Finding Happiness (2014) User Reviews

It's more like a well made infomerical

[jordondave-28085 · 6/10 · 10 April 2023]

(2014) Finding Happiness DOCUDRAMA

No plot to speak about, but more like a promotional historical infomercial tour or docudrama of the the yoga/ meditation of an actual communion who practice the art of "Ananda" . Actress Elizabeth Rohm plays the fictitious reporter, Juliet Palmer, given an assignment to write a report on the pact, as she is visiting one in California from New York City. Although, the character journalist asked all types of questions, it still feels like it was not enough. I was fascinated since Elizabeth Rohm is an actress herself who may have practice yoga herself which may mean this is what she herself does in her spare time.

Nice sentiment, poor filming style.

[etriona-1 · 4/10 · 23 August 2014]

The film tries to come across as a documentary, but much of it feels obviously (and at times poorly) acted and scripted and has the fake plasticness of an infomercial. Because of this approach in creating the film, it does not feel like a genuine representation but rather a one sided narrative trying to sell you on something by only telling you or showing you the best qualities, while hardly, if at all, bringing up or addressing other angles. The film does have some lovely sentiments which in another film style would feel more inspiring, but unfortunately too often it has the sense of infomercial quality appeal leaving the potential inspiration flat and wondering if you subscribe now, perhaps you might get a free yoga mat!

Fun and inspiring

[FreeAveryJack · 10/10 · 14 March 2014]

I was somewhat skeptical going into this film, much like the journalist in the film. Further and further into the film however, I began to understand what the people of this community were all about. This film could be truly eye opening to the correct audience. I myself am excited to learn more about the Ananda people and ways of life. The education system being used was quite fascinating as well, I am interested to see how it works in the long run. Finding Happiness is a great fun, full of very interesting ideas, people and ways of life. I had a wonderful time watching this film, it gives a sort of excitement for the future that few films manage to accomplish.

A Long Commercial

[sation-51143 · 3/10 · 3 August 2018]

A fake documentary made by the people promoting it. Anyone that already meditates should bypass it.

Inspiring!

[Jjax889 · 10/10 · 28 February 2014]

There are films that entertain, there are films that make you think and then there are films that inspire! "Finding Happiness" is one of those rare films that inspires you to live a better life. Profiling the Ananda community in Northern California this film follows a fictional journalist as she travels to the Ananda community for an assignment. At first she is skeptical thinking it is all new age nonsense. As she meets members and experiences the community she grows to realize that maybe this community knows something that we in the "real world" do not mainly that true happiness is not derived from material things. Although this film did not make me want to move up to Northern California it did cause me to re-evaluate certain truths I believed.

Nice place

[jvcpish · 1/10 · 30 October 2019]

No mention of why Kriyanada was asked to leave SRF/YSS and the endless legal problems he and Anada have had with SRF/YSS.

An Amazing community

[hender1188 · 10/10 · 28 February 2014]

Up in Northern California there is the Ananda Community. It is community that practices sustainability and kindness and looks at these attributes as being the key to prolonged happiness. This of course runs counter to our western capitalistic ideals that teach that material things and success equate happiness. The film follows a fictionalized reporter who travels to Ananda community at the behest of her editor. At first she is dismissive, but as she learns more about their practices she becomes open to their way of life (even trying yoga for the first time!) The end result is a changed perspective that we can leave a more benevolent and synergistic lifestyle. The movie's message left me feeling inspired!

Brilliant! A Must See.

[ayush-984-970852 · 10/10 · 26 April 2014]

Finding Happiness showcases the journey of an individual through a Spiritual Community which has been founded based on the Indian teachings of Sanaatan Dharma. It is a very inspiring film which seeks to provide solutions to a lot of modern day problems of stress, poor health, strained relationships, unethical business practices, mediocre education, and showcases a whole new way of living based on high spiritual ideals. The idea of these communities was first mentioned by Paramhansa Yogananda, author of one of the best known spiritual books, "Autobiography of a Yogi".

If you've ever wondered what's missing in your life, despite having everything, WATCH this film. It will touch your soul and leave you inspired!

Get ready to be inspired!

[samsmom0407 · 10/10 · 26 February 2014]

I loved this film! Wow, I would love to visit this place. At first, I was thinking this place is real, is this a documentary? Why do they have an actor portraying a journalist? How is it going to play out? But it turned out great. Because as the journalist, she was asking the same questions I was wondering about this place. I love that there are communities like this in the world. And even though I doubt I will ever visit there, it was nice to learn about it in this film. They made it sound as though true happiness is achievable. It's not found in money,or other material things,it's found within yourself. How easy is that. So I think even though I may never visit an Ananda Community, this film gave me some insight and inspiration on achieving true happiness. Definitely watch if you are ready to be inspired!

Learned a lot about Ananda. Really good!

[simplyshirleys · 10/10 · 27 February 2014]

I thought this was a wonderful film. I thought the docu-drama format worked out well. It made it more interesting to me, I think, than just watching a documentary. The actor who played the journalist, was very good also. The people of Ananda seem so kind and genuine. Almost sounds too good to be true. And I love how the children are brought up to meditate. I wish I was. I learned a lot while watching this film. I learned about this amazing community that I never even knew existed. Finding Happiness made me reflect on how I live my life and makes me want to live it even better, with more happiness and more kindness towards others. I think everyone should watch this film. It is very inspirational.

Harmonious living - Future of the World !

[aditi-datey · 10/10 · 30 April 2014]

It is a highly inspirational and heart touching movie with a very genuine message to humanity that simple living and high thinking is the REAL way of life! Juliet's (actor) journey is like anybody else's journey towards a discovery that living in harmony and peace IS possible in today's world.

