Phie Ambo presents
Free the Mind North American Premiere May 2 Hot Docs Film Festival
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Interviews completed: Online
Huffington Post Interviewed: Richard Davidson
Wisdom Through Mindfulness Interviewed: Richard Davidson and Phie Ambo Toronto Is Awesome Interviewed: Richard Davidson and Phie Ambo Mindfulness Meditation Toronto Interviewed: Richard Davidson and Phie Ambo
Toronto Star Interviewed: Richard Davidson
Documentary shows meditation helps with ADHD and PTSD Barbara Turnbull
http://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2013/06/05/documentary_shows_meditation_helps_with _adhd_and_ptsd.html
A young boy is plagued by anxiety and ADHD and two soldiers suffer stress disorders after going to war. What binds the three — and ultimately frees them — is mindfulness meditation. The trio is followed in Free The Mind: Can You Rewire The Brain Just By Taking A Breath?, a documentary that follows the work of University of Wisconsin psychology professor Richard Davidson on children with ADHD and veterans with PTSD. It opens June 7 at The Bloor Cinema. With his study of “contemplative neuroscience,” Davidson is trying to understand how the brain regulates emotions. His work helping prove the plasticity of our complex brains won him a place on Time’s 100 most influential people list in 2006. And last year his book The Emotional Life of Your Brain was a New York Times bestseller. The attention brought money to expand his research, he says. “There are probably 15 different projects going on in my lab relating to understanding how different kinds of meditation affect us, change our behaviour, change the brain and body,” he says. His personal experience primed him for the research. Davidson says he was a “closet meditator” until he met the Dalai Lama in 1992, who challenged him to use the ancient meditative tools to solve modern medical problems. “I made a commitment to him on that day that I was going to step out of the closet and really pursue this in a very deliberate way, do everything I could to put compassion and kindness squarely on the scientific map,” Davidson says. The work at Davidson’s lab attracted filmmaker Phie Ambo, who treated her own panic attacks with meditation, rather than medication.
The film shows children and veterans learning to pay attention to their thoughts and emotions, focusing on breathing, with a goal of calming the mind and central nervous system without medication. Courses called Mindfulness-‐Based Stress Reduction, teach the technique and are available in many teaching hospitals and other centres in Ontario. Classes are eight to 10 weeks long, with cost depending on location. Public programs have long wait lists, but may only cost $50 for materials. Some private programs charge in the hundreds. Mindfulness has helped people experiencing stress from different situations, whether it’s employment, relationships, ill health, anxiety or depression, says Dr. Jaak Reichmann, a psychiatrist specializing in Anxiety Disorders. “In the mindfulness program, relaxation happens from learning to be more at ease with whatever is happening, whether that is pleasant or unpleasant,” Reichman says. “Facing the unpleasant things with a greater sense of the ease makes mindfulness more difficult at first, but ultimately more powerful, because it’s about basically learning to be more comfortable in your own skin.”
F e e d Y o u r B r a i n , F e e d Y o u r L i f e : T h e S c i e n c e o f E v e r y d a y M i n d f u l n e s s Mark Bertin
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-‐bertin-‐md/mindfulness-‐benefits_b_3045754.html Practicing "mindfulness" may seem like an abstract or unfamiliar concept, but that's because it is a word used to encapsulate what actually represents a way of living life. We spend a lot of our time lost in distraction, doing one thing while thinking of another, and acting reflexively or out of habit to both our emotional and real-‐life experiences. Through mindfulness practice, we cultivate cognitive traits that counter these tendencies and promote long-‐term well-‐being through building abilities such as focus, responsiveness and compassion. Our brains continually rewire themselves based on experience throughout our lives, a relatively new and remarkable finding. Analogous to physical exercise and the body, we can take advantage of this plasticity to affect our own basic neurology. Training our brain to be less distracted and reactive, less prone to falling back on ingrained habits, and more flexible in thought unsurprisingly turns out to have lifelong benefits. Research in mindfulness has exploded exponentially over the last decade, suggesting improvements in both physical and mental health. Among hundreds of positive results, studies have shown better immune function, decreased anxiety, and physical growth of areas of the brain responsible for emotional regulation.[1],[2],[3] While many have been conducted in the adult population, a growing number relate to children. At the forefront has been Dr. Richard Davidson, founder of the Center for Investigating the Healthy Mind at the University of Wisconsin-‐Madison, whose pioneering research opened up an entire field of study called "contemplative neuroscience." Dr. Davidson is featured in the upcoming documentary Free Your Mind, which highlights programs working with traumatized military veterans -‐-‐ and also preschool-‐age children. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Davidson and, separately, to the movie's director, Phie Ambo. Ms. Ambo attended an eight-‐week mindfulness-‐based stress reduction program she found life-‐changing, and "wanted to do a film about the brain for people not likely to enter a meditation study." Dr. Bertin: There are many different ways of describing mindfulness for people not familiar with it. One from an elementary school age child in the New York Times was something like "getting angry and not bopping someone in the nose." From your perspective, how would you define mindfulness as it pertains to children and family, for people who might not be as familiar with the idea? Dr. Davidson: The way it has been defined in this context for popular readership has typically been this: paying attention, non-‐judgmentally, on purpose. Those are the elements that are incorporated to the training that we do.
The potential consequences like not bopping your friend on the head are consequences, they are not part of the practice itself. There is a lot of discussion in the scientific and contemplative literature about just what mindfulness actually means. It's quite complicated, because it also has a component that involves remembering to be aware, remembering to pay attention on purpose non-‐judgmentally, so that you can actually bring this into everyday life. For a child this may mean remembering they have skills that can be deployed in everyday life where anxiety or conflict may arise. When you are working with children as opposed to adults, how do you approach them differently? Well, the strategies and exercises you use are age-‐appropriate. In the film you see some of them. Various kinds of external prompts and activities are used, like belly breathing with a stone on the belly. We also have kids listening mindfully to sounds, where they have to raise their hands as soon as they hear a bell stop ringing. During the time that the tone is going, you can hear a pin drop in the room. Everyone is very quiet, and they are instructed to raise their hands when they can no longer hear it. In some cultures where these practice come from, they don't start direct instruction in the practices until children are older. What is your perspective on when and how to start? What you are referring to in certain cultures, in certain traditional Buddhist contexts, formal practices of mindfulness are not typically begun until adolescence. But there are other kinds of practices that are started early and have the same effects. My own view is that in our culture here in America, and Western countries generally, it may make sense to begin these practices earlier because we don't have those other kinds of activities. (Author's note: Mindfulness, while drawn from Buddhist traditions, is not inherently a spiritual or religious practice.) There is a lot more specific research about mindfulness and adults, how would you describe the state of the research around mindfulness and children? To use a single word, I would say it is minimal. There are very, very few good studies that have been done with mindfulness and children. Right now, I would say it is more of a promissory note than anything else. I think the evidence in adults is sufficiently compelling to suggest it is worth exploring in children, but I think anyone who tells you there is good evidence in children is way over-‐estimating what is out there. Some people feel that experience of being fully aware and present in many activities of life, if they are lucky, maybe through athletics or a particular hobby. If these activities promote what feels like present-‐moment, non-‐judgmental awareness, from a neurological perspective is that the same experience, or is there something unique to the mindfulness practice? That's a very important question and I'd answer it in a couple of different ways. The first way to answer it is that it is likely there are some elements that are common, although there are no really good studies to compare them directly. There are many activities, as you note, in which we can engage in that type of attention and my suspicion is that if you are looking exclusively at circuits in the brain that are important to the regulation of attention, you might see similar effects. When mindfulness is taught authentically, rooted in the traditions from which it is derived, the reason we practice mindfulness is to be of benefit to others. We don't normally go out and play tennis to be of benefit to others, we don't normally go out and learn a musical instrument to be of benefit to others. And so when mindfulness is taught within the authentic context from which it derives, it is really very much other-‐focused and that in itself has some very important neural consequences which are not shared with other activities of focused attention. Could you comment on those consequences? There are consequences in circuits of the brain important for empathy and compassion and other-‐directed focus. That kind of stance ... helps to increase characteristics like humility and altruism and things of that sort. Which are byproducts of mindfulness, if you will, that can occur if taught authentically. I don't think it was touched on in the documentary, but your lab has come out with those types of study within the last year.
