Throughout history, at such critical moments, visionary figures have emerged. The idea of The Coming One is found within all religions, and many believe we are living in a time when that expectation could be fulfilled. “At the Turning” presents the controversial idea that Maitreya, the World Teacher — expected under various names across many spiritual traditions — has in fact returned to the everyday world.
Project Links
Review by Julie C. Sheppard:
At the heart of the short At The Turning Point is both a warning and a call to action. It is visionary in its urgent messaging, and is passionately delivered by an articulate narrator, and thoughtful on-camera commentary from academia. This messaging is accompanied by a rapid series of video images from around the world, which effectively reveal the dire need for humanity to more equitably share resources – – the starkest being footage of wealthy yachts (with commentary highlighting the fact that there are more billionaires in the world now than ever) closely followed by images of crowded slums, where poverty is rampant.
On a lighter note, the film is also playful, interspersing footage of young children enjoying pleasures of life, which underscores a common human goal. Another positive message in the film is the prediction that our confused and disordered world is due for a prophetic messenger, Maitreya, who will awaken civilization to become more aware of the vital need to look out for one another.
The dynamic soundtrack flows beneath the film’s activity with grace and energy, moving from vibrant synth to stirring orchestral refrains, as the film moves to its climactic resolution. This important piece should be universally “sung from the rafters”– it is a wake-up call for everyone, from world leaders to the general populace, who seem to be stubbornly unheeding of humanity’s potential for collapse if collective action of altruism is not taken.
Festival Reviews 