Wild Wild Country is the story of Rajneeshpuram, a commune established in rural Oregon in the 1980s by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Over six episodes, filmmakers Chapman Way and Maclain Way interview Rajneesh's followers, law enforcement officials, and residents of the tiny town of Antelope, Oregon right next to where this began.
By most accounts, the story of the sannyasins (Rajneesh's followers) sounds like any '80s cult, but as the story unfolds it includes immigration fraud, criminal prosecution, and a sprinkling of biological warfare.
Though Rajneesh is the center of his religious movement, the most compelling player in the saga is Ma Anand Sheela, his secretary and early disciple whose relationship with Rajneesh sours drastically by the end. She is calm, collected, and well-spoken on camera – both in the present and in old interviews – but with a a jagged edge that reveals itself when people question Rajneesh or she feels her community threatened.
As Rajneeshpuram gained national attention, Sheela became the movement's spokesperson, cheerfully alluding to physical violence on television while running PR for Rajneesh. As much as the former sannyasins speak of Rajneesh's magnetism and power, Sheela is the one with more face time in the documentary, and it's through her that you sense how he must have charmed his disciples.
Those disciples, like Sheela, are now in their 60s and 70s. They still speak effusively of the late guru, some tearing up with the emotional impact of their time at Rajneeshpuram. Their testimony does not sound like that of the brainwashed or manipulated, but recalls the rise and fall of Rajneeshpuram with startling lucidity. They tear up recalling how Rajneesh made them feel, shake their heads at those who fought him and his feud with Sheela.
Instead of telling you the story of a forgotten cult, Wild Wild Country takes you right into it. You'll start out wondering how anyone could get pulled into such a scheme, then find yourself intrigued by the sannyasins' world and lifestyle. For something that seems far removed from today's society, the series is deeply immersive and appropriately paced. It's nothing if not a wild ride – and a perfect binge.
Wild Wild Country is now streaming on Netflix.
Topics Documentaries