We have done quite a bit of work on that. How would you like to wrap up? I think that the film speaks for itself and I hope it can inspire people to explore the possibility that there are simple types of practice we all can engage in, in everyday life, that promote well-‐being. The fact of neuroplasticity should give us all hope and encourage us all to take more responsibility for the positive cultivation of a mindful brain in ways I think can make a difference in our own individual lives as well as in those with whom we interact. Regarding what stood out about her experience making the film, Ms. Ambo said she was struck by the warmth of the teachers in the preschool classroom, which utilizes a "Kindness Curriculum" developed at the University of Wisconsin. It integrates games such as one in which when you receive a seed from a friend, you have the privilege of giving one to a friend. One related study demonstrated increased behaviors such as sharing in participating children, distributing stickers more fairly to peers they liked more or less than others. With the veterans (who engaged in a program emphasizing a type of yoga not part of traditional mindfulness programs), Ms. Ambo was amazed to find that after only one week she could "see that they were very hesitant but had started to smile more ... they softened up and seemed much more alive in a way." Of mindfulness, she said: "Give yourself the possibility. It's free and we all have a brain ... so the raw material is right there to check it out and try. These simple things make changes not only in our own lives but in those around us" Free Your Mind opens at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival on Thursday, May 2nd. It will premiere at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City on May 3rd. "Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain" is a particularly accessible book discussing neuroplasticity, mindfulness, and Dr. Davidson's work.
HotDocs: Free the Mind Sonya
http://urbanmoms.ca/entertainment/hotdocs_free_the_mind/ We all probably know at least one family with a child who has been diagnosed with ADHD. Friends I know are determined to find ways to cope on a daily basis and, if possible, with minimal or no meds. This year, HotDocs, The Canadian Documentary Film Festival, includes the world premiere of FREE THE MIND: Can You Rewire The Brain Just By Taking a Breath? This film caught my attention. The documentary follows three case studies; Will, a five year old diagnosed with anxiety and ADHD, and two American War veterans both of whom suffer from symptoms of Post Trauma Stress Disorder including insomnia, panic attacks, and nightmares from serving their country.
Dr. Richard Davidson, neuroscientist, and the founder of The Center for Investigating Healthy Minds, has been doing extensive research studies on how "mindful meditation" and deep breathing techniques could reduce the severity of these symptoms and minimize the use of drugs especially on children. It's no surprise that the medical community is skeptical in his ongoing studies yet his theory leaves many people wondering if he's actually on to something. Can you physically change the brain only by the power of thoughts? Dr. Davidson mentions that emotional intelligence is far more important in life than cognitive intelligence. He believes that we need to understand how to use compassion to help rewire the brain in non-‐invasive ways. "Mindfulness means paying attention to the outside and also the inside," says Davidson. Dr. Davidson caught the attention of Danish filmmaker Phie Ambo, who herself has suffered panic attacks and was treated with meditation rather than medication. "We are entering a new era," says Ambo. "Constantly, new fundamental questions are raised about who we are as human beings. The more questions asked, the more obvious it is to me how many things we still don't understand. I find that very inspiring!" Dr. Richard Davidson is a renowned neuroscientist and one of the world's leading experts on the impact of contemplative practices, such as meditation, on the brain. He is perhaps best known for his groundbreaking work in studying emotion and the brain. A friend and confidante of the Dalai Lama, he is a highly sought after expert and speaker internationally. Time magazine named him one of the most influential people in the world in 2006. Dr. Davidson has published hundreds of scientific papers and edited 14 books. A New York Times bestselling author, he has been featured widely in popular media, including ABC's Nightline, National Public Radio, Time magazine, Newsweek, O, the Oprah magazine, PBS's the Charlie Rose Show, Harvard Business Review, and many other national and international news outlets. Free the Mind is a thought-‐provoking documentary that may be just a step forward in understanding the potential and exploring alternative ways to help people manage anxiety.
Reel Talk, Take Seventeen: Hot Docs 2013 Highlights Chantelle Rodrigo http://www.torontoisawesome.com/reel-‐talk/reel-‐talk-‐take-‐seventeen-‐hot-‐docs-‐2013-‐highlights/ Hot Docs 2013 brought a wealth of great new documentaries and some, like Liz Marshall’sThe Ghosts in Our Machine, will be back for a longer run in theatres. This year however, it’s becoming more noticeable that documentary cinema is expanding. Documentaries have a way of exposing the worst parts of our history, from fast food binging to major corporations swindling the little guy to environmental disasters. Over the past couple of years however, there have been documentaries that focus on the positive side of humanity. Don’t get me wrong, the exposés are necessary to remove the wool cast over our eyes but it’s equally important to document what humanity is capable of: what we can do and who we can be in terms of bettering ourselves and the world in which we live. This brings me to two documentaries I saw this year that particularly stood out.
