The Invocation

The Invocation from 2010 is a thought-provoking, documentary-style motion picture on an age-old subject matter: the concept of 'God.' By digging into the human quest for meaning and spirituality through a diverse array of lenses, this film challenges viewers to re-evaluate their own beliefs and understandings. At the heart of the film is the exploration of the invocation principle - a universal consciousness or macrocosmic quantum field - the 'God' phenomenon beyond the scope of dogmas, atheism or agnosticism.

Directed by Emmanuel Itier and co-produced by actress Sharon Stone, the film features a remarkable ensemble of thought leaders, scholars, religious heads, and celebrated figures from various walks of life. Renowned contributors such as Karen Armstrong, Michael Beckwith, and Mustapha Cherif, among others, breathe life into the narration and discourse.

The film deftly checks boxes of various dimensions, grappling not only with the theological aspect, but also the sociopolitical perspective. It delves into how our interpretation of 'God' impacts the course of human history, the social fabric and cultural narratives. Through this exploration, it invites the audience to grapple with the question: Can we view 'God' in a way that unites humanity instead of dividing it?

Fueling its narrative, The Invocation features Karen Armstrong, a prominent British author and commentator known for her work on comparative religion. Karen, widely revered for her insightful books on historical and contemporary religion, brings wisdom and imposing thoughtfulness to the conversation, beautifully unravelling the abstract theme.

Dr. Michael Beckwith, an American New Thought minister and founder of the Agape International Spiritual Center, adds to this exploration with his own brand of spiritual discourse. He powerfully emphasizes the significance of spiritual liberation, unity consciousness, and the power of thought - be it through atheism, monotheism, pantheism or polytheism.

Inclusion of Mustapha Cherif, an acclaimed Algerian philosopher, and Islamologist, ensures a deep, no-stone-left-unturned exploration of God from an Islamic perspective, creating a richer, more multilayered dialogue.

The Invocation doesn't claim to provide directly palpable or definitive answers but rather intends to provoke a conversation and spark self-reflection. The film nudges its viewers to introspect on their spiritual beliefs, challenge their preconditioned biases, and even question the existence or non-existence of 'God.' The implementation of a wide range of religious, philosophical and scientific understandings makes the engagement rich, diverse, digestible, and thought-provoking.

In weaving the narratives together, the film transitions through multiple discourses with grace and clarity. The production itself is sleek, bringing in the right balance between simplicity and profundity – the cinematography and sound design elevating the storytelling and underlining each perspective efficiently.

Despite its probing into the abstract and often challenging aspects of spirituality and God, The Invocation remains thoroughly accessible. The articulate voice-overs, combined with recurring visuals and successions of questions and responses, work in favor of engaging and maintaining viewer attention. It transcends any particular theme of religion, belief, or ideology, and hence, caters to a broad spectrum of audience spanning different cultures, traditions, and belief systems.

Ultimately, the film is an interesting journey into the human psyche, exploring the ontology of God, and how we, as a collective species, have invoked this entity throughout history and ages - in pursuit of a sense of peace, direction, control, or deeper understanding. The Invocation is intellectually stimulating, spiritually enriching, and soul-searching cinema that compels its audiences to ponder, question, and perhaps, invoke their own version or understanding of 'God.' Through its comprehensive approach and diverse perspectives, The Invocation does more than just narrate; it initiates a conversation - one that continues long after the end credits roll.