Now Something Is Slowly Changing

“Ten churches are closing down each week, and I think that’s the reason why there's such a big demand for coaching,” says one of the many speakers in this bold, rigidly structured documentary that examines a variety of forms of self-development and courses for inner growth and performance improvement. We visit therapy sessions with animals, such as pig massage and leadership training with horses, a presentation about happiness for elementary school kids, a “coping with tension and aggression” course in a municipal law enforcement department, and a vlogger trying to calm her stressed-out followers with gentle, relaxing sounds, to name a few. It’s left up to us to decide whether these mindfulness programs and courses symbolize something greater - a phenomenon of sorts. Throughout the film, the camera purposely keeps a distance in a wide shot, just outside the group. ‘Now something is slowly changing’ is first and foremost a cinematic observation of the modern-day search for personal growth and a sense of meaning. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)