MovieChat Forums > Wild Wild Country (2018) Discussion > Who did you feel empathy for while watch...

Who did you feel empathy for while watching this?

posted 6 years ago by Monti (5)
12 replies | jump to latest

Antelope residents? The Rajeneeshi? Bhagwan? Sheela?

From my own personal perspective the Oregon experiment, at least its beginnings, seemed to be so amazingly executed and such a shame that it was demolished. I liked the Oregon types and their language, values and behaviors much more than those of Antelope who seemed quite narrow minded by comparison. The whole thing just made me even less sympathetic to rural white America with its bigotry and non-tolerance towards minorities.
But again, that is only my perspective, so I'm wondering how this comes across to others

Spectacular documentary, by the way

[–] StoneKeeper (21044) 6 years ago

90% For Oregonians
9% For Sheela and that other guy talking
1% for Bhagwan

[–] Catbookss (13664) 6 years ago

Why 9% for Sheela and the lawyer?

The Rajeneeshi may have had good intentions in the beginning -- I don't know -- this documentary didn't go much into that, so I'm having difficulty understanding them, or what Bhagwan was even about. But the way this played out, the actions of Sheela and the attorney, were horrendous. Seems like it was more about them than the Bhagwan, but I don't know because I'm left with a lot of questions.

My sympathies lie almost entirely with the Oregonians. Those poor people who lived in Antelope. Elderly, and all they wanted was to live out the rest of their lives in peace. They were invaded. They were fine at first when they thought all the Rajeneeshi wanted to do was create a farming community, and it would have been fine had they been telling the truth about that, instead of wanting to take over everything.

[–] StoneKeeper (21044) 6 years ago

I just found her very magnetic, charismatic and straight forward. Although I don't approve of her attitude, I found her badass.

The other guy talking was so emotional and you felt that he just wanted the best for everyone.

Bhagwan drives a bunch of rolls royces so you have to give him some credit...

[–] Geff (453) 6 years ago

How did you feel more empathy towards the psychopath Sheela than towards Osha?

Sheela was an absolute psychopath throughout the documentary. I wouldn't be surprised if she had killed her first husband by poisoning him. She certainly seems capable of it. One of the investigators even said that based on speaking to her she seemed like a person completely lacking empathy.

I also felt bad for the Oregonians. At the same time, I marveled at what the commune builders were able to build out of seer shared motivation towards a united goal. I did not empathize with the leadership, but I did empathize with the people.

[–] StoneKeeper (21044) 6 years ago

[–] smidget28 (768) 6 years ago

The lawyer, who is writing the book, and had genuine love, no matter how misguided, for "Osho."

[–] Renovatio (2990) 6 years ago

I felt empathy for directors of the documentary... What a topic to try to cover!

[–] Silverman (270) 5 years ago

Rednecks and Christians usually bug me, as did the Oregonians here, but it’s hard to fault them here - despite my bias.

[–] Ollie147 (3) 4 years ago

These people who only asked for a different way of life free from persecution, as is promised by the American constitution, were completely driven out of town by redneck yokels who couldn’t stand seeing happy people having a way of life which differed from theirs.
The site has now been taken over by a Christian “theme park”
The young disciples have to plead adherence to not giving up their virginity, while the young girls are pictured leaping into pools and waterfalls while their tits are hanging out in very low cut tops. The owner of this site is now a multi millionnaire.
This fits in completely with the Christian ethos, and the locals are totally up for it

[–] Ollie147 (3) 4 years ago

[deleted]

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

The Rajneeshis and Antelope residents deserved each other. Although the cultists blindly followed what they claimed was a living god, they bugged, burned and threatened, and attempted to murder a couple of people, the residents were backward, conservative, bigoted and small-minded. They didn't 'win', as they claimed - the Rajneeshis just imploded.

It's a case of nasty versus boring. I feel no empathy for any of them.

[–] CheekyMonkey (584) 4 years ago

I feel empathy for all concerned, in the sense that I can put myself in their shoes and understand how they feel... but that doesn't excuse their behaviour...

I recognise, fully, that Rajeneesh is a con man... Sheela both a sociopath and a zealot... most of the Rajneeshi people were either fools, or troubled souls or both... But there are a lot of Rajneesh scammers still running their game.. the who Osho network is alive an well... Some are true believers (fools), some a zealots, but others are just exploiting the system Rajneesh created (probably the ones running it)...

The Oregonians were the people I felt most sympathy for... They tolerated a lot... I don't feel sorry for the regular Rajneeshi believers (it's clearly a cult), and certainly not for Sheela and Bhagwan...