THE STORY – In 1989, Julie Thayer, a wealthy mother from New York City, went to the Swiss Alps to have her ego destroyed. The man she chose for the job was U.G. Krishnamurti, a radical Indian anti-guru who refused followers, refused donations, and told everyone who came to him to go away. Julie stayed — and filmed everything. The Natural State is built from that archive, hundreds of hours unseen for decades, and from the private journals Julie kept as U.G.’s psychological “blasting” carried her from states of ecstasy to the brink of devastation.
THE CAST – N/A
THE TEAM – Matthew Dougherty (Director, Composer, Co-Editor), Jane Campion (Executive Producer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 100 Minutes
What do you make of a guru who promises nothing? What are you supposed to think about a spiritual leader who renounces all spirituality and berates those who search for enlightenment? These and many other questions surround U.G. Krishnamurti, the Indian “anti-guru” who developed a following in the late 20th century. Despite these seemingly antithetical ideas, that passionate following grew and grew, including Julie Thayer, who filmed her many years with Krishnamurti. “The Natural State,” so named for what Krishnamurti called his mental and spiritual state, chronicles the impact of an anti-spiritual leader and the cult-like influence that he maintained. It’s a documentary that, while not necessarily satisfying, is endlessly fascinating.
Julie’s deeply personal footage, captured on a camcorder between 1989 and 2007, makes up the bulk of “The Natural State.” Director Matthew Dougherty, who also composed and co-edited the film, weaves her footage, along with other archival video and imagery, underneath Julie’s reflective voiceover. The footage feels both haunting and deeply personal, as if giving us a seat at Krishnamurti’s table. In the years since Krishnamurti’s death, it’s obvious that she’s still trying to reconcile her feelings for the man who had such a profound impact on her life. Others, too, chime in through modern interviews, reflecting on their time in his presence. This includes Academy Award winner Jane Campion, who executive produced the documentary. She appears in an extraordinarily vulnerable scene whilst experiencing a strange physical reaction to Krishnamurti, which she describes as “some sort of energy field,” leaving her overloaded with sensations.
But what is it about U.G. Krishnamurti that leads to these experiences? He rejects the search for enlightenment. He flatly says there’s nothing to find. He’s combative toward those who come to him looking for meaning. One television host describes him as “the Don Rickles of the guru set,” as he tends to insult and mock those looking for something deeper. And yet they keep coming.
The documentary unfolds largely chronologically, following U.G. from the time Julie started engaging with him in 1989 onward, though we get glimpses into his upbringing and spiritual journey before his “calamity.” This event was the culmination of Krishnamurti’s fairly traditional search for enlightenment, but where he reportedly found “The Natural State,” this nothingness that changed the course of his life. It’s an anti-spiritual spirituality, but a state that others are desperate to reach.
We’ve seen far too many tragic tales of disciples coerced into following a corrupt spiritual leader, only to fall into some sort of deadly or otherwise horrific plot. The story of U.G. Krishnamurti isn’t one of those stories, thank goodness. But it’s still unnerving to watch. Seeing otherwise thoughtful, intelligent humans sitting at the feet of a man berating them for their search for meaning is uncomfortable and sad, even if they wouldn’t describe it as such. Some modern interviews with these followers still hold on to the belief that Krishnamurti found something special, while others seem less sure of what they experienced around him. Dougherty, though, clearly weaves skepticism into the film’s fabric. Through his editing and spacious, ominous score, he wants the audience to question the hold Krishnamurti had on these followers.
It’s easy to imagine different viewers coming away from “The Natural State” with different opinions on U.G. Krishnamurti. Some, like this writer, bring an immense skepticism toward spiritual leaders (even anti-spiritual ones, apparently) who develop a cult-like following. Others, who may be more open to spirituality and mysticism, could come away from learning about Krishnamurti with more wonder, even if guardedly. This makes the documentary both engrossing and unsatisfying, never giving the audience an easy answer to what Krishnamurti found, didn’t find, or was able to describe. There are few stories like it. “The Natural State” may avoid easy answers, but it’s a gripping documentary that confronts those who desperately search for spiritual awakening, asking them to question those who peddle any version of the answers.
