CARLOS CASTANEDA: ENIGMA OF A SORCERER REVIEW BY MATT FORSMAN TCV RATING: EL (ENLIGHTENING) MPAA RATING: NOT RATED REVIEW POSTED: APRIL 16, 2004 RELEASE DATE: APRIL 16, 2004 (LIMITED)

Debut writer/director Ralph Torjan's Carlos Castaneda: Enigma of a Sorcerer offers up an intriguing road trip to the heart of Castaneda's neo-shamanist beliefs and teachings. Castaneda contributed thirty plus years of writings and workshops in an effort to espouse his beliefs that largely centered on the idea of expanding one's perception of reality and consciousness. The trip Torjan takes us on manages to enlighten and engage sans psychedelics.

A rare glimpse of Castaneda himself

Torjan utilizes a wildly dynamic visual style in exploring the enigma of Castaneda. Colorful whorls rotate rapidly in concert with a powerful score that echoes rhythmic drumbeats. Juxtaposed with this kaleidoscope are powerful images of mountains, the rapid rising of the sun, and the ascent and flight of an eagle. These images seem to encapsulate Castanedas’s belief that we are all individually part of a much larger consciousness and capable of seeing and experiencing a much deeper and vivid reality. Torjan beautifully conveys this through his choice of imagery, editing, and scoring of the film. Torjan attempts and succeeds on some level in taking the viewer on a cinematic vision quest.

The engaging visual style of Carlos Castaneda: Enigma of a Sorcerer is complimented by numerous testimonials from individuals who attended his workshops and private sessions. Castaneda’s workshops were conducted during the latter years of his life when he emerged from a largely reclusive existence to enlighten some of his most ardent followers. The accounts of many of these followers is intriguing if nothing else. The various individuals who attempt to provide insights about the mysterious Castaneda include ardent followers, lovers, and scholars. Even if one doesn’t necessarily buy into Castaneda’s notions of expanded consciousness and reality, it’s hard to dismiss his ideas outright based on the individuals who describe their experience. The majority of these individuals appear relatively stable, intelligent, and grounded. Despite varying accounts of Castaneda’s character and personality, virtually everyone acknowledges being profoundly affected by their contact with Castaneda.

Castaneda is alternately characterized as enlightened, sexually voracious, and a plagiarist by those who contribute to the film. Unfortunately absent are any images or conversations with Castaneda himself, besides a single still photograph. Castaneda’s predominantly reclusive lifestyle contributed to this. We are largely left to ponder who this enigma was via accounts from the individuals interviewed for the film and Castaneda’s work itself.

Clearly, Castaneda was a complex, cerebral, and perhaps enlightened individual. Castaneda’s message of freeing oneself from the limiting shackles of ego and discovering an expanded reality that is more vibrant and alive than our daily existence is seductive. The timing of his message was impeccable, arriving in the late 1960s when old institutions and belief systems were proving to be obsolete and disillusionment was de rigeur. Astutely, Torjan recognizes that Castaneda’s message would not necessarily have the same resonance today that it had when it first seduced readers thirty years ago.

Torjan’s film effectively manages to seduce the audience. By the end of Carlos Castaneda: Enigma of a Sorcerer, we are still left with unanswered questions and an image of a man that is far from focused. Fortunately, Castaneda’s list of works is extensive for those who elect to dig deeper into the mythology and philosophy that he defined. However, the mystery of Castaneda himself will likely remain unsolved.

Rating: EL (Enlightening).

Matt Forsman
mailto:%20matt@thecinematicverses.com