfilm.org/festival/  Read More →

Since its overwhelming success on Broadway forty years ago, HAIR: Let the Sun Shine In has inspired generations with its messages of love, non-violence and liberation. This definitive and entertaining documentary highlights the continuing relevance of the show and its still radical, transformative power. In preparation for its fortieth anniversary, the show’s author and co-creator Jim Rado rehearses a troupe of young performers for a new production whose vibrant energy brings HAIR’s fantastic... 
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Dear Karinna, I’m wondering how to celebrate Valentine’s Day with my boyfriend of 1 1/2 years. We almost broke up over the holidays but decided to stay together. We haven’t been sexually intimate for about 2 months now. For me it has been a time of trying to build trust between us and repair some hurts. So, at this time, what are some ways I can lovingly celebrate with him even though I’m not sure where this relationship is going? –P. Dear P., Think of a Valentine’s... 
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In the 1960s and 1970s thousands of hippies journeyed east to India in search of enlightenment. Indian peasants assumed that a severe drought in the West was the reason for their migration. India’s holy men saw it as a search for spirituality. Most moved back to their home countries after a few months or years while others stayed for good. Hippie Masala is a portrait of Western ex-patriates: Robert from Holland, a gifted painter, lives with jos wife and young children. Meera, a hermit, seeks enlightenment... 
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Catch a screening of Hofmann’s Potion at the 9th Annual Woodstock Film Festival in Woodstock, New York. For more information about how to attend the festival, please visit the Woodstock Film Festival homepage.  Read More →

Long before Timothy Leary urged a generation to “tune in, turn on and drop out,” lysergic acid diethylamide (or LSD) was being used by researchers committed to understanding the workings of the human mind. Discovered in 1943 by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann, LSD was hailed as a powerful tool for the treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction and to provide a window into schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. Much of that pioneering research was done by the team of Humphry Osmond, Abram Hoffer... 
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Holes In My Shoes profiles the ultimate New Yorker, Jack Beers, and demonstrates the power and promise of the American Dream through the artfully-told, inspirational story of his life. The stuff that urban legend is made of, Beers represents everything good about New York – and America itself. His story reminds us that time and time again, American society has been resurrected from times of hardship through the sheer will of individuals who uplifted the nation through their common fight for... 
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Dear Karinna, I am in love with a beautiful woman named Samara but I am afraid of having deep feelings for her because I am afraid I will get hurt. She is so loving and kind but something is holding me back– even though deep down I know I want to be with her and only her. My emotions are out of control and I am a coward because I never admit how I feel for her. What can I do to make sure she is the one and also to make her know how I feel? – M. Dear M., Demonstrate, Demonstrate, Demonstrate... 
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New York, NY - March 12, 2009 - Lorber HT Digital has acquired all North American rights to the much anticipated documentary INTANGIBLE ASSET #82, the directorial debut of Australian jazz singer Emma Franz. The film will enjoy its North American premiere on March 14th at the 2009 South by South West Film Festival (SXSW) in the 24 Beats Per Second section. The deal was negotiated by Emma Franz for In The Sprocket Productions and by Richard Lorber and Elizabeth Sheldon for Lorber HT Digital. Lorber... 
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In her debut film, director Emma Franz captures the creative odyssey of Australian drummer Simon Barker in search of his muse, Korean Shaman Kim Seok-Chul — a Grand Master in his seventies who plays with immense energy and complex technique. After hearing a rare recording of Kim Seok-Chul’s music, Barker knew right away that he was listening to one of the world’s greatest improvisers. So unique, in fact, is the artistry of the Shaman that the Korean Government bestowed upon him the honorary... 
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by Jay Seaver SCREENED AT THE 2009 SXSW FILM FESTIVAL: “Intangible Asset Number 82″ seems to have become a fascinating movie almost by accident. Certainly director Emma Franz would have covered much of the same material if things had gone according to plan, but when life hands you a road movie, you roll with it. Simon Barker is a jazz drummer, and a great one; likely Australia’s best, and one of the best in the world. Part of the reason for that is that he takes interest in and... 
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At the end of the Toronto International Film Festival, a handful of filmmakers will win awards. The presenters will say flattering things; the award winners will say silly things. But this year, I will not mock. I will cringe in sympathy. I admit I was never someone who as a child stood in front of the mirror holding a shampoo bottle or hair brush, imagining what I would say when I made my Oscar speech. In fact, I was one of those little boys who stood in front of the television mocking people making... 
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Direct from the Knitting Factory stage in downtown Manhattan, A Not So Silent Night features Kate and Anna McGarrigle in a live performance of The McGarrigle Christmas Hour, joined by Kate’s children, Rufus and Martha Wainwright. Other guests include Grammy award-winner Emmylou Harris, Velvet Underground frontman Lou Reed, and famed performance artist Laurie Anderson. An eclectic cast performing original and traditional Christmas-themed songs transports viewers through a rousing rendition of... 
