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Post by Dottie on Nov 27, 2015 17:44:51 GMT -8
Watching this film was a mesmerizing experience with the pace, nature, the music, the story and the characters all reflecting back and forth in a flow that just carried me along. As the story unfolded, I realized that I understood completely the differing positions being taken,but that I was envious of the dying man who was able to freely make such a choice. He was "off the grid" in a way and not connected to the medical world, the culture and all the procedures we have in place for how one should die. These things are often very difficult to circumvent.
The son, representing that world and the typical reactions to illness and death, was a sympathetic character. Being so hurt by his father's earlier rejection, his transformation at the end was beautiful to watch. I also appreciated and understood the peace and liberation that the main character was experiencing in his wish to have his body be of benefit to other beings after his death, in a most literal sense.
This is a movie that will stimulate discussion and has opened up my own thinking about how I wish to die. Discussion about this topic is increasing in many forums, with books being written and workshops being given about end of life issues. This meditative film is a candid and welcome addition to the conversation.
Highly recommended!
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Post by MJC on Nov 29, 2015 13:14:59 GMT -8
This film worked for me on every level and was such a breath of fresh air. I feel that so many films these day take something from you and leave you exhausted, while Coyotes planted a seed in me that continues to grow each time I reflect. What a gift! And I love that it is such a raw and sincere exploration of an aspect of life that has somehow become so taboo to discuss in our society. Ironic because death is the most human and shared experience we have. It has the potential to be our greatest teacher and actually steer us towards such a rich and deep connection with ourselves, others, and all of nature. And that's what this beautiful story is helping me to explore.
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Post by dwilde09 on Nov 29, 2015 15:56:51 GMT -8
I absolutely loved this movie. The subject matter, the actors, the music and the talented videography all made it an experience not to be missed. I've not seen such an intelligent treatment of death in a feature length movie before and I will be recommending it for my Buddhist class on Death and Dying. Actually, I will recommend it to my entire sangha once it is released. Death is usually a topic to be avoided in our society, yet those who accept the finality of our existence find themselves enjoying life to the fullest, as Wendell Pierce spoke about to his son. I give this movie an unequivocal thumbs up!
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Post by spineofafish on May 2, 2016 20:56:55 GMT -8
I thought the film was beautifully filmed and acted. I enjoyed seeing so many familiar landscapes.
There was a lot of compassion and heart in the film, though I felt that the characters' relationships stayed fairly superficial and to the advantage of the father mostly.
The scene where the son spews out his hateful comment that he will never play piano for his father, and the father has a physical reaction, was very powerful. Also, the bike scene and the bathroom scene were both effective. The last image of the son on the hillside was beautiful.
The effort to make a truly Buddhist film succeeded in doing that, but as that is not my own spiritual orientation, it also felt alien to me in a strange way.
Just a few thoughts. I'm still thinking about it after several days. Thank you.
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Post by 72andcounting on May 3, 2016 7:18:20 GMT -8
I loved the ending where the son resolves his relationship with his father by playing the piano after the death and loading him into the car for his burial wish. Also the imagery of the ants feasting on the discarded apple showing recycling of organic matter and in the end, the human body. Excellent film.
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Post by NicoleD on Nov 22, 2016 15:08:07 GMT -8
Something I especially appreciated about the film was that in its still and silent sort of ending, it caused us as the audience to end our evening that way too, as though we were gracefully left to embrace that stillness, as our own contemplation process unfolded.
I personally enjoyed the slowness of the plot line and the gentle weaving in of certain Buddhist teaching principles. My husband and I both appreciated how it touched on the fact that people can often get caught in the words or the form of Buddhism/mindfulness, to the point of not understanding how to move those teachings into an embodied, engaged practice.
I really felt the peace of the father's decision not to seek cancer treatment - and I felt his son's reasonable uneasiness with that decision, too. The actors did a lovely job in conveying their characters with emotion and heart. There were many moments in the film, especially amid sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and trees, that I instinctively took a deep breath, in and out. I found those deep breaths to be a good sign that something was happening - something moving - something bigger than just what was going on in the film.
As a hospice volunteer, and an ordained practitioner with Thich Nhat Hanh's Order of Interbeing, I found "For the Coyotes" to offer a depth of importance, with the great potential of watering the seeds of understanding, compassion, and connection that lie within us all.
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Post by Amy on Nov 23, 2016 7:10:04 GMT -8
I loved the film, really. I love documentaries in general, but this one was beautiful in its simplicity and subject matter. I especially liked that the father had photos of his ex-wife on the fridge and mentioned how he missed her--this touched me.
The actor who played the father had mesmerizing eyes that "spoke" to me and told me more about his story and his decision to not seek treatment. I liked the honesty of the son and his willingness to reflect on his life with his father. I liked the humor scattered throughout the movie.
And, I enjoyed the contemplation the movie left within myself as it ended and I went home for the night...I have been thinking about it and the subject matters all week. Thank you for making such a profound movie.
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