The first is Phie Ambo’s Free the Mind. The film explores how little we think about our own breathing and how meditation and yoga can contribute to a healthier, stable mind. But this probably sounds hokey if you’re not already into the yoga craze, right? I was pretty skeptical too, at first. What makes this film remarkable is that it focuses on two subjects. One is a six or seven year old boy with ADHD and the other are a couple of war veterans who recently returned from their posts overseas but have been suffering
Post-‐Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The film follows these subjects. The little boy is guided by someone to help him deal with his sudden anger and anxieties. The veterans attend a breathing workshop with several other war vets. By the end of the film, there are some changes with the little boy such as overcoming a few of his anxieties. The veterans however, notice a drastic difference. One of them talks about not having had to slip an Ambien before going to sleep during the course of the one week workshop. Both of them find themselves calmer and having less frequent flashbacks of traumatic moments during the war. In fact, the difference is so drastic, Director Phie Ambo couldn’t quite believe it herself, “For me, it was such a strange dilemma to be in because I was following these people and it really did have a very large effect on them. But I also knew that this is almost too good to be true, people are not going to believe that the effect is so strong. Some people think, did I manipulate with it in some way? But I didn’t. That was what happened.” Having faced some resistance at the editing stage, Ambo mentions, “It’s interesting to see how it’s difficult for people to believe that something so simple as these methods can have such a powerful effect.” The expert in Free the Mind is Dr. Richard Davidson who focuses on meditation and breathing as a way of “promoting human liberation.” Dr. Davidson himself doesn’t think of breathing as a cure-‐all though, “I’m certainly not someone who’s totally anti-‐medication. I think that medications can be important when used judiciously and in certain kinds of extreme situations but I also believe that stimulant medication, particularly for children, is way overprescribed. I believe that the kinds of mindfulness practices that are featured in the film represent strategies by which attention can actually be educated in young children.” While the changes in the subjects seem unbelievable, I couldn’t help but feel moved upon seeing the war veterans regain some sort of normalcy and agency in their lives. The second feel-‐good hit was Director Alan Zweig’s 15 Reasons to Live. The film begins on a highway with Zweig’s voiceover talking about his friend, a record store employee, who compiled a list of these reasons to live. Inspired by this list, Zweig set out to find subjects and stories that best exemplified each reason. The reasons themselves vary greatly. They go from conventional (Love, Friendship and Home) to unconventional (Duty, A Critical Mind and Intoxication). Zweig found his stories through friends, ads and generally people he knew and he originally had collected 100 stories.
Free the Mind Chris Knight
http://arts.nationalpost.com/2013/04/26/hot-‐docs-‐minis/
Ambo narrows in on the personal in this doc about people trying to overcome PTSD and ADHD through meditation techniques, which might be a little more effective if the whole project wasn’t about people trying to calm themselves: there are literally shots of watching people breathe, which at least gives us a new boredom simile. The stories are fairly moving, but the narrow focus also doesn’t help when the science on offer is on the fuzzy end to begin with. 1.5 stars D.B. May 2, 6:30 p.m., Bloor; May 3, 6 p.m., ROM; May 4, 11 a.m., Bader
Five Fabulous Films at Hot Docs June Chua
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/film-‐festivals-‐toronto/2013/04/five-‐fabulous-‐films-‐hot-‐docs
Free The Mind (Dir. Phie Ambo, 80 min) -‐-‐ examines the work of Wisconsin neuroscientist Richard Davidson (a self-‐confessed “closet Buddhist”). Davidson has two experiments going on -‐-‐ one involving veterans with PTSD and another with pre-‐schoolers with ADHD. Ambo’s film flits between the veterans and one particular child whose problems seem to stem from the foster care he got in the first two years of his life. The film uses wonderful animation techniques to explain the science part of the story -‐-‐ how parts of the brain work -‐-‐ weaving them with the journeys of two veterans who volunteer to take part in a meditation/yoga experiment and that of the young boy. The idea that meditation can help re-‐wire the brain is something that’s come up for the past decade but what makes this film a must-‐see, is to witness the transformation of human beings before your eyes.
Toronto SCENE
metronews.ca WEEKEND, June 7-9, 2013
Thriller
Comedy
Action/Drama
Drama
Documentary
The Purge
TheKingsofSummer
The East
Before Midnight
Director. James DeMonaco
Director. Jordan VogtRoberts
Director. Zal Batmanglij
Director. Richard Linklater
Stars. Brit Marling, Alexander Skarsgård, Ellen Page
Stars. Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy,
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Brit Marling stars as corporate spy Jane Owen whose job involves infiltrating a shadowy group of eco-terrorists called The East. The collective, run by charismatic anarchist Benji (Alexander Skarsgård), is on the eve of their biggest demonstration yet, an act of sabotage that will make a very public statement. Sarah is accepted by the group, save for the truculent Izzy (Ellen Page), and begins to develop Stockholm syndrome. Or does she? The East plays like a mix between Bourne Identity and Tailor Tinker Soldier Spy. It’s a tense thriller that values smarts over action. RICHARD CROUSE
If you’re a fan of the “Before” movies, watching Before Midnight will be like reconnecting with old friends. In the almost 20 years since we first met Jesse and Celine (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) they have flirted and talked through the vagaries of life in two films, Before Sunset and Before Sunrise. Now they are a committed couple with twin daughters, but their introspection continues courtesy of beautifully written and performed conversations that explore how fissures can develop no matter how deep a couple’s connection.
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RICHARD CROUSE
MANORI RAVINDRAN
Stars. Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey
Stars. Nick Robinson, Nick Offerman
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To call The Purge cooked-up is an injustice to baked goods. A dystopian futuristic thriller about a family enduring an annual 12-hour government-backed event whereby crimes of any sort are legal (somehow this curbs violence the other 364 days of the calendar?) is as contrived and callous as cinema gets. If the filmmaker’s aim was to create a moral allegory akin to A Clockwork Orange, he didn’t even come within an eyelash.
Like many of today’s comedies, The Kings of Summer features scores of freeassociational ad-libbing, often by staffers on NBC’s Thursday night lineup. But give it credit: It at least has a genuinely silly plot, not something you can just shoot on the fly. Sick of the tyrannical parenting of his gruff, widowed dad (Nick Offerman), Ohio high schooler Joe (Nick Robinson) convinces longtime bestie Patrick to run away into the woods. Most of what makes The Kings of Summer questionably tolerable is that it’s frequently inspired. MATT PRIGGE
STEVE GOW
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Documentary
Peaches Does Herself
Free The Mind
Director. Peaches
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Stars. Dannii Daniels, Sandy Kane, Peaches
Free the Mind follows a study group of U.S. Iraq/ Afghanistan war veterans taking a scientific approach to a spiritual practice — meditation. With a side narrative about a young boy suffering ADHD, the film explores how rhythmic breathing and yoga could be a remedy to modern behavioural problems. Heavy on the nuts and bolts, light on the history and spiritualism, Free the Mind is missing some vital context, and despite compelling footage of the vets, falls flat.
Director. Phie Ambo
Electronic musician Peaches takes the stage in Peaches Does Herself, a veritable rock opera that traces the Toronto native’s journey from aspiring musician to feminist pioneer. The concert-documentary, which integrates music from the 46-year-old’s four albums, has a strong transsexual platform, and proves to be every bit as outrageous as its star. Although a flimsy narrative gets lost in the shock factor, Peaches’ brave challenging of gender norms is refreshing for its no-apologies delivery.
COLIN MCNEIL
McCONAUGHEY IS BRILLIANT... ”
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A GREAT CONSPIRACY THRILLER
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The best work of his career. -Joe Morgenstern,
“DEFT AND ABSORBING.”
A TWISTY, BREATHLESS GENRE FILM.”
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-A. O. Scott,
A COMPLEX, PROVOCATIVE MORALITY TALE.”
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A TRIUMPH.”
