Watch BACK TO THE GARDEN: Flower Power Comes Full Circle

Back to the Garden: Flower Power Comes Full Circle is a 2009 documentary film that explores the enduring legacy of the hippie movement and its impact on society. The film features interviews with former hippies, activists, musicians, and scholars who reflect on the ideals and values of the counterculture of the 1960s. The film opens with footage from the Woodstock music festival and a voice-over from Jerry Bartels, who describes the sense of unity and connection that he felt among the attendees. Bartels, who is now in his 60s, is one of the film's main subjects and serves as a guide to the viewers as he reflects on his own experiences as a hippie in the 1960s.

Throughout the film, Bartels and the other interviewees discuss the various aspects of the hippie movement, including its embrace of peace, love, and freedom, its rejection of mainstream culture and consumerism, and its experimentation with drugs and alternative lifestyles. They also discuss the various social and political movements that grew out of the hippie movement, including the anti-war movement, the environmental movement, and the feminist movement.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is its focus on the enduring impact of the hippie movement on American society. The film argues that many of the ideas and values of the counterculture have become mainstream and have had a lasting impact on American culture. For example, the film suggests that the modern environmental movement owes a debt to the hippies' concern for the natural world, and that the feminist movement has been influenced by the hippies' rejection of gender norms and traditional roles.

The film also features a number of performances by musicians who were influenced by the hippie movement, including One Pine, a California-based band that plays original music inspired by the psychedelia of the 1960s. The band's music serves as a sort of backdrop to the film, and their performances are interspersed throughout the documentary.

Another interesting aspect of the film is its exploration of the ways in which the hippie movement has continued to inspire younger generations. The film features interviews with younger people who have been influenced by the counterculture, such as Maeyowa, a young woman who has embraced a vegan lifestyle and environmental activism.

Overall, Back to the Garden: Flower Power Comes Full Circle is a thoughtful and engaging documentary that explores the enduring legacy of the hippie movement. Through interviews with former hippies, activists, musicians, and scholars, the film offers a nuanced and complex portrait of a movement that continues to shape American culture and society. Whether you are a baby boomer who lived through the era of flower power or a younger person inspired by its ideals, this film is sure to provide insight and inspiration.