Darshan: The Embrace (2005) Darshan - L'étreinte (original title)

Director:

Jan Kounen

Writers:

Manuel De La Roche
Jan Kounen

Release Date:

30 November 2005 (France)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

Malayalam-speaking Mata Amritanandamayi was born near Kochi, Kerala, India and is one of the most well-known saintly persons of this millennium...

Cast

Mata Amritanandamayi Devi

...

Herself

Directed by
Jan Kounen

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Manuel De La Roche
Jan Kounen

Produced by
Soo-jun Bae	....	co-producer
Karl Baumgartner	....	co-producer
Raphael Berdugo	....	co-producer
Manuel De La Roche	....	producer
Tristan Frachon	....	producer
Jan Kounen	....	co-producer
Dileep Singh Rathore	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Jean-Jacques Hertz
François Roy

Cinematography by
Sebastien Pentecouteau

Film Editing by
Anny Danché

Production Management
Vans Pradeep Singh Rathore	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Laurence Guérault	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
Nicolas Becker	....	foley artist
Nicolas Becker	....	sound designer
Alain Féat	....	sound editor
Manuel Karakas	....	re-recording assistant
Laurent Lafran	....	sound recordist

Visual Effects by
Roxane Fechner	....	visual effects supervisor

Editorial Department
Ludovic Centonze	....	post-production
Nicolas Criqui	....	digital conformation
Mickael Dumontier	....	digital conformation
Frederic Jupin	....	lustre editor
Philippe Reinaudo	....	digital intermediate technical director
Clement Zveguintzoff	....	digital conformation

Other crew
Marine Meillan	....	production assistant
Vans Pradeep Singh Rathore	....	location manager

Thanks
Julien Lecat	....	thanks
Jean-Pierre Marois	....	special thanks
Gabriella Wright	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Les Productions de la Roche
• Tawak Pictures (co-production)
• arte France Cinéma (co-production)
• Roissy Films (co-production)
• Pegasos Film (co-production)
• Artist Film (co-production)
• Artist Film
• On the Road

Distributors

• Roissy Films (2005) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
• Océan Films (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• StudioCanal (2005) (France) (DVD)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2005-2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• IFC First Take (2006) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)

Other Companies

• Herold Studios  sound post-production

Also Known As:

"Darshan - L'étreinte" - France (original title)

Runtime:

106 min | Germany:96 min | USA:92 min

Country:

France | Germany | Japan

Language:

English | French | Malayalam

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:18 | Germany:o.Al. | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud)

Filming Locations:

France

Company:

Les Productions de la Roche

Eastern religion, as shot by Leni Riefenstahl

Darshan is a truly magnificent film, if only for the cinematography itself. It captures the masses, the festival, the obliteration of the individual in an out pouring of religious ecstasy in a way that rivals Riefenstahl's documentation of the pseudo-Catholic mass political rallies of the Nazis. The cinematographer has clearly taken a page out of Riefenstahl's book, showing the religious individual as a tiny speck in a sea of uniformly dressed humanity. The camera sweeps across the crowds, many amazing shots are taken from high above, showing the groups as one pulsating, living organism. Again, similar to Leni's work and in contrast to the long shots of the religious worshipers, the camera only zooms in on Amma's figure, showing many close ups and dwelling on her cherubic face, which often breaks into a smile. The visual language clearly communicates the psychology of this religious group, which is a huge achievement. Many religious documentaries are made without passion, meant somehow to conform with secular society. Darshan's creators passion for the material shines through every movement of the camera, which is oblivious to what outside world may think about huge crowds of uniformed people in religious communion with a saint who hugs people for a living. This film deserves more play.... I saw it on Sundance or IFC, so hopefully this can be seen by more people outside of religious scholars or Darshans followers.