This is a very solid and practical example for the wold with an environment filled with all kinds of discord and conflicts. The concept presented in this movie ought to spread like a wildfire as had been predicted by a great saint and master.

Highly recommended to watch this movie. Enjoy!

A new way to live!

[Mrobinson8609 · 10/10 · 26 February 2014]

First off I have to admit that whenever I see anything that appears to be "New Age" I start to roll my eyes. I usually dismiss it as hokum or as a scam. The whole enlightenment thing is very off-putting to me. It was with this bias that I watched "Finding Happiness", the premise is a skeptical reporter visits the Ananda community in Northen California armed with a pen and a fair amount of doubt. As she meets more members of the community she comes to the realization that yoga, communal living and a more cooperative approach is actually the key to Finding Happiness. The movie serves as an introduction to their principles and I have to admit afterwords I was perusing their website and thinking about how I can live a more in tune lifestyle.

A mirror with unaltered reflections

[vijayant_venky · 10/10 · 11 May 2014]

I am happy. Aren't I? Just a two word question and the answer is more often than not vague and lost. This is the same question Juliet asks herself as she meets people at Ananda Village and thus begins the quest for happiness.

Finding Happiness is a documentary and yet it's more like a trailer of a journey that one could get onto to seek the 'truth'. The documentary is about a community called Ananda which was founded in 1968 by Swami Kriyananda who was a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda. Ananda is based on the teachings of Paramhansa who apparently showed the path to people as to how to realize God in their daily lives as a tangible and a loving reality. This reality is brought to us on screen by Director Ted Nicolaou and the happiness tale is seen and shared through the eyes of the protagonist Juliet Palmer played by Elisabeth Rohm.

Juliet is a journalist in New York and is asked by her boss to share the story of Swami Kriyananda and Ananda with her readers and hence she must go to the Ananda Village in California. Of course, she is reluctant to take the 'job' (as she calls it) because she just can't connect to covering anything even remotely religious or spiritual. She anyway gets on to a plane to witness the 'truth' herself.

I would certainly like to congratulate Ted for not dubbing any dialogues and for not getting an artist to act on behalf of any character at Ananda. The beauty and simplicity of Finding Happiness is the real people who serve at Ananda Village and they share their stories in a threadbare simulation manner.

Juliet first meets David Eby, who plays her guide in the movie and is also the music director for the documentary, at the airport who had come to pick her up on behalf of Ananda. Within minutes of interacting with David, Juliet knows that he is smart and intelligent and he knows what he is doing at Ananda. I specifically loved a scene where while on their way to the Ananda Village, David takes a halt near a stream and let Juliet immerse the calmness of the sound of the water. I, even though sitting in a theatre, felt so close to nature myself in that moment that it can't be described in words.

The one and a half hour documentary involves Juliet meeting Swami Kriyananda and other people from the community who belong to different age groups and are even equally connected to the world outside of Ananda. When Juliet first meets Swami Kriyananda, she of course has millions of questions and after sharing a few words of wisdom Swami asks her to meet the people from the community as that should help her seek all the answers. Juliet is amazed and flabbergasted after learning the stories of how Ananda came into being; the struggles that people went through in the process and innumerous tales of people finding the truth and happiness.

In one particular scene, a resident at Ananda Village describes the death of a fellow community member and how the passing of that community member impacted others deeply. The resident shared that if one has to go like that in the end, what's the purpose of life anyway if not seeking the truth. On Juliet's last day at the Village, she met Swami Kriyananda again and sought his wisdom on how could she remain the person that she has become after staying at the Village for just a week. She asked Swami to bless her and that scene is just magnificent and larger than life.

Finding Happiness may seem to be something that's just not practical for us because of several reasons and one of them being that we don't feel connected to God. However, the life at Ananda is not about seeking God but finding the truth. As Swami Kriyananda himself said that finding truth could be possible even if one doesn't believe in God. He concludes his blessing to Juliet with these simple yet absolutely profound words which had a magical effect on me 'Don't live to be unhappy, live to be happy'.

Ananda community has about 10 centres across the world with one in India itself in the state of Maharashtra. You have to see the documentary or the pictures of the Ananda Village to believe how beautiful the Village is with almost 1000 acres of land filled with green all around. It's simply spectacular and breathtaking!

Finding Happiness has been acclaimed worldwide and has even gone to win international accolades such as being the finalist in the Moondance International Film Festival, winning the Award of Excellence at Peace, Inspiration, Equality Film Festival among several others.

My Recommendation – you must and you have to watch Finding Happiness to understand what we really miss as we go by living our mundane lives. You never know, it could probably change your life. I would refrain from giving any rating to this one for the simple fact that I am not capable enough to judge something so beautiful. Go and find Happiness :)

Thought provoking

[emunro94304 · 10/10 · 20 November 2014]

Seeing this movie really makes you think about how you are living your own life.

Just to know that such a place as the Ananda community exists in this world, engenders the thought "why can't I live like that also?" No acting awards will be won by the real players who were in the movie, but this movie's impact isn't about entertainment.

Months after seeing it I still think about it. It's reassuring to know a community like this can work and has worked for over 2 generations now.

So why choose to live somewhat unhappily in the "normal" community of society at large, why not investigate a group of people who have learned to live and are living better?

I loved this movie

[mmorris-01310 · 10/10 · 7 January 2017]

I was searching for a story for my radio show on my New Year topic of "Finding Happiness in 2017" I came across this movie on my google search. I know that I attracted this movie to me. I am a seeker and I love everything that I learned in this movie. I even have the book "The autobiography of a Yogi" I have just never read it! I will definitely read now. I am the host of the "Mindset Transformation radio show and podcast with coach Myrna" my show airs every Wednesday on www. wdjyfm.com. As Swami said it only takes a few to make a difference. I hope I can make a difference as a coach with selfless service to others.