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Commune (2005)

Commune (2005)
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In 1968 members of San Francisco's Mime Troupe and Digger Movement decided to separate from society and form their own community, known as the Black Bear Ranch, to reconnect with nature and experience a different way of life. At the turn of the new century the resilient counterculture settlement was still active at the base of majestic Mount Shasta, and filmmaker Jonathan Berman traveled to the eighty-acre tract to explore just how the Black Bear Ranch continues to thrive despite the concerns of their suspicious neighbors and the ever-present eyes of the F.B.I. Life is lived at a different pace at the Black Bear Ranch, and now, as nostalgic members of the commune openly discuss just how life in the community has changed over the years, outsiders can finally see precisely how the bold social experiment has continued to defy all predictions regarding its longevity. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Director(s):
Jonathan Berman
Format(s):
DVD
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Synopsis of Commune

In 1968 members of San Francisco's Mime Troupe and Digger Movement decided to separate from society and form their own community, known as the Black Bear Ranch, to reconnect with nature and experience a different way of life. At the turn of the new century the resilient counterculture settlement was still active at the base of majestic Mount Shasta, and filmmaker Jonathan Berman traveled to the eighty-acre tract to explore just how the Black Bear Ranch continues to thrive despite the concerns of their suspicious neighbors and the ever-present eyes of the F.B.I. Life is lived at a different pace at the Black Bear Ranch, and now, as nostalgic members of the commune openly discuss just how life in the community has changed over the years, outsiders can finally see precisely how the bold social experiment has continued to defy all predictions regarding its longevity. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
78 mins

Complete Cast of Commune


Director(s):
Jonathan Berman
Writer(s):
Jonathan Berman
Producer(s):
Bob ShewJonathan MillerChristian Ettinger
Categories:
DocumentarySpecial Interest
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    Member Reviews
     
    Anne D.

    Very interesting movie about this commune that has survived for decades... its inspiring to see what idealism can lead to (especially if you have the guts to follow through).

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    Richard D.

    I lived in an east coast intentional community in the 70s. Everything that happened at Black Bear community happened in mine. An admirable portrayal of what was and continues to be.

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    Keith G.

    Interesting, insightful look at the Black Bear Ranch Commune, one of the many alternative living situations people explored in the late 60s and early 70s. By interviewing a diverse number of members, it gives what feels like a pretty accurate non-biased view of both the strengths and weaknesses, intelligence and stupidity, bravery and cowardice, generosity and selfishness, openness and didacticism that went into this rag tag bunch trying to show the world there was another way to live then simply as ‘consumers’ or ‘employees’. Actor Peter Coyote, who was a member, is particularly articulate about the goals, the successes and the failures. The film also has a sense of humor, which helps. Not a life changing film, but certainly an interesting one.

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