FIERCE LIGHT (Velcrow Ripper, Canada). 97 minutes. Subtitled. Friday (May 8), 7:30 pm, Royal Sunday (May 10), 4:15 pm, Cumberland 3. Rating: NN
Velcrow Ripper captures some of the most brilliant activists in the world – including Thich Nhat Hanh, Desmond Tutu, Alice Walker and Canada’s own Judy Rebick – but he still can’t get a decent film out of it.
[rssbreak]
His idea, a good one that’s catching on worldwide, is that political action needs to be combined with spiritual awareness to bring about meaningful change. His talking heads speak against the backdrop of a demonstration in Los Angeles to rescue a public garden from developers.
But Ripper never makes much of his thesis, and foolishly inserts himself into the action in ways that make it obvious he’s in way over his head.
Very disappointing.
