Calling All Earthlings, 2018.
Directed by Jonathan Berman.
Featuring Daniel Boone, JJ Hurtak, Desiree Hurtak, Eric Burdon, and Ted Markland.
SYNPOSIS:
A 1950’s Howard Hughes employee-confidante, George Van Tassel, uses alien guidance and Nikola Tesla’s ideas to build a time machine — The Integratron. Is he deluded, or could it actually work? As waves of devotees join him in the California desert, the FBI gets involved fearing insurrection and possibly more. Nearing completion, Van Tassel’s tale and the Integratron meet an unexpected end: the “workings” of the dome finally emerge. The unusual story is told by historians, astronomers and current residents of Joshua Tree, including the stewards of the Integratron, the Karl Sisters, and a galaxy of believers and skeptics alike.
There are no shortage of conspiracy theories and tall tales about alien contact, government cover ups and suppressed technology that can defy the laws of physics and biology. America in particular is a treasure trove for all of these things.
There are few more bizarre tales than that of the Integratron, particularly given the man who created (or indeed ‘discovered’ the secret to building it) was former Howard Hughes confidante, George Van Tassel. The story goes that Van Tassel was abducted by an Alien called Solganda (who looked human, and spoke English). He is given plans for a special dome. Once built, in principal it has the power to re-energise and rejuvenate those inside. To defy time and bodily decay. Tassel had his own group of followers but died of a heart attack in 1978, shortly before he’d completed the Integratron. In the years since, more followers took interest in his beliefs and the alien technology, whilst rumour and theories spread around the local communities.
This is the central focus in Jonathan Berman’s documentary, a sensitive ode to the curios among us. The Integratron is less a focus as a focal point, which in the present era brings together a collection of alternative thinkers and free spirits (that many would merely call oddballs). In addition, Berman gets the local perspective around the Joshua Tree area from those who know of the Dome, to those who interacted with Van Tassel himself.
As a piece of historical curiosity, it makes for an interesting tale. Van Tassel had a profile. His alien encounter was discussed in media at the time. The conjecture as to government interest in him, and his integratron is of course wildly varying, but interesting regardless. Berman brings together an engaging and diverse group of participants. Some have had alien encounters, others merely find the outsider thinking behind the Dome, to be something freeing and inspiring. Given Van Tassel’s connection to someone as deeply fascinating as Howard Hughes, I’d have loved to have heard more about their connections but perhaps those did not extend to much relating to the integratron.
For those in particular who may not have been aware of the story before hand, this is especially engaging. Berman’s film is beautifully photographed and whilst it has no great revelations or big payoffs (no the integratron doesn’t fly off into space sadly) it’s an intriguing slice of small town alternative American life, dressed up in Alien and government conspiracy tales.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★
Tom Jolliffe