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The matchlessly inflammatory Justin Bond - best known as the disgruntled distaff side of the punk-lounge duo KIKI & HERB - has been striking out on his own lately. Join Justin and friends for cocktails, comedy, music and mayhem as he turns New York City’s Joe’s Pub into his “living” room for the hottest Sunday nights of the summer. Each week will have a different theme (the ladies of am radio?…go green go gay!…lowered standards..) and will feature such “unique”... 
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Justin Bond and Kenny Mellman are KIKI & HERB, worldwide smash punk rebel entertainers, cabaret outsiders, and subversive pop stars who rock stages all over the world. Join the Tony-nominated duo at the epicenter of their madness for their first-ever live DVD from the Knitting Factory in New York City. Featuring 15 numbers from their incendiary Year of Magical Drinking Tour including Rhythm Divine, Song Against Sex, I’m Ugly (and I Don’t Know Why), Moments of Pleasure, I was a Maoist... 
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North Korea is one of the world’s most isolated nations. For sixty years, North Koreans have been governed by a totalitarian regime. A cult of personality surrounds its two recent leaders: first, Kim Il Sung, and now, his son, Kim Jong Il. For Kim Jong Il’s 46th birthday, a hybrid begonia named kimjongilia was created, symbolizing wisdom, love, justice, and peace. The film draws its name from this bright red flower and reveals the extraordinary stories told by survivors of North Korea’s vast... 
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Hello Alive Mind Friends, With its recent win of Best Revival of a Musical at the Tony Awards, why not check out the definitive and entertaining documentary HAIR: Let the Sun Shine In, a perfect DVD for any HAIR musical enthusiast? The DVD includes one hour of bonus material featuring interviews with original stage and revival cast members, author/lyricist James Rado, and much, much more. Hailed by Jeffrey Kaufmann of DVD Talk as “a fascinating journey down memory lane with many of the people... 
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Hello Alive Mind Friends, We are happy to announce that Lorber Films, the theatrical and DVD releasing arm of Lorber HT Digital that specializes in award-winning international films, classics and documentary features, launched this past Fourth of July weekend with two highly anticipated release, Tony Manero and Nollywood Babylon. The critically acclaimed Tony Manero is now playing at Cinema Village in New York City through this weekend while the acclaimed Sundance documentary Nollywood Babylon, about... 
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Dear Alive Mind Friends, Fall is here, and to kick off the new season, Alive Mind is bringing you more up and coming openings, releases, and promotions! We are excited to premiere our new film Gogol Bordella Non-Stop at New York’s Cinema Village tonight, a film that delves into the wild world of the Ukranian rock band that has garnered an international cult following. The documentary captures the vibrancy of the band’s characters, the hardships of their pasts, and the sheer intensity... 
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Hello Alive Mind Friends, More publications chime in on our feature Fierce Light this week, with BeliefNet calling the film “a collection of inspiring stories” that “delved deeper into the connection between faith and activism.” Shambala Sun includes an in-depth interview with director Velcrow Ripper and delves into his background as well as the film. Fierce Light is now available on DVD! Buy your copy now. The Sundance Channel will broadcast Hair: Let The Sun Shine In on Monday July 27th... 
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Dear Friends, Where to start? I guess a good place is to let everybody know that we have a new home for Alive Mind where all of our independent communities are now housed under one roof: Women and Spirituality can now be found under Alive Mind and Spirit and joining our list of eco spirituality bloggers Starhawk and Carol Christ are Jonathan Ellerby and Richard Smoley. Amina Wadud is joined by Ariel Gore, Jennifer Fox and Beth Murphy over at Alive Mind Woman and Susan Reimer-Torn will be... 
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Greetings Friends of Alive Mind: Although summer is winding down, we want to invite to you to let the sun shine on and on. On September 17th, Alive Mind and Bottlerocket Wine & Spirit are proud to host a special wine tasting event in honor of the DVD release of the documentary film Hair: Let the Sun Shine In and the closing of the critically acclaimed performance of the legendary musical in Central Park. The wine tasting event will also feature a discussion with filmmaker Pola Rapaport and guest... 
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Hello Alive Mind Friends, We are so pleased about the excitement brewing for our latest release Hair: Let the Sun Shine In. Following our joint event with Bottlerocket Spirit & Wine in New York City earlier this month, Playbill announced Hair: The Musical’s return to Broadway in 2009! On October 14th the folks that bring you the Emmys, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, will host a “Meet the Filmmaker” screening with filmmaker Pola Rapaport hosting a pre-screening... 
