There seem to be two distinct reactions to Neale David Walsch.
     The first is to embrace his message and perhaps move to a different or enhanced path in life. The second is outright cynicism or rejection.
     I put this down to the emotional weight of the word ‘God’. Walsch is not afraid to use the G word.
     No-one can ignore the fact of his bestselling series Conversations With God over the last ten years. Aggressive marketing has made many people wary.
     My first reaction was “Why does God talk with him and not me?” In this film you will find out that God does indeed talk to Walsch, and with me and you too – but are we listening?
     It was never an easy career change for journalist and broadcaster Walsch. The film charts what happened at the lowest point in his life when he had lost everything and was living on the streets in Oregon – well a camping area actually – with a broken neck.
     There are frequent segues from the skid row days to his current popularity as a writer and speaker. The viewer will meet some of the remarkable people from whom he learned valuable life lessons.
     I was prepared to view a hagiography (a worshipful or idealising biography) of Walsch, but the cast were powerful enough to make this an extremely watchable movie, that encapsulated the main principles of Conversations.
     Henry Czerny (Mission Impossible, Clear & Present Danger, The Pink Panther, Ice Storm) plays Walsch with an understated intensity that kept me glued to the screen. His wonderful assistant/muse Leora Garcia is played ably by Vilma Silva.
     Some of the star quotes from the book feature in the film and will bring a tear to the eye of seekers. “Call on Me, I will be there, I am always there.” “We are one.” My particular favourite for sticky situations is, “What would Love do now?”
     The feeling/emotional level becomes very strong in the latter half of the film and I recommend viewers have a hanky nearby. Negative reactions are not ignored, and there are scenes where Walsch is heckled from audience members and at book signings.
     Readers and viewers both will notice that Walsch expresses a spiritual view that owes much to the Perennial Philosophy of most major spiritual development works. He is firmly based in the Western faith stream, but has aimed for a unification and expansion of current teachings to become relevant for the present time.
     The continuing emphasis is on the self and every person’s ability to be in touch with their inner or higher self, i.e., God.
     This leads to an ‘as above, so below’ situation and his works definitely provoke a personal alchemical transformation in those that are ready.
         Spiritual Circle Cinema presents quite a different style of movie from those that usually make it to the regular cinema or video store. They are inevitably thoughtful, meaningful and have the ability to reach beyond their medium. Conversations With God is one such.
        If you have questions about Neale Donald Walsch, watch this film. It may aid your decision to go further into his philosophy.
     I enjoyed this film and recommend it.