Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

This is a wonderful documentary that not only reveals the differences between the western and eastern medicines, but the mentality, spirit and wisdom rooted in ancients sciences versus the modern, instant gratifying, mechanistic paradigm. Being myself a nurse for more than decade with European and North American experiences, this movie helped me to realize, how barbaric the western medical science can be. Both sides are represented in the movie and the explanations and reasonings are accurate and relevant. I'm actually surprised to see some of the practices revealed in such an open and detailed way. Of course, Ayurveda is not a secret science, but I had the feeling that I'm being initiated into something sacred and very precious. This movie is highly recommended for everyone interested in alternative medicines, devotees of the Indian culture and spirituality and for those who are looking for greater Truth in life.

The film is a subtle gem -it invites you to discover nature and human nature with poetic images of ancient healing system known as AYURVEDA.I was curious when the film was running in cinema halls for more then a year in Spain; Then I could not hold back when I learnt that AYURVEDA completed record-breaking 20 month long continuous run in one cinema hall in Paris and while write this in September 2006 it still continues to play there...Thus when I had opportunity in Canada I rushed to see AYURVEDA.The film is very simple road movie, has no narration and shows straight forward encounter with healers/doctors/people across India, Greece & USA. The music, original score by Cyril Morin, is soothing and relaxing.The film is an eye-opener to health in general but also makes you think about the health of earth, water, fire, air... and the universe. Its all linked. What you pollute outside manifests inside your body and mind.Do not miss this film and try and see it in Cinema hall if you can -it has a meditative quality about it.Congratulation to the team behind AYURVEDA: ART OF BEING. We NEED more movies like that to make a world better place to live and let live.

the film much like the alleged cures and treatments in the film is overall on the good side so long as you don't think too hard about any of it. i caught this film the other day while barely coming out of sleep and it's soothing tone was quite nice. but like the medicine in the film, all it does is soothe. When watched through the eyes of the western paradigm of skepticism the medicine in the film is obviously full of holes. The one medicine man in the film seems to have one miracle "cure all" root that he gives out to anybody regardless of what their condition is, and there is never any regard to how well it works, if at all. The tragedy is that if there were any medicinal qualities in any of these techniques and roots and herbs, there's little if any follow up to determine whether they work or not. The movie also makes the quiet assertion that western empirical medicine is a failure, which is quite backwards given the statistics on longevity in India vs The US. Of course all this doesn't say much about the movie which is quite harmless if viewed by a skeptical mind but can be considered dangerous by those easily fooled by the atavistic promises of charlatans. The film does work at getting a good look at how people live and die in the third world and as i said can be a somewhat peaceable film to watch in light of that. One point that i believe was lost in the film but could have been explored is how and why doctors in the west have such fallen status? One revered as healers, the modern doctor is usually regarded with fear more than anything else. IS fear the price we pay for knowledge and practical results??????

Being a fan of this unique Indian filmmaker, I could not ignore Ayurveda. I watched it twice in theaters and later at home on DVD. One of the most inspiring and thought provoking work. When the world was hit with recent Tsunami waves this film predicted it. How we are being taken away and further away from nature.I am struck by its simplicity, we travel, meet people, they talk, they do their things and we watch. No added narration or no attempt to make an 'auteur' work. It is this simplicity and soothing sensation makes us feel good. When I stepped out in the streets of New York, I said wow? what have we become? do not miss it.