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Hello Alive Mind Friends, We are happy to announce that after premiering at SXSW and Hot Docs, Intangible Asset #82 is on its way to the Silver Docs! This insightful documentary chronicles the journey of Simon Barker, a highly respected Australian musician internationally renowned for his jazz drumming and improvisation. After hearing a recording of one Kim Seok-Chul seven years ago, Simon was immediately impressed by the immense energy and complex technique present. Kim Seok-Chul, officially designated... 
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Greetings Friends, The holidays are here! As the gift-giving season arrives, we want to share our latest Alive Mind DVD releases for the discerning documentary film-lover in your life as well as some perennial favorites. Now through December 31st take 25% off selected titles from our catalog - simply click the desired BUY NOW! links below or enter coupon code HOLIDAY25 during checkout! The holidays are a time for romance and we have just the DVD for couples seeking to put the va-va-voom into their... 
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LIVING GODDESS is a powerful portrait of a young girl venerated as a goddess growing up in a country on the verge of civil war. This is the story of Sajani, who is worshipped as one of three living goddesses in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, and whose peaceful existence is contrasted with violent political turmoil that threatens their traditional way of life. With beautiful imagery and an intimate story, LIVING GODDESS unfolds a world of spirituality and political turbulence through the eyes of... 
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My experience making The Workshop has been beyond my wildest dreams as a filmmaker and a human being. When I first decided to enter the ten day intensive workshop with Paul Lowe in California, I had only a vague idea of what to expect. I knew that the aim of the workshop was to discover the truth about who we are in an environment conducive to such a goal and that the exercises were going to be challenging. I could never have, however, prepared myself for how intense the experience actually was.... 
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Meditate and Destroy profiles the persona who quite possibly represents America’s most unexpected Buddhist: former punk rocker and juvenile delinquent Noah Levine, bestselling author of the book Dharma Punx. As a teenager, Levine was mired in an abyss of violence, drug and alcohol abuse – and criminal detention. When he hit bottom, attempting suicide in juvenile jail in the late 80’s, Levine received a phone call from his father who instructed him how to take baby steps toward initiating... 
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You are Cordially Invited to MEET THE FILMMAKER, Pola Rapaport On Tuesday, October 14, 2007, 6:00 - 8:30PM At the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 1375 Broadway (37th Street), Suite #2103 Reception 6:00 – 6:30 Program 6:30 – 8:00 Produced & Moderated by Sumner Jules Glimcher HAIR: Let the Sun Shine In Since its overwhelming success on Broadway forty years ago, HAIR: Let the Sun Shine In has inspired generations with its messages of love, non-violence and liberation. This... 
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You are Cordially Invited to MEET THE FILMMAKERS, John Kirby & Libby Handros On Thursday, November 6, 2008, 6:00 - 8:30PM At the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 1375 Broadway (37th Street), Suite #2103 Reception 6:00 – 6:30 Program 6:30 – 8:00 Produced & Moderated by Sumner Jules Glimcher With a guest appearance by Lewis Lapham THE AMERICAN RULING CLASS is a morality tale set to music about two Yale students who seek their opportunities after graduation. Lewis Lapham,... 
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Teenagers in the 1950s and ’60s turned Elvis Presley into an icon. His shaking hips and curled lips sent rock ‘n’ roll shockwaves reverberating around the world and challenged prevailing notions about sex, race and class. As we celebrate what would have been his 75th birthday on January 8th, we should take note of the impact he had on the culture. He emerged from his impoverished childhood in Tupelo, Mississippi to become America’s pop culture superstar in the wake of the... 
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Is it possible to shed light on the states of grace experienced by mystics and meditators? Mystical Brain shows us the most recent discoveries of scientific research on this phenomenon in North America and abroad.   It seems that mystical ecstasy is a profoundly transformative experience. It could contribute to people’s psychic and bodily health, treat depression and speed up the healing process in patients who combine meditation with conventional medicine.   A guided tour of the depths... 
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With gorgeous stop-motion animation and enlightening interviews, Mythic Journeys seeks to reclaim the power of myth, which is the reservoir of human wisdom. The filmmakers gained access to Deepak Chopra and other spiritual leaders for a rich and stimulating dialogue, which is woven in with the astonishing puppetry of Brian and Wendy Froud (The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth). Using the voices of Tim Curry (Rocky Horror Picture Show), Mark Hamill (Star Wars), and Lance Henriksen (Alien), the beautiful animated... 
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Nightmares in Red, White and Blue is a comprehensive history of the American horror film that aims right for the jugular. Starting with Thomas Edison’s version of Frankenstein and slashing its way through to Saw and beyond, this incisive documentary examines how these monstrous creations were gruesome reflections of their time. Nightmares charts the genre’s shift from atomic age anxieties (Them) and Vietnam-era violence (Night of the Living Dead) all the way to post-9/11 xenophobia (Hostel),... 
