REBIRTH

US, 2016, 100 minutes, Colour.
Fran Kranz, Adam Goldberg, Nicky Whelan, Kat Foster, Andrew J.West.
Directed by Karl Mueller.

For those who persevere with Rebirth, it is intriguing, at times comic and satirical, but with an underlying seriousness and cautious message.

The program presented in Rebirth is particularly American. It has the atmosphere of all those popular media gurus who have programs of self-help, participants going away on camps to discover themselves and to reach fulfilment. It questions the motivation of these gurus as well is their qualifications and the consequences on participants in the programs. The screenplay suggests and mentions the background of cults and domination.

Kyle, Fran Kranz, seems an ordinary thirtysomething, happily married, working in an office, child, family life. A friend from his past, Zach, Adam Goldberg, suddenly arrives, trying to enthuse Kyle about the program of rebirth, eventually forcing him to participate in a program.

Watching the behaviour of those in charge of the program as well as the various sessions makes for some uncomfortable viewing for the audience. The method is to keep battering the participant with questions about his motivation, always questioning, but telling him he can always leave. Kyle becomes angry, involved, experiences different groups, there are attacks on him, while he passes other groups who seem to be meditating and doing can template of exercises. Ultimately, he has a shock in discovering Zach, hanging, trying to rescue him.

Kyle thinks he has escaped and returns home, only to find that the group already have photos of him on his wall and some the objects in his house with the Rebirth logo. And they have emptied his financial accounts.

The film ends with, Kyle completely of converted, as well is his wife, now himself and seem with Zach and various others giving testimony of the value of the Rebirth program..
Unless an audience wants to be made free of what might be thought of as a restrictive life and willing to participate in such a program, most audiences who made wary of these movements.

1. The title? American movements? Self-help? The attraction? Participants? The atmosphere of a cult? Aspects of fraud? Money-making?

2. The setting, 4 July, the family and the outing? Kyle and his wife? Their bonds? His work at the bank? At home? At work? The musical score?

3. The contrast with the Rebirth journey, going to the hotel, the room, the rebirth logo on so many objects, Kyle continuing, the bus, wanting to go on the bus, the interaction with Naomi? The bus ride, the hotel, entering into the process?

4. Zach, the past friendship, his suddenly reappearing, talking about Rebirth, his enthusiasm? Their manifesto when they were 20 and at college? Zach reinforcing it, Kyle saying that he had matured? Kyle unable to refuse? Zach organising everything? Disappearing?

5. Audience interest in this kind of group, the self-help, New Age approaches? Surrendering self to the process? The dangers? The exhilaration?

6. The film as satirical in its presentation of the process? But, at the same time, very serious?

7. Kyle’s experience, entering, the initial group, his being singled out, the humiliation, the affirmation, his being attacked? The continuous questions, the continual challenges? The effect on Kyle, mentally, spiritually, physically?

8. Naomi, her glamour, her continued questions, never answering Kyle? Her seductive presentation? Her taking him to the various rooms? His watching the various groups?

9. The range of participants, men and women, old and young, their enthusiasm, the exercises, the contemplation, the sexual innuendo? The violence?

10. The statement that Kyle could leave at any time? The locked doors? The various rooms, the challenges to him, the sexual encounter and his wanting to leave? The verbal abuse? Eventually being led to Zach, his being tied up, his wanting to rescue him? The arguments with the group, their confrontation? Second Kyle, his going into the bus, going home?

11. Arriving home, the range of photos on the wall, everything with the Rebirth logo? His wife, meeting Zach again, the pressure on Kyle? The kind of moral collapse?

12. The philosophy of the confined world, the need to break free, to be the real self, not participate in the fall’s world?

13. The year later, Kyle and his membership of Rebirth, with his wife? The enthusiasm, the video promotion, the testimonies, the talking about Kyle, his state and status in the group? His expertise? Zach and his support?

14. Kyle is returning home, finding his financial account empty? Zach’s doubletalk? And the final images of Kyle and his making money through rebirth? Through the clients? The experience of a cult?