Orange Sunshine

source: Orange Sunshine

Here's the American dream, grounded and honest. See how a pure human effort to bring the meaning of life to all humanity is attacked by evil. This is going to go on only because YOU watch and again. Contemplate, thru the effort, struggles, sanctioned murders. This is a group of people that love, there for no need to forgive. They understand they are humans and keep on going.

What a bunch of nonsense. The mass illegalization of recreational drugs (and alcohol prohibition) began in the 1920s and was a core policy objective of the left wing PROGRESSIVE movement. This left wing progressive policy resulted in a massive increase in incarcerated persons for drug offenses growing from the 1920s on, and also gave rise to huge growth in organized crime. Nixon was responding to a increase in violent crime case by mass heroin use growth that occurred during Johnson's tenure. By the Democrat governors across the country, Democrat state legislatures and Democrat members of the US congress all almost universally supported massive crackdowns on drug trade, drug use, through huge increase in prison sentences during Nixon's tenure. Blaming him is idiotic. This was one of the broadest most non-partisan consensuses in US public policy.

It's December 31, 2017, New Year's Eve is moments away. Tomorrow, 1/1/2018, California will legalize Pot. This truly is the "American Story". Well, told. Well documented. And, Well Done! Laws were meant to be broken. Some laws are just wrong, plain and simple. The laws that take away personal freedom, freedom of choice, are wrong. This movie tells the story of heroes that help the American Society change for the better. Having been there, done that, I can relate, as will any of you that have been there, and have done that. This documentary shows the struggle, highs & lows, and where we've come from since the '60's.....LOUD & PROUD!

It is, of course, one person's look at the era and although it is a fascinating glimpse into history and the state of the USA (and some of the world) at the time, it's easy to see how it might polarise opinion, although not so much among enlightened and free-thinking viewers. It's really interesting to see Nixon wage his 'war on drugs' as so many other 'leaders' of the US and other countries continue to do. A few enlightened administrations have realised their folly and relaxed their grip. The thing is - it's not about 'drugs' as such, it about what the state is unable to control And that, Dear Reader, is the crux of the matter and the crux of the movie. One of the best lines in the movie is: "If laws are wrong we have to break them!". There are so many laws today which are wrong from so many viewpoints and on so many levels with so-called 'law-makers' justifying their decisions to restrict freedom and limit control in the name of whatever-they-deem-politically-suitable-at-the-time. Make no mistake - it's about controlling you, very little else. Everyone needs to step up to the plate and not roll over when Big Brother makes a new decress. Well, that was a rant, wasn't it...?

A very interesting overview of a particular time and place, when expanding horizons could be catalyzed by ingesting a relatively new substance. Things naturally became derailed - both by thinking that taking enough of this substance could result in enlightenment, and engaging in battle with the nascent War on Drugs. Cost/benefit of smuggling and lab work vs. new drug laws and increased determination to enforce them, all took their toll. Tim Leary didn't help, and neither really did Farmer John - it is far too easy to turn an experience of ego loss right back into an increased ego. They should have listened to the Zen Roshi, who thanked LSD for taking them across the river to begin a spiritual quest, but once across that river, they no longer needed the boat. The psychedelic experience opens new doors, but is not an end in itself. That said, I love this flick.

Great movie... Laguna Beach was the epicenter of psychedelia for So Cal in the 1960's and I remember it well. It was like a non stop Kumbh Mela for the counter culture... Instead of sensationalizing a pivotal moment in time, the director lets the founders of BEL tell their story with his excellent Super 8 recreations filling in the gaps. When LSD was about to become illegal a government official contacted Dr. Timothy Leary and offered to provide him with a large quantity of governmental LSD. Leary asked why he was helping and the official replied, "Can you see any hope for this homicidal, neurologically crippled species other than a mass religious ecstatic convulsion?" Good question and the Brotherhood of Eternal Love tried to fill the bill. The founders of the Brotherhood are visionaries who walked the walk and paid the price for it as well. And it is wonderful that their story has been told so skillfully and without editorial comment.

This was probably one of the most disappointing doc/movies I'be seen in years. Shallow puff piece was the only description that came to me as I was watching this movie. Everything was wonderful, Everything was perfect. We were so special. Everyone wanted to be us. Its so sad that the everyone can't be as col as us, Except for the part where someone dies. I've know this story for years and knew quite a few of people who were involved and I was really excited to see the movie or at least something that was the least bit entertaining. Sadly the movie did one thing right, it showed the how completely self involved egotistical these people still are. FYI, the director was obviously in awe of this group/story because instead of making balance movie he let them dictate to him. SO DISAPPOINTED!!!!! If you insisted on seeing it don't spend a dime on it.

The film is a true story from here in Orange County and a documentary about how a little art gallery and spiritual commune in Laguna Beach ran by friends became the biggest drug distribution network in the world. The interviews with the Laguna Beach chief of police, and defense attorney Michael Kennedy, before his death, plus the clips from Paul McCartney, Nixon, Reagan, Lyndon Johnson and Dan Ackroyd, and the reenactments of OC in the sixties, the stories of passport fraud, smuggling, prison breaks and living on the run, and wanting to change the world made you feel like you were there. This is a story hinted at in books and other cultural artifacts of the time from the 60s, and was really waiting for this treatment as a film. The filmmaker did a great job, especially with the tone, look, and feel of the film, and the intensive interviews with those involved make you invested in their stories. If I had a criticism of the film, the flow of the storytelling seemed a little jarring at times. That might have been because parts of the story may have been trimmed for time, or it might have been due to planning to tell this story in an unusual way, or due to not considering unanswered questions. Most audience members had curiosity about the prosecution, and punishment, for those featured in the film. Only near the end are quick titles given showing the punishment for some of the members featured, but not the actual time served, the effects on them, or even what charges were filed. Likewise, the storytelling loop of Timothy Leary and his jail escape leaves him (presumably) in Canada, with no further follow up on what happened to him, or any liability to him or those featured here that helped him escape. A confession of love that leaves two members joining together and starting their life together, which the filmmaker said was an important point he wanted to include in the film, seemed uncomfortably inserted in the film, with no lead up, or resolution after as to why that happened, or what the effects were. I think motivation for all involved is an important part of bonding with those featured, and the inspiration to provide enlightenment to the world was brought up once and not resolved, when that could have been expounded on more. Overall, a very enjoyable film that makes you want to learn more and leaves you thinking for a while. An important part of the history of the 60s, the history of Orange County, and much of what that generation brought to modern society.

I put this film in the same category as Blow (2001), Narcos (2015-), Lords of Dogtown (2005), Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001) and Breaking Bad (2008-2013)... Orange Sunshine exposes the taboo history of Southern California which has always intrigued me. The drug counterculture/subculture during the rock and roll years is very rich. Nothing gets me as excited as a film that tells the incredible true stories of what happened back in the day in the area where I was born and raised, Orange County. It's nice to know that Orange County didn't use to be as lame as it is today. People used to be badass and real to the core (now they are offended by everything and plastic and silicon to the core.) This film exposes what Orange County and Southern California were meant to be and how they have strayed. People used to get out there and do really unique, artistic, and fun things... now my generation sits with their phones in hand, staring lifelessly at the screen. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS FILM TO ANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN OLD SOUL AND LOVE A GREAT STORY.