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In the late 1950s and early 60s, more than 10,000 children were born with deformities due to the use of Thalidomide, a drug used in sedatives. Filmmaker Niko von Glasow was one of the victims, and in Nobody’s Perfect he tracks down 11 others who suffered the disastrous side-effects. Niko is recruiting them to pose nude for a book of photographs, to give the ever- present gawkers a good, long look. He especially wants the executives at Grünenthal, the pharmaceutical company that produced the drug,... 
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Worldwide roughly 10,000 people were born disabled due to the disastrous side-effects of the drug Thalidomide. Around half of them have survived. In present-day Germany there are around 2,800 Thalidomiders still living. Most need care and it can be very expensive. Physical disabilities include shortened or deformed arms and legs and missing thumbs. Many are depressed as a result of always being viewed as a freak or an outsider. The suicide rate among Thaliomiders is very high. Niko von Glascow is... 
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NOLLYWOOD BABYLON chronicles the wild world of “Nollywood,” a term coined in the early ‘90s to describe the world’s fastest-growing national cinema, surpassed only by its Indian counterpart. The film delves first-hand into Nigeria’s explosive homegrown movie industry, where Jesus and voodoo vie for screen time. Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, known in Lagos as “Da Governor,” is one of the most influential men in Nollywood. Undeterred by miniscule budgets, Da Governor is one of a cadre of... 
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by Whitney Borup February 2, 2009 The enthusiasm of “Nollywood Babylon” is infectious. Focusing on the widely unknown (in the U.S., at least) Nigerian film industry, this documentary speeds its way through seventeen years of their film history. Starting in 1992, the video market in Lagos has provided financial opportunities for hundreds of actors and directors making thousands of films. Clocking in at about 2500 films a year, Nigeria has the third largest film industry (the first and second being... 
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The Wagner Alumni Association Board of Directors cordially invites you to the WAA HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER EXCLUSIVE SCREENING AND CONVERSATION WITH DIRECTOR OF “HAIR - LET THE SUNSHINE IN,” A DOCUMENTARY CELEBRATING THE REVOLUTIONARY ROCK MUSICAL Thursday, December 4, 2008 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Puck Building 295 Lafayette Street, 2nd Fl., NYC With Director Pola Rapaport (Tisch, ’77) and distributor Richard Lorber, Chairman, The Film Forum; and moderated by 60’s activism author, Marylouise... 
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Dear Karinna, How do I overcome anxiety, nervousness, stress, resistance, low self-esteem, and procrastination when it comes to finding a long term relationship and having sexual relationships? I would like to find a very nice, attractive, sexy woman who has very nice qualities, but the troubles I mentioned tend to make it very difficult for me, especially when it comes to sex. Please send me advice on what to do about this situation. Your website, newsletters, and products are all very nice. Thank... 
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WALDEN HOUSE and the SAN FRANCISCO WRITER’S GROTTO present PROTAGONIST WHEN October 16th, 2008 at 7:30pm WHERE Grand Lake Theater 3200 Grand Avenue Oakland, CA DETAILS $10-$15 sliding scale All proceeds will go toward providing reentry services to female Walden House residents seeking to reunite with their children.  Read More →

PROTAGONIST explores extremism through contrasting stories of personal revelation. The film features four individuals who have been devoted to personal odysseys - a cause, a quest, an ideal - to the point of total consumption. At first glance the characters appear disconnected: a former German terrorist, an “ex-gay” evangelist, a bank robber and a martial arts student. But as their stories unfold, one starts to see the parallels between the uncommon, common experience of these four men. Each... 
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In his last film, Scared Sacred, director Velcrow Ripper journeyed to the ground zeros of the world in search of hope and spiritual strength. His new documentary, Fierce Light, runs in the same vein, but focuses on the remarkable activists that Ripper encounters, men and women who advocate the compassionate, spiritual activism that he believes we, as humans, desperately need. Q. Why is it important that this story be told? A. My films always begin with something that is happening inside myself,... 
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When Australian jazz musician Simon Barker discovers the music of Korean musician and shaman Kim Seok-Chul during his search for inspiration, Barker is instantly awakened by the music in indescribable ways. He recognizes the genius behind the strange beats and melodies, and is equally puzzled and fascinated by the otherworldly quality of the music. To grasp a deeper understanding, Barker seeks out this master, who remains as elusive as the beauty of his music. Barker’s guide on this journey is... 
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Make Love a sacred art. Transform your love life, enjoy more passion and fun, experience more meaningful intimacy, strengthen your marriage, become a great lover by learning ancient and contemporary love arts with Karinna Kittles Karsten’s Sacred Love-Making DVD. Sacred Love is the experience and expression of a meaningful, passionate, intimate relationship that includes a physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual connection between two people. Sacred Love helps both singles and couples create... 
