Mystical Brain

Mystical Brain

| 52 min

This documentary reveals the exploratory work of a team from the University of Montreal who seek to understand the states of grace experienced by mystics and those who meditate. Filmmaker Isabelle Raynauld offers up scientific research that suggests that mystical ecstasy is a transformative experience and could contribute to people's psychic and physical health, treat depression and speed up the healing process when combined with conventional medicine. In French with English subtitles.

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Mystical Brain, Isabelle Raynauld, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

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Credits
  • direction
    Isabelle Raynauld
  • research
    Isabelle Raynauld
  • script
    Isabelle Raynauld
  • cinematography
    Peter Krieger
  • additional cinematography
    Geoffroy Beauchemin
  • sound
    Christian Bouchard
    Richard Lavoie
  • additional sound
    Olivier Léger
  • picture editing
    Dominique Sicotte
  • sound editing
    Denis Saindon
  • original music
    Luc Sicard
  • soloist
    Marilyn Carnier
  • production stills
    Alain Tremblay
  • camera assistant
    Marc Larouche
    Philippe Tremblay
  • production assistant
    Marc Larouche
    Philippe Tremblay
  • participation
    Mario Beauregard
    Vincent Paquette
    Daniel C. Dennett
    Maria Regina De Albuquerque Melo
    Esther M. Sternberg
    Gilles Bédard
    Richard J. Davidson
    William Grassie
    Susan Klunder
    Antoine Lutz
    Andrew Newberg
    Michael A. Persinger
    Matthieu Ricard
    Linda Saint-Pierre
    Jeffrey Schwartz
    Philippe Tremblay
    Wolfgang Achtner
    Michael J. Anderle
    Vanessa Anseloni
    Peatra Babe
    Nicolescu Basarab
    Andrea Dinndorf
    Neil Fournier
    Carollyn Hurst
    Sybille Lepper
    Johanne Lévesque
    Zachary Moran
    Gabriella Musaccha
    Clayton Naff
    Jack Nitschhe
    Marc Pouliot
    Manon Robert
    Thoudam D Singh
    John Teske
    Alex Thomas
    Mlle Tourbe
  • technical support - editing
    Danielle Raymond
  • on-line
    Sylvain Desbiens
    Denis Pilon
    Denis Gathelier
  • digital imaging
    Louise Overy
  • titles
    Louise Overy
  • translation
    Christine York
  • subtitles
    Christine York
  • foley
    Vital Millette
  • foley recording
    Geoffrey Mitchell
  • re-recording
    Luc Léger
  • archival research
    Claire Bourbonnais
    Elizabeth Klinck
  • rights clearances
    Claire Bourbonnais
    Elizabeth Klinck
  • consultant
    Michel Seymour
    Bernard Brais
  • distribution officer
    François Jacques
  • administrator
    Manon Provencher
  • administrative staff
    Dominique Brunet
    Nathalie Cloutier
  • technical coordinator
    Richard Cliche
  • line producer
    Christiane Germain
  • line producer - assistant
    Maryse Chapdelaine
  • production
    Colette Loumède

  • prophetjohn

    Perhaps the reason why the MRI failed to pin-point any single zone of the brain is that the soul does not respond-to or is sited within the matter itself. I wonder however, if there might have been any anomalies present in the fluid that contains the brain, namely sited between the two frontal lobes in the longitudinal fissure. (Something that the scans may have recorded, but that the team may have dismissed or simply not noticed at all since this is outside of the areas that they were studying). My point being that if the soul communicates with the brain in any physical way at all; (as opposed to a metaphysical communion) then that communication must be electrical - however, electrical activity need not necessarily be via the nerve network, might there be some form of electrical induction present that has not previously been noticed. Perhaps they should dig out their data and take another look. .... Thank you.

    prophetjohn, 12 Jan 2013
  • JohnCandido

    Extremely interesting documentary! It would be fascinating if the NFB could revisit this issue with the latest results of science in around ten years time. All science relating to the examination of either consciousness or meditation must be subject to the most rigorous experimental methodology, if it is going to be of any real use.

    JohnCandido, 9 May 2012

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