Short Cut to Nirvana: Kumbh Mela (2004)
Average Rating: 6.3/10
Reviews Counted: 33
Fresh: 24 | Rotten: 9
Short on depth but amazingly insightful, this glimpse into one of the world's largest spritual gatherings is worth viewing for the eye-opening experience alone.
Average Rating: 6.3/10
Critic Reviews: 13
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 4
Short on depth but amazingly insightful, this glimpse into one of the world's largest spritual gatherings is worth viewing for the eye-opening experience alone.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 603
My Rating
Movie Info
For over two millennia pilgrims and gurus from across the globe have been coming together every twelve years to attend the Kumbh Mela - a celebration that is widely considered to be the largest gathering of humanity on the planet. Though the Kumbh Mela has been shrouded in mystery in the eyes of western civilization, the secrets of this rapturous gathering are now revealed as cameras take a look into the very heart of the festival and speak with those in attendance about what the Kumbh Mela
Watch It Now
ADVERTISEMENT
All Critics (37) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (24) | Rotten (9) | DVD (2)
Unless you're utterly fascinated by the minutiae of Hinduism, you may find yourself wishing for more story to this story -- and this film does not oblige.
Top CriticToo scattershot to make a real point about the true nature of a spiritual path.
A documentary chronicle of the 2001 Kumbh Mela, a sort of spiritual Woodstock held every 12 years near Allahabad, India.
Mostly, Benazzo and Day leave us alone to take in the extraordinary sights and sounds.
While this documentary about a religious pilgrimage in India feels haphazard and superficial, the glimpses it offers are never less than fascinating.
The directors and subjects evince enough contagious ecstasy to gladden the most angst-ridden Western hearts.
As entertaining as it is illuminating.
Less a sober examination of this huge event than an impressionistic swirl of images and sounds (and, if you use your imagination, smells).
Highly recommended for anyone in search of a different answer to universal questions of faith and hope.
Instead of being pilgrims ourselves, we feel like we're sightseers who stopped by on the tour bus to gawk at the locals, take a few pictures, and then hop back on.
The film gives an amazing feel for the complexity and diversity of such a massive event.
Short Cut to Nirvana is a swirl of color, an exotic procession of sights and sounds.
Sacred subject matter notwithstanding, Maurizio Benazzo and Nick Day's entertaining film is a surprising spiritual cousin to the so-called 'mondo' movies of the '60s and '70s.
An engrossing documentary that vividly presents the variety and vitality of Hindu devotion.
Benazzo and Day can only scratch a monumental, perhaps impossible, surface, but their effort is a worthy introduction to what is more than a single life's task.
A remarkable and enlightening (although perhaps not to the point of nirvana itself) film.
Audience Reviews for Short Cut to Nirvana: Kumbh Mela
I felt touched and inspired by its magnitude and simplicity.
It shows 70 million people united for the sake of goodness, for peace and universal love.
The H. H. Dalai Lama appearance, his charisma, and his message of tolerance are deep and relevant.
It made me want to go to the next Kumbh Mela and experience more of it!
Thank Maurizio and Nick for this remarkable experience!
The message stays with you!
Peace for all!
Discussion Forum
There are no discussion threads for Short Cut to Nirvana: Kumbh Mela yet.
What's Hot On RT
New trailer big on drama & action
Trailer for pot smuggling comedy
Fast & Furious cars gallery
Blockbusters ranked!
Featured on RT
- Weekly Ketchup: Fox and Marvel Both Courting Quicksilver for Comic Blockbusters 44
- Video Interviews with Ethan Hawke & Julie Delpy of Before Midnight 1
- Critics Consensus: Fast & Furious 6 is Certified Fresh 63
- Red Carpet Photos with Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Gina Carano and More 0
- Video: The Hangover Part III Cast Interviews 1
- Total Recall: Bradley Cooper's Best Movies 52
- Parental Guidance: Epic and Beautiful Creatures 2
Top Headlines
-
Evan Peters Joins X-Men: Days of Future Past
0
-
Toby Jones Talks Captain America: The Winter Soldier
1
-
The Poltergeist Reboot May Actually Be a Sequel
19
-
Will Forte Promises MacGruber 2
6
-
Universal Plans Timecop Reboot
2
-
Return of the Jedi Turns 30
3
-
Vin Diesel Says Fast & Furious 7 Will Take Place in L.A.
0
Fresh Links
Featured
Star Trek Movies Ranked
HitFix offers their own take on the worst-to-best of the Enterprise crew's cinematic adventures.
Top 10 Star Trek Villains
Rolling Stone unveils the Enterprise's most irksome adversaries.
Celebrity Yearkbook Flashback
We'll bet you never realized how many stars were cheerleaders and high school athletes!
50 Most Classic Movie Moms
In celebration of Mother's Day, TimeOut offers up 50 iconic matriarchs from the big screen.
Weirdest Movie Siblings
From Twins to The Royal Tenenbaums, Moviefone explores cinema's oddest siblings.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter!
Spice up your feed with hourly Tomatometer updates!
