The title of this documentary is the most revealing thing about the film. The makers are searching for Sheela, but, trust me, they never find her. As she goes on a press junket (back to her native India for the first time in 35 years,) to presumably answer questions about her life, she gets irritated that she gets asked questions ABOUT HER LIFE.
As she is shown in the far superior Wild, Wild Country documentary, Sheela continues to be a world-class manipulator in her old age. She gaslights those who want to know if she committed past crimes, and why, by calling those who raise such questions ON A PRESS TOUR, boring. Without a trace of irony, she tells these journalists and her oddly adoring groupies that they need to look inside themselves so they can ask better questions.
The filmmakers don't bother to call Sheela on her BS, either with direct questions or by virtue of the documentary's construction. Fact checking is needed because Sheela never saw a fact that didn't have an interpretive story. Some differing points of views are needed as well. What does her family think of Sheela today? Former cult members? Law enforcement? Instead, what we get are fawning "journalists" apologizing and laughing for the questions they've asked, and taking Sheela's wrath for even asking them. Then there's the crowds of young people falling all over themselves to get a moment with Sheela, because she's apparently some kind of celebrity to be worshipped. Why? Before going to India, Sheela thought she would be killed there and needed security. But instead she gets groupies. That's never explored either. This whole documentary comes across like a Sheela-produced PR puff piece.
As she is shown in the far superior Wild, Wild Country documentary, Sheela continues to be a world-class manipulator in her old age. She gaslights those who want to know if she committed past crimes, and why, by calling those who raise such questions ON A PRESS TOUR, boring. Without a trace of irony, she tells these journalists and her oddly adoring groupies that they need to look inside themselves so they can ask better questions.
The filmmakers don't bother to call Sheela on her BS, either with direct questions or by virtue of the documentary's construction. Fact checking is needed because Sheela never saw a fact that didn't have an interpretive story. Some differing points of views are needed as well. What does her family think of Sheela today? Former cult members? Law enforcement? Instead, what we get are fawning "journalists" apologizing and laughing for the questions they've asked, and taking Sheela's wrath for even asking them. Then there's the crowds of young people falling all over themselves to get a moment with Sheela, because she's apparently some kind of celebrity to be worshipped. Why? Before going to India, Sheela thought she would be killed there and needed security. But instead she gets groupies. That's never explored either. This whole documentary comes across like a Sheela-produced PR puff piece.