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Short Cut to Nirvana: Kumbh Mela

2005

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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55

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	Your Score
7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Ratings

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Short Cut to Nirvana: Kumbh Mela

Movie Details & Credits

Release Date: January 14, 2005 | Unrated

Summary: This documentary examines the Kumbh Mela, the oldest, greatest, most fascinating festival on Earth.

Director: Maurizio Benazzo and Nick Day

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 85 min

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Metascore

Critic Reviews

75

San Francisco Chronicle

Carla Meyer

A snapshot of the festival, one that radiates good cheer and offers moments of true, godly goodness. Read full review

75

New York Post

V.A. Musetto

Reaches its climax on the main bathing day, with a throng of naked holy men leading the charge into the Ganges. You would be forgiven for thinking you're watching a hot July day at Coney Island. Read full review

70

Variety

Dennis Harvey

Casual, engaging documentary doesn't attempt a Hinduism 101 lesson, instead going for an impressionistic mix of on-the-fly spectacle and human interest. Read full review

60

L.A. Weekly

Ella Taylor

An amiable and colorful, if dewy-eyed, documentary. Read full review

60

Film Threat

Phil Hall

A beautifully crafted documentary. Read full review

60

The Hollywood Reporter

Kirk Honeycutt

As an introduction to this mind-spinning festival, the film gets the job done. Read full review

20

The A.V. Club

Scott Tobias

Inept. Read full review

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Mixed:

0

User Reviews

10

ShulyA.

Sep 21, 2005

Wonderful movie! I enjoyed it a lot! Great footage and soundtrack!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

10

susanb.

Sep 20, 2005

A rare kind of film. Spiritual but not preaching. Loved that the camera was not judging. I felt as I was there, surrounded by that mass of blissfull humanity without any fear. A gem! Sue B

0 of 0 users found this helpful

10

roxys.

Sep 21, 2005

A trip to india for the price of a movie ticket!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

10

KarenZ

Sep 21, 2005

A glimpse into the biggest spiritual gathering on Earth in terms of numbers of participants. I came to the film as an eggheady Christian looking for common ground with other spiritual corners of the globe. Shortcut to Nirvana is a superb vehicle for such connection. As others have stated, A glimpse into the biggest spiritual gathering on Earth in terms of numbers of participants. I came to the film as an eggheady Christian looking for common ground with other spiritual corners of the globe. Shortcut to Nirvana is a superb vehicle for such connection. As others have stated, Kumbh Mela is too vast a festival to be crammed into a nutshell, and the filmmakers have not tried to do so. What they give us is a warm, enthusiastic overview of a event that moves a wide variety of people to community and vitality in their quest for godly energy. For a westerner, it is indeed moving and encouraging to see Hindus of widely differing practices, as well as the Dalai Lama, peacefully embracing each other's humanity and expressing their faith.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

10

shulya.

Sep 27, 2005

BeautifuL and colorful. Great sound track. After watching it for the 3rd time I can say it only gets better! Makes you wanna go there and experiance it yourself!!!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

10

AndreaS.

Sep 21, 2005

"Short Cut to Nirvana", the movie, is extremely informative yet with good sense of humor. I felt touched and inspired by its magnitude and simplicity.(...) Thank Maurizio and Nick for this remarkable experience! The message stays with you! Peace for all!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

10

LuM

Sep 29, 2005

The film takes us on a journey that neither we nor the flimmakers could have planned for or anticipated. This is the beauty of the Kumbh Mela. After seeing this movie (several times) I would love to experience my own adventure at the next Kumbh Mela. Watch the movie now and you still have a The film takes us on a journey that neither we nor the flimmakers could have planned for or anticipated. This is the beauty of the Kumbh Mela. After seeing this movie (several times) I would love to experience my own adventure at the next Kumbh Mela. Watch the movie now and you still have a few years to plan your own visit!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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