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-Betsy Sharkey,
“ MCCONAUGHEY IS MAGNIFICENT!” -Peter Travers,
BRIT MARLING
ALEXANDER SKARSGÅRD
MATURE THEME
ELLEN PAGE
AND
PATRICIA CLARKSON
VIOLENCE, TOBACCO USE, LANGUAGE MAY OFFEND
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ENTERTAINMENT ONE
Free the Mind: Scratching the surface of a complex subject Liam Lacey
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/summer-‐entertainment/free-‐the-‐mind-‐scratching-‐the-‐surface-‐of-‐ a-‐complex-‐subject/article12390551/ The premise of Free the Mind – that meditation and “mindfulness” training can provide a drug-‐free remedy to such disorders as posttraumatic stress syndrome in war veterans and attention-‐deficit disorder and anxiety in children – seems plausible, but Danish director Phie Ambo’s documentary only scratches the surface of a complex subject. Focusing on experiments by University of Wisconsin professor Richard Davidson, Free the Mind follows three characters. Two are guilt-‐racked U.S. vets – Steve, a military interrogator in Afghanistan who was “a horrible person,” and Rich, a commander in Iraq who watched men die. Their accounts of their obsessive thought patterns, sleepless nights and detachment from reality is undoubtedly moving. Similarly, you feel for Will, the adorable kindergarten kid with ADHD who slaps his own face and is terrified of elevators. But the neuroscience is, as Davidson acknowledges, in its “baby steps” (an animated sequence attempting to show the vets’ busy brains doesn’t help), and the upbeat conclusions the film reaches fall somewhere between science and proselytizing. As the credits roll, you half expect to see a 1-‐ 800 number where operators are standing by to sell meditation tapes.
Free the Mind reveals power of meditation: review Marco Chown Oved
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2013/06/06/free_the_mind_reveals_power_of_meditati on_review.html A documentary about the scientific study of compassion meditation. Directed by Phie Ambo. 80 minutes. Playing June 7 to 12 at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema. Balancing a multicoloured plastic model in his hands, Dr. Richard Davidson looks out over an assembled group of 5-‐ year-‐olds and says: “The brain is the most complicated thing in the universe.” The schoolchildren audibly gasp and by the end of this documentary, you’ll feel like a kid again, filled with wonder and questions about humanity and yourself. Davidson is a neuroscientist and was a longtime “closet meditator” before he combined his passions to become the world’s leading expert on the scientific study of meditation. He’s not the subject of Free the Mind, but his ideas propel this compelling film forward, drawing the viewers into his twin studies of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Iraq War veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. While these disparate populations might not seem to be logical twins, they share more in common than you’d think, and the parallel storylines coax you into questioning not only the hidden potential of humanity, but the possible applications in your life as well. Will, an adopted toddler with ADHD, wears his emotional turmoil on his face. His anger, frustration and joy is so transparent that it’s hard not to empathize with him as he confronts his fear of elevators after having been caught in one some time ago. Stephen and Rich have both returned from tours of duty in Iraq and are closed and opaque young men who calmly describe the horrors they witnessed and participated in. They are heavily reliant on medication to sleep, and complain of the constant anxiety and overwhelming emotions associated with PTSD. Both the troubled child and the broken men have experienced trauma, and both of them, guided by Davidson and his team of meditation neuroscientists, will confront those traumas and overcome them, armed with the tools of meditation. Whether you buy all this new-‐age Zen talk or not, it’s hard to argue with the results. As the sweatpants-‐clad vets do breathing exercises and yoga stretches, their anxieties start to slip away. The children learn to recognize their emotions and develop coping mechanisms for their anger. “It’s the brain changing the brain,” Davidson explains. “Taking intentional control of our minds to be happier and suffer less.” Where do I sign up?
Free the Mind John Semley
http://www.nowtoronto.com/movies/story.cfm?content=192919 Free The Mind tests what it presumes is a bold premise: that the human mind can be effectively rewired (or “hacked”) by practising certain breathing techniques. At the centre of the film is Richard Davidson, a professor who sets out to test his mindfulness technique on kindergarten children suffering from attention deficit disorder and military veterans beset by PTSD. What niggles most about Davidson’s theory are its pretensions of novelty. The connection between breathing and the mind is the basis of zazen meditation, the core discipline of Zen Buddhism since the sixth century, something the film acknowledges. Perhaps the scientific thoroughness Davidson brings to the ancient technique of “following the breath” makes it more palatable in a Western context. Some find it easier to accept the efficacy of alternative medicine or therapeutic practice when patients are hooked up to some diodes that tracking their brain waves and offer certifiable data. The most memorable sections deal directly with the aftershocks suffered by many military vets. (One man can’t bear to have people sitting behind him in a restaurant.) The film’s profile of these deeply wounded men lingers long after its light-‐handed pushing of Davidson’s agenda has faded.
Free the Mind Scott A. Gray
http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/HotDocs/free_mind-‐directed_by_phie_ambo As interesting and heartfelt as Phie Ambo's look at the usefulness of treating Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and Attention Deficit (is it impolite to term it a disorder now?) with meditation is, it also skews towards clinical propaganda. This is a documentary designed to celebrate the potential of the age-‐old Buddhist pursuit to positively impact forms of mental illness that are rooted in the psychological rather than the chemical. There is no attempt by Ambo to give other forms of therapy consideration aside from damning the over-‐use of pharmaceuticals. With such a narrow field of opinions and test subjects presented, it's difficult to afford scientist Richard Davidson's "Mindfulness" technique the credit it might well deserve. Still, watching how Davidson treats both children with attention span issues and grown men suffering from extreme guilt with simple (but not easy) mental control exercises is fascinating. Since Davidson is an accomplished neuroscientist he brings academic reason to a discipline that has most often been associated with the spiritual and the mystical in the past. His clear and patient explanation of the science behind the health benefits of meditation is a refreshing perspective on the subject and a great example of the value of applying empirical reasoning to ancient schools of thought. To give the documentary some narrative shape, Ambo follows a small child with debilitating elevator anxiety and a group of war veterans, each tormented by a litany of PTSD symptoms, as they undergo an experimental treatment program with Davidson. Providing some minor visual stimulation but also padding the film's relatively brief runtime of eighty minutes, Ambo inserts shots of brain-‐mapping imagery between treatment sessions and interview segments with both the patients and researcher. These scenes don't really enhance a viewing experience that is already rich enough in information to make Free the Mind quite engrossing, despite being a little on the preachy side.
Free the Mind Adam Nayman
http://www.thegridto.com/culture/film/free-‐the-‐mind/ Essentially a PSA for meditation, the Danish-‐produced documentary Free the Mind follows three people struggling with trauma: Steve and Rich are American soldiers haunted by their violent experiences overseas, and Will is a five-‐year old with ADHD and a deep-‐seated fear of elevators. Phie Ambo’s film does an excellent job presenting its subjects as individuals rather than examples of a psychological condition—the point of view is compassionate rather than clinical. Ambo was motivated to make the film after using breathing and concentration techniques to overcome her own panic attacks, and she’s able to get her subjects to open up onscreen. A scene where Will’s foster parents describe briefly cutting ties with him due to the child’s erratic behaviour is candid and moving. This sense of intimacy is also a liability, however. Free the Mind has no pretenses of objectivity, and the cheerleading gets tiring after a while. The film’s title hints at flexibility, but the movie’s focus on the benefits of meditation over medication borders on the downward-‐dogmatic. Free The Mind’s star talking head is Dr. Richard Davidson, a Wisconsin-‐based practitioner of “contemplative neuroscience” who runs an experimental retreat for returning war veterans with post-‐traumatic stress disorder. He’s a nicely relaxed presence, but in the absence of any credibly skeptical perspectives, he doesn’t so much provide expert commentary as hold sway over the entire movie. Ambo cuts between footage of the anguished soldiers engaging in breathing exercises and a class of preschoolers trying a more sugarcoated version of the same thing, and it feels less like she’s giving her movie a sense of equilibrium than finessing a phony equivalency. There’s a fine line between providing education on a topic and unabashed stumping. For all its advocacy for the therapeutic effects of relaxation, Free the Mind is a movie that practices the hard sell.
