mike dewey Yes, I have read some of the reviews of this docu-fest and some seem to try to make more out of this movie than they need to. The late '60's was a remarkably joyous time for me and millions of other quasi-hippies: people filled with idealistic dreams of a peaceful, environmentally sound world where we shared the wealth (and our pot!) with our brothers and sisters and disdained the corporate ladder syndrome and all its trappings! This movie is a microcosm of what was going on in '69, good or bad. Esalen was trying to do its own thing to try to help people make sense of the world and happened to throw a nice party by inviting the likes of Joni Collins, Joan Baez, Crosby, Stills, Nash etc., the Combs Sisters, et al to perform. What ensues is somewhat less than spectacular camera work and some disjointed editing, but hey, it's a concert and all kinds of things are happening here that happen at 3-4 day gigs like this. This crew wasn't going for Academy Awards: they wanted to capture the festival not only in all its glory, but also in its shortcomings and inconsistencies.You see average Joe hippies ramble on at the mouth when interviewed, smoke pot, drink wine, frolic about in hot water spas and so on and so forth: much like any number of concerts in that era, whether in Denver/Boulder, Taos, Mt. Shasta, Vermont, etc. In my humble opinion, this particular concert film was a real delight. Crosby, Stills,etc. jamming on "Down by the River", uncut and turned loose was awesome; Joan Baez's endearing ballads with her wistfully vibrato vocal renderings were sheer delight. Other acts as well (like Joni Mitchell) were also a joy to watch.But the "creme de la creme" of the whole shindig was the glorious, climactic rendition of "Oh Happy Day". The initial collaboration between Joan Baez and the Combs Sisters group ultimately extended to every musician in the house getting onto the stage for one of the most naturally rousing and spiritually uplifting live performance I have ever seen. Everyone in a 3 mile radius seemed to be lifting up his/her voice to the gospel strains of this most joyous hymn. It was an admixture of all sorts of people and races: Carefully coiffed urban Soul Sisters; long-haired hippies, folk singers and whatever from rural and communal enclaves; straight-type promoters, producers, etc. from the business world. The spontaneous and uplifting music totally united this diverse and energetic group, kind of reminiscent of Ravi Shankar at Monterey in '67. For a short time, at least, peace was amongst us.

sqeztite This movie to me was an eye opener. It bares all. Sure Steve Stills was an established name in music by this time, but he is human too. The camera kept on rolling showed it. There are things in my life caught on camera I wish never happened too.Personally, I love was the magical white guitar Still was playing. It had this vague image of a bird on the pick guard. The sound it was making was so different! The musics: What a gathering of folk rockers. It showed what they did off stage too. Crosby group chanting in a swimming pool. Stills guitar playing by a campfire, and stars going through a cafeteria line.This movie is a glimpse in the lives of musicians in the brief time before the mass produced concerts of today. It catches the earthy feel of that time. Music was the event, not showmanship. Folkie, rockers, and gospel singers all playing separately and together. I recommend it to any music lover.Rich, NW Louisiana

Baird Bryant This is the film to see if you want to open a time capsule of the sixties in California. Although it has been knocked on film quality, it doesn't matter because the viewer finds themselves transported to an event overflowing with love and beauty. Yes, arguments and fisticuffs were a minor distraction, but the wish for a better life generated ed by the crowd created a bubble of light that repelled negativity like a force-field. The sense of being there is unparalleled. The film can be appreciated even more today witness the reactions to a recent screening at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. This is one of a kind in documenting the positive aspects of the counter-culture movement.

John Seal The music isn't exactly my bag, but there's no denying the historical interest of this low budget film about a low budget festival that took place in 1969 at the Esalen Institute, one of the premier psychobabble headquarters of the day. If you enjoy footage of folks flying their freak flag high, this is for you. Fans of folk music will be in heaven, but others will find the sounds pretty thin gruel--and sometimes, especially in the case of Joni Mitchell's caterwauling, the musical equivalent of a high colonic. Neil Young looks and sounds cool, especially on an organ-heavy number early in the film, and the Edwin Hawkins Singers are excellent. The film has a grittiness that sets it apart from Woodstock, and the small nature of the crowd--and the fact that the 'stage' is one side of a swimming pool--make this a valuable record of what seems to have been a genuine communal experience.