Unity

This is a long documentary weaving together a picture of life on earth, how it has evolved, what are its characteristics and what it means for how we should relate to each other and to the environment.

The film strings together what must be hundreds of voices – some famous, some not so – and hundreds more of video clips, a lot of which seem to be found materials, and some maybe specially produced for the film. What emerges is a audio-vidual tapestry of life in the universe.

It is divided into five chapters: I. Cosmic (looking at the evolution of the universe); II. Mind (which shows the arising of consciousness); III. Body (all things feel pleasure and suffering); IV. Heart (the need for compassion); V. Soul (the relatedness of all things).

It therefore shows the interconnectedness of all things, and how that should give rise to compassion. It is because of a kind of false view that we see everything as separated and divided, which then leads to so many conflicts, both within our species, and between species, and also with the environment from which we emerge.

Some of the clips are hard to watch as it doesn’t shy away from showing some of the violent ways we behave in. The opening and closing scenes are particularly hard to watch, but please try and stay with it, as it has an important message which is very much needed right now.

Because of its orientation the film is explicitly anti-war, anti-racism and sexism and against the divisiveness of religion and politics as they are currently practiced.