[In the interest of full FTC disclosure, I received a free copy of this DVD to review at my discretion.]
Huxley on Huxley: a film by Mary Ann BraubachI was expecting a documentary on Aldous Huxley (26 July 1894 – 22 November 1963), one of the great writers and thinkers of the 20th century - a cultural icon. What I got was much different. And yet, I very much enjoyed the film.
Release date: July 27, 2010
DocuDramaFilms
58 minutes + extras
DVD: $26.99,
Video on Demand purchase: $14.99
Video on Demand rental: $3.99
If I had read the ad copy in the email offering me a review copy, I might have known what to expect:
Italian-born Laura Huxley, a teenage violin virtuoso, played for European royalty and made her American debut at Carnegie Hall before leaving the concert stage to become a renowned psychotherapist and author. In 1956 Laura married Aldous Huxley, author of BRAVE NEW WORLD, literary giant and prophet of the 20th century.Laura (Archera) - 1911–2007 - who became Laura Huxley in 1956 - is the focus of this film, with her relationship to Aldous falling somewhat second in the narrative (Peter Coyote narrates, and well). She is an amazing woman, even in her nineties (when this was filmed), she is sprightly and playful, curious and present. You can see her as the "muse" to Huxley's vision.
In the conservative 1950s, the Huxley home in the Hollywood Hills was the center of the artistic and intellectual avant-garde of Los Angeles. Guests to their famous Saturday luncheons included George Cukor, Igor Stravinsky, Orson Welles and Christopher Isherwood. The Huxleys' passionate search to find higher levels of consciousness included their controversial experimentation with psychedelic drugs. Narrated by Peter Coyote and featuring interviews with such luminaries as John Densmore, Michael Murphy, Nick Nolte and Ram Dass, HUXLEY ON HUXLEY offers a compelling glimpse of Laura's life with Aldous, as well as the revolutionary and provocative work that had a major influence on American and contemporary cultural history.
She is every bit his equal in intelligence and creativity - a perfect match for him after the death of his first wife (they had been friends while his first wife was still alive).
According to Wikipedia:
In 1977 she founded Our Ultimate Investment (OUI), a non-profit organization dedicated to the nurturing of the possible human, which sponsored a four-day conference entitled Children: Our Ultimate Investment (now also the name of the organization). Huxley has received widespread recognition for her humanistic achievements, including an Honorary Doctorate of Human Services from La Sierra University, Honoree of the United Nations Fellow of the International Academy of Medical Preventics, and Honoree of the World Health Foundation for Development, from which she received the Peace Prize in 1990.
In December 2003, the Association of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health honored her as the 6th recipient of the Thomas R. Verny Award, chosen for outstanding contributions to the field of prenatal and perinatal psychology.[2]
Laura Huxley died of cancer, aged 96, at her Hollywood Hills home.
If you ever had any interest in knowing the woman behind the iconic man, this is a great DVD. I would not have thought I was interested if one had simply told me that it was about Aldous Huxley's wife - but I feel I know the man behind the iconic image better for having seen this.
One side note: the Wikipedia entry on Huxley says he took 100 mcg of LSD as he lay dying. The film says he was given a 1000 mcg intramuscular injection - a massive dose.
1 comment:
Thanks for calling this film to our attention, Bill. I very much want to see it. I hope it's on Netflix or comes to it soon.
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