Free the Mind Jess Davidson
http://torontoist.com/2013/04/free-‐the-‐mind/ “The brain is the most complicated organ in the universe. We’ve only taken the first very, very small baby step. We’re just beginning this journey,” says Dr. Richard Davidson in Free The Mind, a documentary that follows him as he tests an unconventional theory. With approximately 10 billion neural connections, the human brain is a vastly complex—and, for most of us, deeply mysterious—lump of grey matter. So is it conceivable that a brain could be rewired by sheer will? Davidson thinks it’s a possibility. The film follows him as he studies the effects of yoga and meditation on American war veterans and children who suffer from post-‐traumatic stress and attention deficit disorders, respectively. Save for the inexplicable animation sprinkled throughout, this doc is both touching and interesting. While getting drawn into the lives of the army vets and kids, the viewer can see Davidson’s theory come to life. By the end, it’s hard to shake the notion that we might be able to change our brains for the better, and that the techniques for doing so are relatively simple.
Review: Free the Mind: Can You Rewire the Brain Just By Taking a Breath? Kristal Cooper
http://thetfs.ca/2013/06/07/review-‐free-‐the-‐mind-‐can-‐you-‐rewire-‐the-‐brain-‐just-‐by-‐taking-‐a-‐breath/ Richard Davidson is one of the world’s leading neuroscientists. Despite being cautioned against “new age-‐ y” medicine by his colleagues, he’s been meditating for 30 decades and when he met the Dalai Lama in 1992, and was clued in to how compassion and kindness can be used as antidotes to depression and sadness, Davidson began pursuing the development of a programme that would help traumatized individuals retrain their brains and help heal themselves. In 2008 he established The Center for Investigating Healthy Minds located in Madison, Wisconsin. Here Davidson and his team are working on pioneering studies on the interplay between contemplative traditions and modern neuroscience….with some truly inspiring results. The film focuses on two aspects of the studies: one with soldiers and veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who are suffering from extreme Post-‐Traumatic Stress Disorder (a recent report from the Department of Veterans Affairs stated that 22 of these men and women commit suicide every day ), and one with pre-‐school children diagnosed with afflictions like ADHD who might otherwise be medicated but instead are learning the practice of mindfulness, a key component in meditation.
This truly eye-‐opening film by award-‐winning Danish filmmaker Phie Ambo shows how very possible it is to rewire the brain to positively deal with emotional pain or extreme panic through meditation, deep breathing, yoga, and other similar techniques that people might scoff at as “hippie” medicine. The film does an excellent job at communicating what its subjects are trying to tackle, whether it be trying to sleep through the night unaided by pills, trying to process how the war horrors they witnessed are affecting their interactions with others or, in the case of one little boy, being able to ride the elevator without having a panic attack. These all seem like huge, insurmountable realities to these people yet Davidson’s methods–simple as they seem–make a real difference in helping them to see that their issues are conquerable. It also helps that there are lots of helpful infographics and colourful replicas of the brain to help explain just why learning to focus your mind and breath properly can produce extremely positive results in anyone. Want to learn to harness your brain power and make yourself a more thoughtful, calm and Dalai Lama-‐like human being? This is the movie for you. Is Free the Mind: Can You Rewire the Brain Just By Taking a Breath? Opening Weekend Worthy? Yes, it’s a completely accessible film for anyone who’s ever given yoga or meditation the side-‐eye and wants to understand, ‘why all the fuss?’. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that this movie should just be played on a loop during rush hour on the TTC. Toronto would be a much happier city overall.
This Week at The Bloor: 6/7/12 Dave Voigt
http://dorkshelf.com/2013/06/07/this-‐week-‐at-‐the-‐bloor-‐6712/ Free the Mind takes a look at Richard Davidson, an expert in the field of brain research who’s devoted his life to the study of meditation as a method of restoring mental health and happiness. A traditionally trained scientist and practitioner of meditation rooted in Buddhist practice, Davidson’s work employs brain imaging to support the idea that an ancient technique offers new hope for treating psychological illness. This film documents Davidson’s most challenging experiment to date, employing the technique of Mindfulness to treat Attention Deficit in children and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in veterans. Writer/director Phie Ambo takes us into the complex mechanisms of the human psyche as we follow two very different cases. She stays separated from her subjects, maintaining a certain level of detached objectivity, particularly with a young child who has ADHD. We see them actively training him to regulate and control his emotions through a variety of exercises in order to break the cycle of feelings that they don’t want and to ultimately take control. The cases of post-‐traumatic stress in soldiers play out similarly as they acknowledge how war broke them and they need this help to get back to normal. The brain is such a complex organ and system in the human body that we may never know all of its mysteries, however this film is a real eye opener and even inspirational to show what we as people are truly capable of, if only we put our minds to it.
‘Free the Mind’ Review Ernie
http://filmpulse.net/free-‐the-‐mind-‐review/ The human brain is such a complex mechanism that to this day we still don’t know the extent of its full potential. Billions of nerve endings carry signals through our brain that could trigger an autonomic response, induce an emotion or even store a memory. Quite simply, albeit far from it, the brain is like a computer. It has its basic operating system but the rest needs to be programmed. What happens when this programming is interrupted by say a traumatic experience? How does the brain react? What part or parts of it are affected? Is there a way to reprogram the brain? Phie Ambo’s fascinating documentary looks at how one professor attempts to use meditation and breathing to help treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D.) Professor Richard Davidson, recognized by Time magazine in 2006 as one of the 100 most influential people of the year, met the Dalai Lama in 1992. At that meeting, the Dalai Lama suggested that Davidson, a renowned neuroscientist, shift his focus from the study of anxiety and depression to that of compassion and kindness. Adapting various philosophies and yoga techniques, Davidson developed a study that would attempt to measure the effect of breathing and meditation on an individual coping with P.T.S.D.. The documentary focuses on three individuals. A veteran who is in the midst of a divorce, a veteran who is growing distant from his family and a little boy with special needs. Breathing and meditation seems like such a new age yoga practice that it is often dismissed by many as non-‐therapeutic. It even seems a bit childish especially when viewed from the eyes of a child. However as the documentary shows it can be quite calming and centering. The way it is applied here is fascinating and eye opening. While the results are not immediate the benefits are quite compelling. Wisely, Ambo doesn’t bombard the viewer with scientific jargon that may cause someone to tune out. Fairly basic yet informative animation is used to simplify and convey what is occurring within the brain. She even goes so far as to use a lecture to children to teach a lesson. Throughout you have a general understanding at what’s going on, how the treatment is applied and how the results are reached. The subjects of the documentary are compelling none more so than little 5 year old Will who had a traumatic experience in an elevator. You want to hold him when you see the abject fear take hold of him when he has to think about riding in one again. The other two subjects, Steve and Rich, give a sliver of an idea of what thousands of other veterans are dealing with on a daily basis. All three are shown techniques that in the short term prove effective but the long term results are still in question. It is a study that is still in its infancy but is clearly heading in the right direction to providing alternative treatment for a disorder that affects so many. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder affects thousands and surprisingly studies such as this are not administered around the world. The benefits are undeniable even if it may only be a short term resolution. The research continues and the data is constantly compiled and hopefully some sort of treatment program can become of this. If you or someone you know may benefit from this research go to www.projectwelcomhometroops.org for more information.