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Now available on DVD, Meditate & Destroy is now accessible to viewers from the comfort of their homes or on the go exclusively via Alive Mind’s Video On Demand service. Meditate and Destroy is an 81-minute documentary about punk rock, spirituality, and inner rebellion. The film focuses on the bestselling author of Dharma Punx and Against the Stream, Noah Levine. Tattoos, motorcycles, and Buddha are featured in this hard-hitting look at how Buddhism has a place in the world of punks. This... 
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A Revealing Look at History’s Most Misunderstood Woman Mary Magdalene: a sinner and prostitute, or the secret wife of Jesus and leader of his church? This riveting two-program investigation provides the most up-to-date information on one of the world’s most controversial religious figures. Program One: Secrets of Mary Magdalene Shot in Hi-Def and based on Dan Burstein’s and Arne De Keijzer’s nonfiction book, this fascinating documentary strips away the veils of history to... 
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Alive Mind is pleased to announce the September 12th screening of Secrets of the Soul at the Caritas Spiritist Center in Boulder, CO. There will be coupon codes and ordering forms made available to anyone present who would like to purchase this all-encompassing look at the soul at a discounted rate. For more information, visit the Caritas Spiritist Center.  Read More →

What is the soul? Is it genetically encoded in our DNA or the product of centuries of religious teachings dealing with our mortality? Secrets of the Soul takes an all encompassing look at the search for the soul, from the faithful who seek to touch it to the scientists who investigate its reality. This two-hour documentary special explores the western belief in the soul as way of understanding the afterlife, and the eastern concept that it is energy recycled through reincarnation. Scientists have... 
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SEX: How To Do Everything is a groundbreaking ten-part series featuring renowned sexperts Em & Lo setting out to whip your sex life into seriously seductive shape. Each episode is full of information, interviews and how-to demonstrations from various models illustrating a variety of different techniques, from the ordinary to the super-scandalous. Aimed equally at guys and gals, singles and couples - Em & Lo will stop at nothing to dish out all there is to know about everything from orgasms... 
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Signs Out of Time, a film by Donna Read and Starhawk, examines the life and work of world-renowned archaeologist Dr. Marija Gimbutas. Drawing from her extensive knowledge of mythology and linguistics, Lithuanian-born Gimbutas uncovered the life-affirming and goddess-worshipping civilizations of pre-historic “Old Europe.” Weaving together footage of Gimbutas herself, as well as interviews with her supporters and critics, Signs Out of Time reveals a visionary scholar whose theories challenged... 
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Dear Karinna, I was just wondering how to slow myself down when having sex. My boyfriend says while having sex with him it seems like I am “looking for punishment.” He wants to slow things down. How do I do that? – A. Dear A., My first question to you is. . . Do you know why you are rushing through sex? Is it because you really want to get to the climax fast? Or are you fighting insecurities? Or do you just want it over? If you are rushing because you really want to get to the... 
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If you don’t believe in God, but want to, where do you begin? Simon Cole sets out across America in search of a connection with God that has perplexed and eluded him throughout his life in the new documentary film So Help Me God. In Religulous, Bill Maher embarked on a satirical quest to find God while mocking the beliefs of the religious. In So Help Me God, Simon Cole chronicles his odyssey across the nation asking Christians, Catholics, Baptists, Presbyterians, Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses,... 
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In Religulous, Bill Maher was on a satirical quest to find God and understand religion while laughing at the extraordinary claims by the religious. The advertising guru, Simon Cole, took a completely different approach in his documentary film So Help Me God. It’s not a comedy, but rather it is a drama – portraying a real spiritual quest to find God. Instead of laughing at the religious and what they say, he listened and asked questions trying to understand God. Going from one religion to another,... 
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In the state of Judea in southern Africa, violence, poverty and sectarianism are endemic. The neighboring Alliance has invaded to restore ‘peace’ at gunpoint. Bloody street battles accompany the neighboring dictatorship’s incursion into its weaker satellite. Promises of a transition to open democratic rule accompany summary executions and brutal massacres. As the civil war reaches a new level, a divine child is born to a lowly couple. As he grows and witnesses the inhumanity of the world he... 
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Already a worldwide film festival favorite, SOUND OF THE SOUL transports viewers on an exhilarating and inspiring cinematic journey into the heart of the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music. SOUND OF THE SOUL celebrates the historic city of Fez, an ancient sanctuary for Muslim, Jewish and Christian inhabitants. This North African desert Mecca is the ideal location for an exceptional music festival that brings together a gospel band from Harlem, the ethereal sound of Irish vocal group Anuna, a transcendent... 
