Documenting the outlandish lifestyle and unorthodox ideals of the Source Family, Jodi Wille and Maria Demopoulos had a wealth of information to use in showcasing one of the most bizarre spiritual movements of the 1970s. But somehow their film (creatively titled The Source Family) tragically misses the mark as it dwells too much on the formation and not enough on the member's life outside of their Hawaii home.
Featuring a healthy dosage of interviews with former group members, this unique documentary offers up personal accounts and in-depth information about the group's leader, Father Yod. From their vegetarian restaurant on the Sunset Strip to their rock band that simultaneously recorded and produced 65 albums, very few rocks are left unturned in this tell-all. But unfortunately the film never appears to dig below the surface and show us something new...or mildly entertaining.
I honestly feel that The Source Family will appeal to an older audience who remembers the family and their unusual ways. I couldn't help but long for more information concerning the members and how they adjusted to life outside of the family after their departure, but most of that was left out. Sure, we got the occasional blurb during the final minutes, but even those short sentences lead way to some interesting questions"”questions that are unfortunately never answered.
The film as a whole is likely a little more comical than it was intended, and directors Wille and Demopoulos fail to present a purpose for its existence. Sure, it was a big deal in the 1970s, and the first-person accounts always make a story a bit more personal, but The Source Family never showed a defined direction. As a result, it is unable to capture your attention (other than an unedited birthing scene) and is often time reminiscence of a video you'd watch during history class in high school. The subject matter is interesting; creatively the pieces just didn't fit right.