Hot Docs 2013: ‘Free the Mind’ Questions Whether Peace Surpasses All Understanding David Flore
http://www.soundonsight.org/hot-‐docs-‐2013-‐free-‐the-‐mind-‐questions-‐whether-‐peace-‐surpasses-‐all-‐ understanding/
Neuroscientists have formed a pretty clear picture of what a healthy brain looks like — but what, if anything, can their methods tell us about a “healthy mind”? Is it even possible to quantify or measure something as seemingly ineffable (and yet so very much in demand) as contentment? Phie Ambo’s remarkable documentary takes its cue from those questions, which have set the parameters for University of Wisconsin-‐Madison researcher and Transcendental Meditation advocate Richard Davidson’s life’s work. The film shifts deftly between the enthusiastic psychologist/neuroscientist’s presentation of his brain imaging research (which does indeed suggest that meditation can produce physiological results) and carefully observed sequences that explore the firsthand experiences of the people in his care. One of the most interesting aspects of Free The Mind is the way it brings together two segments of the population whose struggles aren’t typically thought of as linked: children with ADHD and other behavioural difficulties and soldiers dealing with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Davidson’s Center For Investigating Healthy Minds is dedicated to helping these groups to cope with and possibly even to overcome the worst effects of their conditions – without the use of medication. The preliminary results are encouraging, if the film’s three main test cases/interview subjects (a recently adopted boy named Will and a pair of Iraq war vets, one of whom specialized in brutal interrogation procedures) are at all representative. Ambo’s well-‐balanced account also
includes extensive footage detailing the experiences of another distressed soldier (Brian) who does not respond nearly as positively to the prescribed course of treatment. In time, this research could potentially have vast repercussions for an increasingly atomized society crippled by neoconservative measures that cannot help but produce an exponential rise in anxieties of every description and level of intensity. Davidson’s “loving-‐kindness” (or Mettā) approach to meditation may not seem “political” on the surface, but the method, as presented by the film, offers a subtle critique of the “self-‐help” meditation narrative that has become so familiar to North Americans – a critique which gestures toward the possibility of therapeutic initiatives that go well beyond the individual level. Instead of stressing meditation’s role in helping to increase “mental focus” or “personal effectiveness”, Davidson and his colleagues emphasize the importance of freeing the mind to leap beyond its own confines, so that it can properly attend to the needs and the unique attributes of others. This seemingly innocuous, but immensely important, distinction offers a powerful tool for dismantling the discourse of the “sovereign individual” which threatens to make a nasty, brutish and tedious hash of our lives. The notion that “contentment” derives primarily from the confidence that we are properly equipped to understand and truly communicate with other human beings, and thereby to work together with them to foster a climate of genuine good will, probably should not come as a surprise. But in a culture which clings so desperately to the mantra that “happiness comes from within”, it arrives as a revolutionary breath of fresh air; one that could perhaps, in time, help to rewire society itself.
REVIEW OF FREE THE MIND: A documentary film by Phie Ambo Piya Walpola
http://wisdomthroughmindfulness.blogspot.ca/2013/05/review-‐of-‐free-‐mind-‐documentary-‐film-‐by.html
Synopsis In 1992 Professor Richard Davidson, one of the world’s leading neuroscientists, met the Dalai Lama, who encouraged him to apply the same rigorous methods he used to study depression and anxiety to the study of compassion and kindness, those qualities cultivated by Tibetan meditation practice. The results of Davidson’s studies at the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, are portrayed in FREE THE MIND as they are applied to treating PTSD in returning Iraqi vets and children with ADHD. The film poses two fundamental questions: What really is consciousness, and how does it manifest in the brain and body? And is it possible to physically change the brain solely through mental practices? Review This movie clearly shows us the power of the mind -‐ how we can let go of the unhealthy and unskillful feeding patterns of our mind towards a more healthy and skillful feeding, just by being mindful in the present, for example being aware of the breath. This shows that Mindfulness can be used by anyone, irrespective of the age, their personal experiences or belief systems. Although we have not yet uncovered all the mysteries of the brain and how the consciousness works, it is reassuring to know that we can help ourselves by being our own therapists using mindfulness as the tool. The movie Free The Mind gives us a powerful message that we can unlock our preoccupations with unskillful habits of the mind with mindfulness. This movie also gives us a glimpse of hope that true happiness is still possible and it is not too far beyond our reach.
Hot Docs Announces Festival Guest List http://www.cinemablographer.com/2013/04/hot-‐docs-‐announces-‐festival-‐guest-‐list.html Richard Davidson from Free the Mind (D: Phie Ambo | Denmark | 2012 | 80 min) – Renowned neuroscientist Richard Davidson works with veterans with post-‐traumatic stress disorder and children with attention deficit-‐hyperactivity disorder to explore the possibility of changing the brain through the power of thought.
Hot Docs Overview Basil Tsiokos
Phie Ambo’s FREE THE MIND, following brain researcher Richard Davidson as he attempts to employ Buddhist meditation to treat mental disorders;
11 Danish Documentaries on Hot Docs http://documentaryhive.com/11-‐danish-‐documentaries-‐on-‐hot-‐docs/
Richard Davidson, an expert in the field of brain research, has devoted his life to the study of meditation as a method of restoring mental health and happiness. A traditionally trained scientist and practitioner of a style of meditation rooted in traditional Buddhist practice, Davidson’s research employs brain imaging to support the idea that an ancient technique offers new hope for mental illness. Director Phie Ambo documents Davidson’s most challenging experiment to date, employing Mindfulness to treat Attention Deficit in children and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in veterans. A sensitive and skillful director, Ambo’s film demystifies very complex neuroscience while maintaining the complexity of her human subjects, both researcher and patient. The result is a nuanced presentation of the problems of mental illness and the possibility of an effective solution.