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Spiritual Revolution captures the spiritual revival that is exploding across the United States today. Rooted in eastern traditions, specifically the practice of meditation, the new spirituality is transforming traditional western faith practices. Eminent spiritual leaders, Zen masters, yogis, scholars and scientists explore the new role of meditation in traditional faith practices; the power of meditation to affect the brain on the molecular level; and its potential as a remedy for those with ADD.... 
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Sacred Love-Making This sensitive, discreet, and beautifully filmed DVD on the Taoist art of love features Karinna Kittles-Karsten, author of the best–selling book Intimate Wisdom: The Sacred Art of Love and a certified Taoist educator, who apprenticed under world-renowned Eastern masters, including Mantak Chia. Here, she teaches sacred lovemaking to tow obviously affectionate and thoroughly average couples – one married for four years, and the other for twenty years – who candidly discuss... 
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Dear Karinna, I have been with my husband for 5 years (2 married) and we have sex often, but I never orgasm during intercourse. During foreplay I do, but never during sex and I feel bad that I don’t because I know my husband tries to make me. (And I feel unsatisfied.) I have read some books and tried watching porn with him but I have not been successful. Is there something I can do to help myself out? (I have read that only a certain percentage of women actually orgasm during sex, but I think... 
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The daily life of the Dalai Lama is brought home with remarkable intimacy in Sunrise/Sunset. Granted total access to His Holiness for 24 hours, this is a day in the life of the Dalai Lama from when he wakes up at 3AM until his bedtime at dusk. Starting with his morning fitness routine and continuing on through the private audiences, press conferences, and blessings he imparts every day, it is a comprehensive and compassionate document of his everyday habits. As the sun begins to set, and with his... 
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The South by Southwest rundown on “Intangible Asset Number 82”: When Australian drummer Simon Barker hears a rare recording of Korean shaman Kim Seok-Chul - a grand master in his seventies playing with immense energy and complex technique - he knows immediately he must find and learn from the enigmatic shaman officially recognized as South Korea’s 82nd Intangible Asset. Undeterred by years of setbacks and obstacles, and with the elusive Kim Seok-Chul now in his eighties, Simon returns to... 
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Dear Karinna, My wife says that for her the idea of Tantra lovemaking, bringing her to a high level of sexual arousal and then coming down just a little and then going back up again, doesn’t work for her. She wants it fast, quick, and over with. What can I do to help her understand that the practices of Tantra lovemaking may just be better than quick arousal and orgasm? I certainly think more sensual touching, eye gazing, and everything else that goes along with Tantra would be nice. ... 
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The Altered Consciousness Collection (Hofmann’s Potion, FLicKeR, Hippie Masala) box set of award-winning documentaries explores the frontiers of human consciousness and the iconic pioneers who opened the doors of perception. From early LSD research and hypnotic “dream machines” to the transformational powers of Eastern spirituality, The Altered Consciousness Collection reveals the sub-culture of enlightenment seekers who influenced a generation.   For Screenings, Public Performance... 
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The American Ruling Class is a morality tale set to music about two Yale students who seek their opportunities after graduation. Lewis Lapham, the renowned essayist, author and longtime Harper’s Magazine editor, conducts them through the corridors of power – Pentagon press briefings, the World Economic Forum, philanthropic foundations, Washington law firms, banks, the Council on Foreign Relations and New York society dinners. As they make their way, the real-life luminaries they meet become... 
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Albert Maysles and his brother David (who died in 1987), who are best known for such films as Salesman, Grey Gardens, Gimme Shelter and other landmark documentaries, began filming THE GATES in 1979, when internationally acclaimed artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude began actively pushing their installation project forward with Albert Maysles and his brother David (who died in 1987), who are best known for such films as Salesman, Grey Gardens, Gimme Shelter and other landmark documentaries, began filming... 
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In Honor of Albert Hofmann Albert Hofmann passed away Tuesday April 29th at his hilltop home near Basel, Switzerland at the age of 102. He discovered lysergic acid diethylamide, popularly known as LSD, in a Swiss lab in 1938. The New York Times writes: Dr. Hofmann first synthesized the compound lysergic acid diethylamide in 1938 but did not discover its psychopharmacological effects until five years later, when he accidentally ingested the substance that became known to the 1960s counterculture... 
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It’s been a busy last two weeks here at Alive between attending MIP TV in France and launching our latest releases. Our prez, Richard Lorber and I are back from Cannes after attending the International Programming Market. Twice a year, broadcasters, distributors and producers from around the world converge on the Riviera for a week of non stop meetings. We met with old friends, made new ones, and arrived home with a suitcase full of screeners. Protagonist is now available for pre order. We are... 
