Olompali: A Hippie Odyssey

2018

Documentary

1
IMDb Rating 7.5/10 10 64 64

Plot summary

Swept up in the counterculture revolution of the late-1960s, a wealthy businessman starts a commune in pursuit of a utopian society. But his dreams are thwarted when he and his chosen family are faced with a series of tragedies that threaten their existence.

Director

Gregg Gibbs Photo
Gregg Gibbs

Top cast

Peter Coyote Photo
Peter Coyote as Narrator
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
801.24 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
24 fps
1 hr 27 min
Seeds 1
1.45 GB
1920*1080
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
24 fps
1 hr 27 min
Seeds 3

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by toleraptorst 10 / 10

Sad, But We Often Miss The Point

I watched this and knew from the beginning that regardless of the early success the commune enjoyed that it was not going to survive. For whatever reason, and there are many of which I could elaborate upon (but who would care or even understand) the kind of societal changes that those who try them just do not stand much of a chance when they exist in an overarching cultural societal system that is in direct opposition to it. Not just ideologically, but by the fact that that ideology and value system has already saturated every aspect of existence in the nation. Just that alone is beyond overwhelming, it is smothering.Those whose leanings tend to see such failings as proof that people living together in smaller communities in cooperative and socialistic ways as proof that such ideals are bound for failure are missing the point. Such systems have succeeded and for centuries, both in the past and exist right now in the world.This is not to say that some fantastical idea of utopia can exist, no that is nonsensical for the basic reason that humans have physical needs of survival such as food, shelter, clothing, etc., and those things must be secured. But in a society where everything is commodified and made for profit, any attempt by a smaller group to try and live in ways outside of this will indeed fail. Because ultimately the reality of life in the larger system is that everything is owned... everything. And as it stands, in the U. S., only 8% of the population now own more than 97% of all assets and resources in the country. In effect they own everything.So where does a small community that wishes to live freely and independently have to go to, where they could survive, without having to bow to the pressures of commodification and all the other opposed values of that dominating system? When the overarching population outside their small geographic location is under a long established way of life which is interwoven in every aspect of that life, it is like dropping a human in the center of the ocean and expecting it that person to survive. That ecosystem is not conducive to the survival of a human being.The indigenousness peoples of this continent, in all their many tribal nations managed to live and thrive anywhere from 15,000 to 25,000 years. They did so living consciously, wisely, and intelligently so as to always have what they need, and also not fall prey to the kinds of mental anguish that we modern Americans have fallen into.Was it perfect, of course not. But who are we to look down our noses at that, or worse consider their societies savage, unevolved, or less than ours? There is little happiness in our society and that is a measurable fact. Depression, anxiety, mental illness is rampant and has been for decades. In fact, we are not only the most unhappiest of societies, but one of the least healthy, shortest lived, people amongst the western industrialized nations. That and we are only twentieth place as far as our standard of living. Currently Denmark is number one followed by three other EU nations and one Asian country. Denmark's culture and societal mores and values are almost opposite ours. That and from an economic, political, and governance standpoint, they are a Democratic Socialist system under a Parliamentary Monarchy.So, although the fantasy of utopia may not be something possible for humans, as long as we choose to not evolve beyond our specie's base tendencies towards selfish self-absorption, greed, and avarice, but it can be, and is done by societies unlike our own and in ways that are responsible. But in order for it to work, it must be a choice and a societal one.But we won't do it.This is partially out of laziness, but mostly out of the belief that selfish self-interest is what freedom is all about. That is a childish notion. Yet, it is a convenient one that we love because it plays right into acting like children. The idea of being able to do as we please without care or concern of the effects the results of our actions may have upon others seems to be the rule today. Sadly, this has led to an ever increasing indifference and non-concern for others, along with a refusal to acknowledge that if our species is to survive, we must use the brains we and with discipline strive to evolve beyond our base animalistic behaviors, instead of continuing to idealize or give into them.But, just as anything else to do with the affairs of our species, it takes the will to do so, a vision, a willingness to cooperate and give more than one takes, and a deep understanding about life that doesn't center on the material. That and believing that only fulfillment of the self can bring happiness. And when we fail, as we are bound to do, we don't just give it up, we keep trying. We do it over and over until it becomes the norm in our society as those ideals are passed from one generation to the next. That is how societal change occurs. It is also how human evolution in behavior occurs as well.To put it simply, overly idealistic utopic visions without the wisdom and intellectual understanding on how to make them work, combined with generational memory and experience behind them are bound to fail. Especially when they try to exist within and are surrounded by a larger dominate culture that opposes its values, controls all or most of the means of production and resources needed for long term survival, and has legal jurisdiction and governance over it as well.I find it somewhat ironic that a society such as ours which has long since entered into decline (some sociologist pin point the 1980s, others earlier) can still hold itself above all others as if we've achieved all that it means to be a healthy, happy, and evolved people. When the only evolutionary progress we've ever managed has been through the creation of great wealth and the production of material goods that make our lives more physically comfortable or simply provide endless entertainment. When ethically, morally, or even spiritually we've not only stagnated, but regressed almost towards barbarism to the point that we hate our poor, resent bitterly having to provide for the disabled, elderly, and children, and don't even want to know who our neighbors are anymore.
Reviewed by Erik-Movie-Reviews 8 / 10

A Utopian Ending

Overall, a sad story that ends as all Utopian Communities do. While it's good that the former members and children of this community do not express any regrets, it is hard to see how anyone actually benefited from their experiences.Mostly lost souls without much in the means of alternatives, provided with a temporary way out by a dreamer and the remnants of his inheritance, at least while it lasted.Good movie!
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