Free the Mind: Hot Docs 2013 Review Jared Mobarak
http://thefilmstage.com/reviews/hot-‐docs-‐review-‐free-‐the-‐mind/ As Richard Davidson states in Phie Ambo‘s documentary Free the Mind, the human brain is the most complex creation in the universe. Here is an organic super computer that handles everything we do, feel, think, and dream and yet we’ve constructed a myth positing how we only use about twenty percent of its grey matter. But while such a baseless statistic may be false, scientists such as Davidson are starting to ask the question of whether or not we take intentional control of its power. No, he isn’t talking about digging into our brain to turn on some switch with which telekinesis is made possible — maybe that’s something a future film could touch on. Instead his goal is to see how compassion, meditation and breathing can help troubled souls rewire how they handle information. Speaking about the concept of emotional intelligence as a more important tool than the normal cognitive one we teach in school, Davidson’s research seeks to discover a way to control our feelings. He’s proposing that we are capable of achieving a higher level of clarity and emotional understanding to those around us through meditation and yoga. With a team of neuroscientists and “mindfulness” teachers he conducts simple breathing exercises in groups of preschoolers and war veterans. Just as kids diagnosed with special needs like ADHD find it difficult to overcome anxieties and fears about concepts they don’t understand, soldiers suffering from PTSD due to their actions in Iraq and Afghanistan can’t cope with the memories burned into their minds. Meditation looks to provide a way to separate reality from thought by introducing a universal calming technique. It’s an intriguing idea to say the least and the main subjects partaking in the test onscreen are definitely troubled by what’s happening inside their heads. For three-‐year old Will the thought of riding an elevator cripples him to tears as breathing constricts and panic takes over. Bouncing off the walls, unable to sit still, and constantly slapping himself in the head for no apparent reason other than boredom and attention, this young foster child turned adoptee struggles with the ability to interact to those around him. And while you’d think it would be hard to compare Will to men like Rich and Stephen just back from the Middle East, they too can’t survive in normal society without pushing loved ones away until their guilt ravaged memories are all they have left. This is why Davidson has taken on the task of introducing meditation as a secondary treatment to conditions like ADHD and PTSD in lieu of pharmaceuticals. A closeted practitioner of the eastern technique, it wasn’t until he met the Dalai Lama and was asked why neuroscience wasn’t being used to measure concepts like happiness and joy alongside depression and anger that he decided to bridge his passion with his vocation. Seeing the rising numbers of returned soldiers committing suicide, he wondered if he could unlock their torment and alleviate their pain. And if meditation could work to calm
them, how young could he go? Herein was the opening to teaching children as well in order to gauge how early the technique could prove effective and whether the effects would last. Unfortunately for the film, however, the brevity in its depiction of the experiments and nonexistent look at comparison with the control groups makes it hard to blindly accept its success. The tests are only a week and during them we see how Richard, Stephen, and Will cope with their thoughts. It’s easy to throw around statistics that explain the effectiveness of the study, but showing actual examples is much harder. For the Army men it’s more believable as we hear them speak about better sleeping habits and a more conscious understanding of how they treat the ones around them. The breathing does appear to help improve demeanor and attitude as they learn what it means to live again by no longer clouding their thoughts in regret. It isn’t as simple for Will as the process of overcoming fear is a natural byproduct of growing up. Watching him fidget and not pay attention during breathing exercises makes you wonder if they did anything to help his cause. Showing him snatching a bucket of dirt from a classmate and than the aftermath of a teacher asking whether he feels sad when seeing the other boy cry proves nothing about his compassion. Kids know what they need to say to feign empathy and get authority figures off their back and looking at Will’s face when he says he feels sad doesn’t necessarily read as authentic remorse. With cameras stuck in his face and a ton of attention, I’m not sure the film gives proof his newfound confidence isn’t an act of transformation due to the spotlight. Ambo’s documentary is a nice story depicting real people overcoming obstacles, but generally glosses over the science with effectively fun chalkboard animations in the process. Delving too far into the human-‐interest angle, it subverts the work being done to create a more moving cinematic work. Did Davidson’s science help these men? Probably. Does the film provide the evidence necessary to convince me? No. Free the Mind has a lot going for it on the surface—especially with gorgeously atmospheric internal brain depictions similar to the music video for Massive Attack‘s “Teardrop”—but it’s way too cautious about going deeper in fear of alienating its audience with too much scientific jargon. This is the polished and packaged film hoping to captivate the lowest common denominator. I wanted the one a scientist would make for his peers.
FREE THE MIND: Can you rewire the brain just by taking a breath? http://www.themindfulword.org/2013/free-‐the-‐mind/
May 2, 2013 marks the premiere of Free the Mind, a documentary about the use of mindfulness and meditation to treat psychological difficulties, directed by Danish filmmaker Phie Ambo in collaboration with Dr. Richard Davidson, a psychology professor from the University of Wisconsin. The film will be premiered in Toronto at the international documentary film festival Hot Docs. Free the Mind follows the research of Dr. Davidson in two distinctive settings. First, it explores how mindfulness helps children deal with negative emotions, focusing on one child named Will who has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Second, it documents Dr. Davidson and his assistants’ research into the use of meditation to treat Post-‐ Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among war veterans. One goal of this video is to propose mindfulness and meditation as a viable alternative to synthetic medications for the effective treatment of psychological problems. Documentary filmmaker Phie Ambo became interested in the topic of mindfulness and meditation because of her own personal experiences with the practice, which helped her deal with anxiety. The mindfulness and meditation exercises the children in Free the Mind go through, with the help of a meditation teacher, are similar to those that Ambo went through to treat her own anxiety. They focus on the physical, concentrating on breath, sound and visual representations. In one example, Will, who is suffering from ADHD and has anxiety about elevators, is given a toy snow globe to shake. He points to his chest at the physical location where the upset occurs from his anxiety. He’s told to shake the snow globe and that the sparkles swirling around represent his emotions swirling around and around when he gets upset. She wants Will to let the flakes relax, and then follow their example by letting himself relax as well. It’s remarkable how this works to help Will reduce his anger and anxiety; by shaking the snow globe and letting the pieces swirl up and then relax, Will is able to find the courage to ride an elevator for the first time. This practice reveals that at least in some situations, the connection between the mind and the physical body is definitely strong.
In another example, veterans being treated for PTSD use kriya yoga to relax, let go of negative thoughts and develop the ability to live in the present moment instead of ruminating on their past experiences during the war. The exercises they do are basically more complex versions of what the children do, with the goal being the same. After a week of doing exercises that promote mindfulness and meditation, many of the veterans had an easier time sleeping and experienced less traumatic thoughts about the past horrors of war. Dr. Davidson’s research assistants used brain scanning technology to monitor changes in the brains of the subjects, though it has not yet been proven that any brain changes occurred as a result of meditation. The veterans also had to complete a fill-‐in-‐the-‐blank/finish-‐the-‐sentence questionnaire. Before participating in the exercises, veterans often used violence-‐related words with negative connotations to fill in the blanks, while after participating in the exercises they generally used less violence-‐related words and more words with positive connotations. Ambo chose to work with Dr. Davidson because he employed the latest scanning technologies to tap into his subjects’ brains during his experiments instead of relying on the subjects’ self-‐ reports, which can often be inaccurate. Ambo observed from her own work filming documentaries that the subjects of her documentaries would often verbally profess to believe one thing while their actions expressed a contrary belief. In light of recent backlashes against the heavy use of medication for psychological disorders, particularly for ADHD in children, this film is sure to spark interesting conversation and debate. It can prove helpful to parents or those involved in childcare, especially for those dealing with children diagnosed with ADHD on a daily basis.