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Hello Alive Mind Friends, Spring is in the air and March madness is upon us. To celebrate the arrival of spring, we are offering special discounts on many of our titles, which you can read about below as well as other exciting news and events. Along with the thaw in the air, we welcome our new Alive Mind contributor Mike Jahn. He writes on diverse topics, from Jim Morrison to Sarah Palin and everything in between with the irreverence you would expect from the former rock critic of The New York Times.... 
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Dear Karinna, My boyfriend and I started out as a passionate couple. Now that he’s “committed” to me and monogamous he has no attraction sexually. He calls it the madonna-whore complex. We have a fantastic life together otherwise. But I cannot go on much longer without the sexual intimacy (we do cuddle, hold each other and kiss often). I dream of taking a lover but don’t want to jeopardize this great love. He’s in therapy but nothing has changed. Got any suggestions? K Dear... 
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Inspirational Film Offered in Homes and on Mobile in Nationwide Launch from Alive Mind at Fiercelight.MyFilmblog.com NEW YORK (MAY 4, 2009) - Beginning today, millions of people across the United States will be able to access the transformational documentary that captures the wave of Spiritual Activism exploding around the planet, and the powerful personalities who are igniting it on Video On Demand (VOD). Not yet available on DVD, Fierce Light is now accessible to viewers from the comfort of their... 
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Alive Mind and the National Arts Club are pleased to invite you to a special screening of Lewis Lapham’s acclaimed “dramatic-documentary-musical” The American Ruling Class. EVENT DETAILS HOSTS The National Arts Club & Alive Mind DATE & TIME Thursday, December 4th, 2008 at 7:45pm LOCATION National Arts Club 15 Gramercy Park South, (at 20th Street) New York, NY EVENT SCHEDULE 89 minute Film followed by an Open Bar Reception SEATING FOR NON ARTS CLUB MEMBERS IS LIMITED SO... 
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Dear Karinna, Is it just me, or do you think it’s insensitive for a guy not to call you the next day after he’s slept with you? I know that once you’re past your twenties things change, but am I being too sensitive? It’s a vulnerable thing to sleep with someone and I know there are no guarantees in life, but it’s more of a comfort to have him call just to say hi for 5 minutes or so. Is that too much to ask? I’m starting to really be turned off by men. Men and women... 
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We are pleased to announce that Antonio Ferrera and Albert Maysles’ documentary about Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s The Gates has been accepted to the Sarasota Film Festival. If you are in the area be sure to see this special screening before the film becomes readily available! EVENT DETAILS HOST Sarasota Film Festival DATE & TIME Friday, March 27, 2009 @ TBA LOCATION Sarasota Film Festival Sarasota, FL   To view a full list of screenings at the Sarasota Film Festival... 
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In a wooded glade somewhere near San Francisco, The Workshop challenges the rules of modern society by pushing all boundaries of normal convention - especially the sexual ones! A group of people agree to take part in a 10-day ‘workshop’ led by spiritual leader Paul Lowe in their search for a higher personal truth. On day one they are told to introduce themselves and meet everyone else - completely naked! Searing emotional honesty, full nudity, experiments and sexuality and the exorcising... 
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Filmmaker John Walter artfully captures Meryl Streep groping for – and then seizing –  the character in her unforgettable portrayal of Mother Courage in Tony Kushner’s adaptation of the Bertold Brecht masterpiece Mother Courage and Her Children, which was presented by The Public Theater/NY Shakespeare Festival in Central Park in the summer of 2006. As Manohla Dargis in the Times observed, “filmmaker John Walter jumps from art to history and politics and back again, from the theater of the... 
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March 5, 2009 Alive Mind has acquired the U.S. theatrical, public performance and home video rights to the acclaimed documentary THEATER OF WAR, directed by John Walter (How to Draw a Bunny – Winner, Special Jury Prize, Sundance Film Festival). Featuring Meryl Streep as the unforgettable Mother Courage, this 2008 documentary was based on the New York Shakespeare Festival production of Bertolt Brecht’s “Mother Courage and Her Children” in Central Park. THEATER OF WAR displays yet another... 
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What moves young, educated people to give up lives of material security for a spiritual quest that confronts uncertainty? Filmed in the gorgeous countryside and ancient cities of India and Turkey, Through the Eastern Gate is a compelling documentary following the journeys of three young people who have turned their backs on the material comforts and distractions of the West to find meaning in the spiritual philosophies of the East. Sister Yeshe Chodron’s journey leads her from Australia to... 
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Death is real, it comes without warning and it cannot be escaped. An ancient source of strength and guidance, The Tibetan Book of the Dead remains an essential teaching originating in the spiritual cultures of the Himalayas. Narrated by Leonard Cohen, this enlightening two-part series explores the sacred text and boldly visualizes the afterlife according to its profound wisdom. Part 1: A Way of Life reveals the history of The Tibetan Book of the Dead and examines its traditional use in northern India,... 
