MONTE GRANDE - what is life?

by Franz Reichle

MONTE GRANDE - what is life?
with Francisco Varela (1946 - 2001) A film on knowledge, consciousness, meditation and dying, with the participation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Heinz von Foerster a. m. o.

"Francisco Varela was a master of synthesis. Admired, controversal, and endowed with the intoxicating passion of an exceptionally gifted researcher. He was highly instrumental in shaping modern systems theory as well as cognitive science. He was a friend of the Dalai Lama und an unorthodox inspirer on the international scientific scene. In Franz Reichle's film - the documentary account of a man's life in the face of imminent death - one gets to know Francisco Varela in a way I would not have believed possible. This is the story of a man that is told affectionately and gently, touchingly astutely. Varela spent his life building bridges: between western science and eastern wisdom, neurobiology and philosophy, abstract theory and practical life. This film succeeds - if only for 80 delightful minutes - in deconstructing the prevailing division between science and art."
Bernhard Pörksen
Bernhard Pörksen is a junior professor of journalism and communication science at the University of Hamburg. He has written books in collaboration with Heinz von Foerster ("Understanding Systems") and Humberto Maturana (From being to doing").

CH 2004, Color,, 35mm (FAZ), 80', Documentary
Original: English/Spanish/German/French

Director: Franz Reichle
Production: T&C Film, Zürich
Worldsales: T&C EDITION

Further Information:
www.montegrande.ch
www.franzreichle.ch