X
  • 2017
  • Abramorama
  • 1 h 17 m
  • 2017
  • Abramorama
  • 1 h 17 m

Summary The Last Shaman is the story of James Freeman, a young man who decides to take matters in his own hands when faced with incurable depression. He undergoes a life-changing journey in the Amazon jungle that brings him a deeper understanding and acceptance of self. Along the way, he experiences the healing properties of the tribal plant med...

Directed By: Raz Degan

Written By: Raz Degan

  • 2017
  • Abramorama
  • 1 h 17 m
  • 2017
  • Abramorama
  • 1 h 17 m

The Last Shaman

Metascore Mixed or Average Based on 7 Critic Reviews
49
User Score Available after 4 ratings
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Summary The Last Shaman is the story of James Freeman, a young man who decides to take matters in his own hands when faced with incurable depression. He undergoes a life-changing journey in the Amazon jungle that brings him a deeper understanding and acceptance of self. Along the way, he experiences the healing properties of the tribal plant med...

Directed By: Raz Degan

Written By: Raz Degan

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 7 Critic Reviews
49
29% Positive
2 Reviews
43% Mixed
3 Reviews
29% Negative
2 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 7 Critic Reviews
49
29% Positive
2 Reviews
43% Mixed
3 Reviews
29% Negative
2 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
75
May 24, 2017
Ultimately, the film is what Freeman aspires to be: Not a big person making his mark on the world, but a small part of something very big.
FULL REVIEW
70
May 18, 2017
The film is a fascinating and sometimes terrifying introduction to ayahuasca. Surreal sequences mimicking the hallucinogenic experiences during the ceremonies are unnecessary and pale in comparison to the real transformation we witness.
By Katie Walsh FULL REVIEW
60
May 11, 2017
On occasion, director Degan attempts to capture the plant's power via psychedelic montage, layering colors over jungle footage and Freeman's home movies, but more fascinating are the details of the rituals, the river-trek photography, Freeman's frankness about his struggles with depression, and Degan's quick portraits of the people Freeman meets along his way — none of whom gets enough screen time.
By Alan Scherstuhl FULL REVIEW
50
May 22, 2017
Degan's first film, the effort often suffers from hazy storytelling, but its real difficulty for many viewers will be its protagonist, who isn't the most sympathetic proxy for Americans curious about the plant extract's suitability to treat depression.
By John DeFore FULL REVIEW
50
May 11, 2017
How The Last Shaman came to be isn’t discussed in the film, but this documentary might be less disquieting if it had been.
By Ben Kenigsberg FULL REVIEW
38
May 17, 2017
Degan ably imitates drug trip experiences with the visuals and editing. But he also captures a rich boy detoxing from therapeutic drugs and a corrosive-to-some culture for many months.
By Roger Moore FULL REVIEW
30
May 11, 2017
At once superficial and overblown, this documentary also often feels downright phony.
By Nick Schager FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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Details

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Production Company Sumatra Films, 2B Films, Appian Way, A List Films, Peace Productions
Release Date May 12, 2017
Duration 1 h 17 m
Genres
Tagline How far would you go to save your own life?
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Awards

LifeArt Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination

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