September 12, 2024
FILM: LOOK INTO MY EYES
DIRECTED BY: LANA WILSON
RATING: 3 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
I’m a skeptic. I have a hard time believing without proof, but I am generally open to new ideas. A film about psychics…well, I wasn’t too sure if I would be open to that. Look Into My Eyes is not going to change my way of thinking but it does educate me (and hopefully you) as to where a lot of these mediums and their clients are coming from as well as the diversity that exists within their own community.
Lana Wilson is an Emmy-nominated writer/director who delves into this world on a very intimate level. The documentary begins with a doctor telling a psychic about a patient that left a profound impact on her some twenty years earlier. It’s a heartfelt story and the psychic appears empathic. The doctor wants to know how her former patient is doing. (We have to wait for that answer.) Wilson then turns to a number of other “readings” where clients are asking other questions of psychics such as, “What will I regret on my deathbed?” and “What were my biological parents like?” and “Why was my dog so defiant when out for a walk?” The range of questions asked are thus pretty wide between clients but specific to each of them. Tears are shed and real pain is expressed. Viewers might wonder why some of these people don’t just visit a therapist (or pastor, if that’s what they believe) and we never really find out why they sought out these particular psychics.
As interesting as it is to hear their stories, getting to know the psychics becomes a larger focus of the film. We meet a variety of them, coming from different ages and races. One talks about first encountering paranormal activities. Another resides in a cluttered New York City apartment, still grieving over the loss of his brother many years earlier. One admits to previously being an atheist and still having doubts about the work he does. Another primarily “channels” pets. A few of them have significant trauma in their pasts. What these portraits tell us is that there isn’t any one background associated with people working in this field. It is interesting though that many of them have some sort of experience with the arts. Acting, in particular, seems to be a common interest. It’s hard then not to wonder if they are in fact performing for their clients and for us.
Wilson though tries to remain objective throughout the film. She doesn’t use a music score or voice over narration to manipulate us into feeling one way or another about each of these people. She lets the camera roll when a session seems to be going well and when one isn’t. At one point a client finds that none of what a psychic is “channeling” is relevant to her. Thus, Wilson lets us decide how to interpret what we are seeing and whether we believe the psychics are legitimate or not. It felt to me that some may be making things up as they go along and responding in a way that the client wants to hear. Others seem much more on target and connected to their clients.
There is an interesting scene near the end when all of these New York psychics come together for some support and channeling. It’s clear that regardless of how we might judge them individually as psychics they do share a sense of community and belief in each other.
I did have a few questions that aren’t answered within the film, such as what they charge for their readings and if they make enough to sustain their way of life. Also, do they receive any type of training? Why did they agree to be part of this film and what effects do the cameras have on their sessions? It’s clear that most of these scenes are shot with multiple cameras which would seemingly have an effect on how one responds to the various questions being asked.
For some, the film may be a bit too talky but then this is a film about people going to talk to other people about some very intimate details and questions about their lives. I do like though that Wilson is not trying to take any particular side with what she is presenting. Anyone, from believer to atheist, can take what they want from the film. Wilson gives us ample details about all involved to let us come to our own conclusions about psychics and their clients.
Look Into My Eyes opens in limited release theatrically this week.
FILM: LOOK INTO MY EYES
DIRECTED BY: LANA WILSON
RATING: 3 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
I’m a skeptic. I have a hard time believing without proof, but I am generally open to new ideas. A film about psychics…well, I wasn’t too sure if I would be open to that. Look Into My Eyes is not going to change my way of thinking but it does educate me (and hopefully you) as to where a lot of these mediums and their clients are coming from as well as the diversity that exists within their own community.
Lana Wilson is an Emmy-nominated writer/director who delves into this world on a very intimate level. The documentary begins with a doctor telling a psychic about a patient that left a profound impact on her some twenty years earlier. It’s a heartfelt story and the psychic appears empathic. The doctor wants to know how her former patient is doing. (We have to wait for that answer.) Wilson then turns to a number of other “readings” where clients are asking other questions of psychics such as, “What will I regret on my deathbed?” and “What were my biological parents like?” and “Why was my dog so defiant when out for a walk?” The range of questions asked are thus pretty wide between clients but specific to each of them. Tears are shed and real pain is expressed. Viewers might wonder why some of these people don’t just visit a therapist (or pastor, if that’s what they believe) and we never really find out why they sought out these particular psychics.
As interesting as it is to hear their stories, getting to know the psychics becomes a larger focus of the film. We meet a variety of them, coming from different ages and races. One talks about first encountering paranormal activities. Another resides in a cluttered New York City apartment, still grieving over the loss of his brother many years earlier. One admits to previously being an atheist and still having doubts about the work he does. Another primarily “channels” pets. A few of them have significant trauma in their pasts. What these portraits tell us is that there isn’t any one background associated with people working in this field. It is interesting though that many of them have some sort of experience with the arts. Acting, in particular, seems to be a common interest. It’s hard then not to wonder if they are in fact performing for their clients and for us.
Wilson though tries to remain objective throughout the film. She doesn’t use a music score or voice over narration to manipulate us into feeling one way or another about each of these people. She lets the camera roll when a session seems to be going well and when one isn’t. At one point a client finds that none of what a psychic is “channeling” is relevant to her. Thus, Wilson lets us decide how to interpret what we are seeing and whether we believe the psychics are legitimate or not. It felt to me that some may be making things up as they go along and responding in a way that the client wants to hear. Others seem much more on target and connected to their clients.
There is an interesting scene near the end when all of these New York psychics come together for some support and channeling. It’s clear that regardless of how we might judge them individually as psychics they do share a sense of community and belief in each other.
I did have a few questions that aren’t answered within the film, such as what they charge for their readings and if they make enough to sustain their way of life. Also, do they receive any type of training? Why did they agree to be part of this film and what effects do the cameras have on their sessions? It’s clear that most of these scenes are shot with multiple cameras which would seemingly have an effect on how one responds to the various questions being asked.
For some, the film may be a bit too talky but then this is a film about people going to talk to other people about some very intimate details and questions about their lives. I do like though that Wilson is not trying to take any particular side with what she is presenting. Anyone, from believer to atheist, can take what they want from the film. Wilson gives us ample details about all involved to let us come to our own conclusions about psychics and their clients.
Look Into My Eyes opens in limited release theatrically this week.