Meetings with Remarkable Men

Meetings with Remarkable Men is a unique and soul-stirring exploration of spirituality and self-discovery. Directed by Peter Brook, and starring Dragan Maksimovic, Terence Stamp, and Mikica Dimitrijevic, this 1979 film is based on the semi-autobiographical book of the same title by George Gurdjieff, the Russian philosopher and mystic. This movie invites audiences to contemplate the mysteries of life, wholeness, and spiritual growth.

Set against the backdrop of early 20th century Central Asia and the Middle East, the protagonist, George Gurdjieff, is played by Dragan Maksimovic. Gurdjieff is introduced as a sincere seeker of truth with an insatiable thirst for knowledge about the meaning and purpose of life. His life's journey unfolds organically and cryptically, leading him deeper into uncharted territories of philosophical and spiritual enlightenment.

The movie begins with Gurdjieff's childhood and his first startling realization of the death's finality. The young Gurdjieff’s encounters with death incite his spiritual quest and set the stage for his later pursuit of life's fundamental truths.

His spiritual thirst grows with him and propels him to set out on an intensive quest across Central Asia and the Middle East in search of wisdom and truth. We see him constantly questioning, eager to learn, and restless until he finds answers to his profound inquiries about life, death, and everything in between.

Terence Stamp, notable for his powerful performances, plays Prince Lubovedsky, a man disillusioned with conventional religion yet deeply spiritual. Lubovedsky's character is vital as he significantly influences Gurdjieff’s spiritual journey. Stamp's portrayal of the tormented prince yearning for spiritual fulfillment is both moving and ultra-realistic, indicating the depth of his acting prowess.

Mikica Dimitrijevic plays Father Borsh, a character, who despite his brief appearance, imparts significant wisdom to Gurdjieff. Dimitrijevic’s compelling performance shows a man whose spirituality is not based on blind belief but derives from a genuine understanding of life and its delicate intricacies.

The 'remarkable men' in the film's title are the characters that Gurdjieff encounters in his travels, each offering a unique perspective or teaching that contributes to his forming philosophy. They are monks, dervishes, mendicants, and regular people who possess extraordinary knowledge or insights. Their teachings and viewpoints significantly influence Gurdjieff’s perspective about life and his spiritual path.

On a technical front, Meetings with Remarkable Men showcases excellent cinematography that captures the haunting beauty and stark landscapes of Central Asia and the Middle East. The vast expanse of the desert, the unforgiving heights of the mountains, and the tranquility of the monasteries beautifully reflect Gurdjieff's spiritual journey - solitary, arduous, and enlightening. The musical score by Laurence Rosenthal is harmonious and contemplative, perfectly accompanying the film's esoteric theme.

Gurdjieff's studies, his teachings, and his influence are well-represented in the film. One learns of his pioneering 'Fourth Way,' a philosophy that he culminated from his travels and learning from the east. The film beautifully demonstrates his teachings, focusing on self-observation, self-remembering, and the concept of an evolving consciousness. It proposes that humans are not complete but rather are capable of evolving and attaining a higher consciousness.

This film is not your typical engaging drama or action-packed adventure. It is a slow, deliberate look into the intricacies of one man's search for spiritual understanding. It is less about the destination and more about the journey, asking deep philosophical questions along the way about life, mortality, consciousness, and the quest for enlightenment.

For anyone interested in spirituality, philosophy, or the exploration of consciousness, Meetings with Remarkable Men is undoubtedly a film to watch. It is a film where every scene, conversation, and even silence is filled with nuance. Above all, it invites viewers to engage in their introspection, to question the assumptions they hold, and to embark on their spiritual journey. It reminds viewers of the important lesson that the voyage to discover life's meaning is as essential as the destination itself. One may not find all the answers in the end, but the quest itself is worth the journey.