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Dear Karinna, I really love making love with my husband. I give him oral sex according to his needs and sometimes I even do more than what he expects. Afterwards he is astonished and feels happy about it. But when it comes to my turn for oral sex, I guess he feels a little out of place and just does it for the sake of doing it. Sometimes I will expect something good from him, but it turns out to be nothing. I don’t want to make the matter a big issue, so I just ask him to stop or won’t... 
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Dear Karinna, I’ve always been very selective with the partners I’ve had in my life and really have experienced the best sex that transports you to that Zen state, but I was wondering if a relationship ever be too sexually charged– too intense? After my husband of 14 years lost his battle with cancer I found myself single at age 38 and without a partner for several years after that during my healing journey. When I finally took a new lover we had such intense chemistry that it... 
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Are you craving romance, sexual passion, and youthful frolic in your relationship this year? Then for Valentine’s why not try bringing in a third party participant into your relationship. I am really serious. I suggest a full time live in whose mere presence could arouse you and your lover to act out your unspoken passions and desires at any time day or night. Yes, this third party should be handsome, flirtatious, playful, open minded, and romantic. The works! However I wouldn’t suggest just... 
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Rating: 3 out of 4 Stars - Recommended! Brion Gysin (1916-1986)—painter, writer, performance artist, and countercultural guru—is hardly a household name, but Nik Sheehan’s documentary clearly demonstrates that Gysin was influential on some better-known authors, musicians, and filmmakers. FLicKeR opens with a conventional biographical sketch that is primarily dependent on photographic stills and overlaid narration, but fairly quickly expands to incorporate a collage of newly-filmed interviews... 
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Rating: 3 out of 4 Stars - Recommended! Directors Mironel de Wilde and Julien L. Balmer’s Through the Eastern Gate profiles three young Westerners who chucked it all for spiritual enlightenment in India and Turkey. According to Sister Yeshe Chodron, “Everything you want, you’ll find in India. It’s a place of extremes: heaven and hell.” At 17, the Australian Yeshe became a Buddhist nun, while Californian Aziz Abbatiello found his calling as a Sufi semazen or whirling dervish, and Finlander... 
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The big news at Alive Mind this week is our upcoming releases… I know I’ve been hinting at what is in our pipeline and I am proud to announce that this spring we will be releasing Living Goddess, in addition to Academy Award winning director Jessica Yu’s Protagonist. Sajani Shakya made international headlines earlier this month when at the ripe age of 11 she retired from her privileged position of Kumari, one of three living goddesses in Nepal; a Kumari is a pre pubescent girl... 
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Sex is everywhere and yet it is taboo; images beckon and taunt yet leave the voyeur dissatisfied. At “Sex Tête” (the French word means head, seat of intellect and mental faculties) you will discover films and writings that explore how the sensual and erotic connect with the spirit and intellect through sex. At Alive Mind we are committed to providing intelligent and provocative films, essays, and advice about sex that stimulate on many levels. From Jamie Morgan’s controversial documentary... 
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Dear Karinna, I am starting to wonder if there is something wrong with me. My boyfriend penetrates me for hours and I beg him to come so he will stop. He seems to be totally in control of when he comes and he doesn’t like to do it until we have been at it for a long time. Sometimes it hurts me and I never have a vaginal orgasm. He tells me how beautiful I am and then tells me how much he thinks I want him– but I actually don’t want him. Lately he has tried to finger me and... 
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Karinna Karsten Kittles, better known as The Love Educator, is the author of Intimate Wisdom and the producer of the companion DVD, which Alive Mind will be exclusively releasing in early November. We are particularly pleased that Karinna will be posting excerpts from her book and answering readers’ questions regarding sex, intimacy and the sacred here at Sex Tete. This month she is also featured in Cosmo, offering her insights as an intimacy expert. Below is a post from her book and if you click... 
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Who Is Harry Nilsson…?, a wildly entertaining, star-studded documentary tells the story of one of the most talented and versatile singer-songwriters in pop music history and the man The Beatles dubbed their favorite American musician. The Grammy® Award-winners “Everybody’s Talkin” and “Without You”…the quirky “Coconut” (”Put de lime in de coconut…”)…the whimsical “Me And My Arrow,” and the poignant “One” (”…is... 
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Missed this summer’s smash performance of HAIR: The Musical in Central Park? Alive Mind and Bottlerocket Wine & Spirit are proud to present a special event in honor of the DVD release of the documentary film and the closing of the critically acclaimed performance of the legendary musical in Central Park. The wine tasting event is free of charge and begins at 6 pm, Wednesday September 17th. Bottlerocket and Alive Mind welcome filmmaker Pola Rapaport and past friends of HAIR for a discussion... 
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