Hot Docs Picks: Innovation and Science http://myetvmedia.com/announcements/hot-‐docs-‐picks-‐innovation-‐and-‐science/ In science’s ongoing quest to solve the mysteries of the brain, renowned neuroscientist Richard Davidson works with veterans with PTSD and children with ADHD to explore the possibility of changing the brain through the power of thought.
Hot Docs 2013 -‐ April 25 to May 4, 2013: Six More Picks http://www.artandculturemaven.com/2013/04/hot-‐docs-‐2013-‐april-‐25-‐to-‐may-‐4-‐2013.html Phie Ambo’s Free The Mind: Can You Rewire The Brain Just By Taking A Breath? shows pathologies like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, ADHD and anxiety being tackled directly, while painting a wide-‐eyed picture of the organ responsible, a mysterious, unimaginably complex chemical computer with potential that we’ve only begun to explore. Inspired by her own bout of panic attacks years earlier – treated with meditation rather than medication – the eclectic Danish filmmaker aimed her camera at the works of University of Wisconsin scholar Richard Davidson, the founder of The Center for Investigating Healthy Minds, and three of his case studies.
Movie Review: Free the Mind http://onemoviefiveviews.wordpress.com/2013/06/07/movie-‐review-‐free-‐the-‐mind/ Free the Mind Review By John C. **1/2 (out of 4) The idea behind Free the Mind is championed by the celebrated Dr. Richard Davidson, who has set up a program at the University of Wisconsin, that uses meditation techniques to “cure” the effects of PTSD, mainly in soldiers returning from the war. Directed by Phie Ambo, the film follows a group of young veterans suffering from PTSD after serving in Iraq, along with a boy in preschool who is included in the program for his fear of elevators and diagnosis of ADHD. But the fact that the child was put up for adoption after a few days because his birth mother was an alcoholic, might better explain his many ongoing challenges. Because PTSD is a severe response to certain situations that is brought out by specific triggers, the meditation techniques can prove effective and do provide a coping strategy for the extreme anxiety. Although it’s debatable as to how well they might work for other neurological differences, something that is never directly addressed in the film. The music is overly urgent and the approach sometimes feels a little one sided, but this is an otherwise worthwhile documentary. Regardless of whether or not you agree with all of the subjects, Free the Mindis an interesting discussion piece about how meditation can sometimes work over medication when dealing with the symptoms of PTSD. Free the Mind Review by Erin V. **1/2 (out of 4) Free The Mind is a documentary that takes a look at the techniques of meditation to help both anxious kids as well as veterans with full-‐on PTSD. It will certainly be interesting to those interested in psychology. It does feel a bit like the kind of film you’d find on TVO or a similar channel, but for that kind of thing it is well done. The one thing I took a bit of an issue with was that the over-‐noticeable score (music) over many scenes feels over urging and incessant at times, but I suppose this is some sort of stylistic choice. Overall though, Free The Mind is worth checking out for those interested in the subject matter. Free the Mind Review by Nicole
*** (out of 4) Free the Mind explores the therapeutic benefits of meditation for people of all ages. At University of Wisconsin, researchers are studying yoga and other Asian meditation techniques as ways to heal the brain. The university runs a preschool for children with and without developmental delays, that uses mindfulness and compassion education to help children overcome their fears, and learn to care for each other. One adorable little boy, Will, has a fear of elevators. He is also hyperactive and impulsive, likely due to FASD. Will’s teacher, Laura Pinger, helps him and the other children overcome many of their challenges. Her calm, compassionate demeanour allows her to be a perfect role model for her diverse classroom. Meanwhile, at University of Wisconsin, Iraq war veterans are participating in a study regarding yoga and breathing exercises as cognitive therapy options to treat PTSD. Steve, one of the veterans, was an interrogator who felt pressured in doing things he wishes he had never done. He deeply regrets his actions, which were unfortunately part of a job he was assigned to do. His nightmares about his previous actions affect his family, consisting of his wife and their two small children. Meditation helps Steve to forgive himself and enjoy his family again. Another veteran, Richard, has not only saved peoples lives, but has also seen people die from explosions. These terrible memories not only haunt his mind, they have also cost him his marriage. Meditation allows Richard to once again enjoy the beautiful things around him. While meditation doesn’t work for everyone with PTSD, one veteran in the film prefers extreme fitness and cycling, it works wonders for some. The techniques work beautifully with the preschool children as well. Free the Mind explains the brain well using both symbolic animation and whimsical chalk board style animated diagrams. The film really captures the message that compassion is the path toward a healthy, war free world. Anyone interested in mental health, developmental delays, or creating a world of peace and compassion should see Free the Mind. Free the Mind Review by Maureen *** (out of 4) Director Phie Ambo’s documentary, Free the Mind provides an interesting look at the use of meditation techniques as a therapeutic alternative for the treatment of a range of anxiety disorders. The film follows two diverse research projects at the University of Wisconsin’s neuroscience research centre, spearheaded by researcher and neuroscientist, Dr. Richard Davidson. The first is a preschool where typically developing and neourologically different children are integrated. The film focuses on a little boy named Will, whose challenges include impulse control, hyperactivity, mood regulation and anxiety, in particular a fear of elevators. The second project works with a group of U.S. veterans of the Iraq war who are suffering with varying degrees of PTSD. The film focuses mainly on two men, Steve who is married with two young children, and Rich whose marriage has dissolved due to his challenges. Switching back and forth between the two projects, Free the Mind takes the viewer through the steps of teaching participants breathing techniques and relaxation strategies. It’s interesting to see the contrast and similarities between the techniques used with the preschoolers and the adults. In
between, segments with the two groups are amusing chalk animation segments describing what’s happening in the brain. As someone who has practised yoga and relaxation exercises for years, I was already sold on the benefits of the projects. For those not as familiar with meditation techniques, Free the Mind does provide a good overview of the benefits, without promising any miracle cures. This documentary is worth seeing for anyone interested in treatments that provide an alternative to mainly pharmacological interventions. Psychology students in particular will want to check out Free the Mind. Free the Mind Review by Tony *** (out of 4) Free the Mind is a documentary about the work of Dr. Richard Davidson at the University of Wisconsin using FMRI and other scientific tools to study the benefits of eastern meditation practices and applying them to a preschool class with special needs children and a support group of veterans with PTSD. The film closely follows three people as they go through the program. Breathing and focusing techniques are used to improve moods and behaviour in the preschool class, particularly to help overcome a small boy’s fear of elevators. A former army captain separated from his wife and a former military interrogator with a young family are taken through a one week pilot program of meditation and counselling to reduce their need for medication. As an alternative to expensive and often risky medication, these techniques are shown to be effective for many patients, but it must be remembered that no form of psychotherapy works for everybody, especially if it does not include consultation from a sensitive therapist. Produced by a Danish team directed by Phie Ambo, Free the Mind is well made as long as it concentrates on the people involved, and Dr. Davidson is an engaging advocate for his ideas. However, I found the abstract animated brain sequences and heavy musical score distracting.
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