AllMovie

Mimi George and Rick Kent direct this social documentary about exhibits of primitive urges in materialistic America. Disenfranchised by organized religion, capitalism, and the general malaise of modern life, many people turn to ancient rituals. The first part of the film discusses the modern primitives movement with body piercer Fakir Musafar, an ad executive turned mystic, who explains how painful transformations are a path to enlightenment. The filmmakers then investigate the primal desire to watch fire at the Burning Man Festival, held every Labor Day in Nevada. Then they go to a family festival to witness the annual burning of Zozobra, the ritual destruction of a symbol of evil. Commentary and insight is provided by author Tom Robbins (Even Cowgirls Get the Blues), Burning Man founder Larry Harvey, and medicine man Malidoma Some from West Africa.