ONE is not a movie. ONE holds magic, woven by the love of all those who crossed the filmmakers path: the spiritual leaders, thinkers, and ordinary folks who opened themselves to the 20 Big Questions; the technical professionals who helped create the movie out of love for its important message; the people in the theater who stuck around in the lobby when the movie was over to share what was in their hearts. You can't judge this movie by its production quality. You have to see it through eyes of love to recognize the seed it is dropping into our collective soul. Many people I've spoken with enjoyed the movie more the more times they saw it, because the layers of meaning began to unfold; the message behind the movie became more apparent. The message is much bigger than the filmmakers know themselves. There is a divine spark in ONE that manages to come through the screen despite its flaws.

Here's a small film which is heart-felt and earnest, driven by pure motives to try to unite a divided nation and calm our fears and bedraggled nerves. So why am I about to rain on its parade?As much as I respect the film and the attempts of the filmmakers, I must say I quickly became bored by the constant "golly-gee-whiz" factor of the filmmakers' incessant reminder that this is their first film - they're not professional filmmakers - but this is their first film - but they never made a film before - so they bought a camera and made their first film. How about that?!Their access to high places in the world of religious thinkers is impressive. Unfortunately, the film is so heavily edited that these great thinkers only get to deliver sound bites; we don't get to hear a lot of reasoning behind the comment or the verbal pathway of thinking which brought the talker to this particular comment. Heavy philosophical questions cannot be answered in 20-second segments - even if you do string several such segments together.The final groaner for me was the character (who comes to symbolize "any thinking person") as he takes a cliché-ridden journey to enlightenment.I went to this film with another person who agreed with my complaints, and yet she was quite moved by this film and would recommend it to anyone. My recommendation is not as glowing. If you liked WHAT THE BLEEP, there's a 60/40 chance you'll enjoy ONE. But turn off that little film critic inside your head first.

My awareness changed after seeing this film the first time. And how often can you say that about a movie?! The messages from these wise men and women resonates with you long after leaving the theater, and you are much more inclined to truly live in the moment, just for the quest to feel the "oneness" our lives represent. "We do not know why my reality intersected with your reality, but that is the meaning of life." That is where we know our purpose. Additionally, the "interfaith" reactions and dialogues are burgeoning in my community as a result of this film. The labels and walls of differences must be rendered passé as we attempt to move on to a state of oneness. Go see it, and listen.

Both the film and the story of how the film came to be will forever affect your perception of the human experience and who you are. I'm betting this film will organically become one of the most popular and important contributions to the evolution of peaceful wisdom amongst all cultures and belief systems, worldwide.It's more than a film, it's an experience. The audience laughed and clapped many times throughout, hanging on every word. Truly relative to any age or background. The first night Seattle premiere sold out in minutes, both showings, 600+ tickets, in the rain!If you want to understand how *you* affect the world, you must have this experience. You will never see this truth and wisdom in commercial productions of film or television.Get your local Indie supporting cinemas to show this film and you're community will forever be changed, for the better! I promise.