It’s not easy to find a movie that gets us in tune with the harmonies of nature without scaring us half to death. After much diligent searching, I’ve found one that teaches not preaches, and opens the pathway for all of us to experience metanoia. What’s that? Metanoia is a shift in perspective, a change of mind, seeking in a new way. We humans could use a good dose of intelligent change and now wouldn’t be any time too soon.

In Metanoia: A New Vision of Nature, producer-writer-musician Simon G. Powell states his case that the currently acceptable interpretation of evolution is wrong. It is wrong in the assumption that humans are intelligent and nature is not. In Powell’s view, we humans ought to be learning how to re-fit ourselves into the intelligent scheme of nature, of the universe, and get off our high horse of irresponsible superiority. I couldn’t agree more.

Powell explains that nature is “bio-logical”. It is a self-organizing intelligence. Rather than “Survival of the Fittest,” Powell speaks of “The Survival of that which makes sense.” And his message does make sense.

He also makes it very clear that Metanoia represents a definite change from the status quo, neither aligned with reductionist science nor the creationism of religion. Although the movie does point out that holistic science and an intelligent religion could come together in a metanoic kind of way. I’d say that could herald enlightenment for the human population in its entirety.

The only tiny flea-speck of criticism I have for this fantastic movie is that Powell refers to nature’s intelligent activities as “engineering.” From my own experience, I find engineering to often be a brutal activity, manipulating nature rather than working in harmony with it. But I am in harmony with 99.99% of what Metanoia is saying to us. One nit-pickin’ word doesn’t in the least dampen my enthusiasm for this beautiful documentary.

I’ve not read the book the movie is based on, Darwin’s Unfinished Business, but I can’t imagine it being anything less than superb.

This movie looks good, too, with creative camera work by collaborator Ian J. Lewis, clever edits, and a masterful musical score by the two of them as well.

You simply must see this movie. Whatdya say, Let’s all get in tune.