October 2007

 Meta-Movie Matters

 with Jacqueline Marie

What’s a meta-movie? It’s a story, told on the silver screen, that embodies the true spirit of life, a movie with a vital message so convincingly portrayed it brings a ray of light to the viewer’s mind. A meta-movie remains in the heart, long after the screen goes dark.

It’s Time to Travel Across the Universe

As a summer season of dreadful new releases winds down, I wonder, has this year's celluloid onslaught of warfare and horror been reflecting a preoccupation with horror in our collective consciousness? If so, this new release offers relief from our mass malaise. “Across the Universe,” a remarkable new style of musical, shines like a needle of intravenous light in a haystack of Hollywood mediocrity. Inspired by its intriguing title and trailers, I traveled far to find it playing. Stepping out, after the movie’s unique finale, I felt its rays of redemption still surrounding me long after the screen dimmed. “Across the Universe” awakens the senses while it shifts perspective on reality itself. Merging and mingling the best of the Beatles with psychedelic imagery, this film revolutionizes the rules of movie musicals as much as that rock group originally shook up the music world.

I’ve long believed rock and roll offers more spiritual inspiration than many churches do. Still, "Across the Universe" cast of stage newcomers caught me off guard with their emotive “real life” renditions of Beatles tunes. Aptly portraying Beatlemania as an insistent back-beat of the Vietnam era brings home the music’s relevance with a perspective that is fresh and profound. Breaking away from stilted production formats, the story’s melodies and rhythms are engagingly interwoven into mundane settings, using novel down-to-earth instruments (even trash cans!) Bringing the genius of rock's greatest group to life in a new way, the wisdom of their lyrics is shown to be just as timely for the current Iraq era.

Experiencing “Across the Universe” not only gives its audience “new ears” to listen within, it awakens “new eyes” to see. Amazing illustrations of the central character’s “inner life” continually intermingle with actual events in his waking life. Richly inhabited by kaleidoscopic colors, vivid imagery and personal symbolism, this ongoing flow of on-screen "inner reality" gives the audience a cue to look within ourselves - beyond the mere world of physical perception - for the real meaning and value of our own life experience.

My best barometer of film as true art is the way I feel when I exit the theatre. I drove the hour home from “Across the Universe” in blissful silence, vividly reminded that "All We Need is Love." Whether Hollywood takes note, it’s got my Oscar! No meta-movie fan will want to miss this magic on the big screen. So, quickly seek it where you may - while it’s still available.

Footnote: Synchronistically, “Across the Universe” opened with a winter film preview stating “I believe in music the way that some people believe in fairy tales. The music is everywhere. You just have to listen." I'm off to pick up a copy of the soundtrack to play whenever I need another reminder.

Jacqueline Marie is a hypnoanalyst and master metaphysician. A pioneer in the holistic field, her works as a counselor, hypnotherapy trainer and teacher of practical spirituality span three decades. She is the author of Wake Up and Dream, a Wakeful Dreaming guide to personal and planetary transformation. For information on Wakeful Dreaming CDs, teleseminars and workshops, contact Jacqueline at inneruniverse@wi.rr.com.