It all began one day when I thought I saw a friend in the street. I was
about to call out to him, Haim! But at that very moment I realized that
it wasn't him, something about the way he moved wasn't right. That was
my first experience with the sense of movement.
Moshe Feldenkrais came to Israel at the age of fourteen. He later developed
his method after injuring his knee during a football game. The Feldenkrais
Method is mainly based on the practitioner's observation
and self inquiry of his body, whilst releasing unwanted movement patterns
and creating new combinations of movements that bring improvement and
alternatives to personal ability and self - image. This Method touches
one's physical, mental and spiritual levels of being.
"A story about the Feldenkrais Method" is
a documentary feature in which a historic meeting is taking place. Group-13 consists
of the immediate disciples of Moshe Feldenkrais, who participated, in his first
course for trainers that took place between the years 1968--1971, and who have
not congregated since.
This feature paints a fascinating collage of the participants' thoughts
and memories. They have each paved a unique pathway for the Method, by
contributing their personal philosophies and backgrounds to the practice.
They are equally responsible for the development, imparting and spreading
of Feldenkrais. Together, these vignettes concoct
an exciting drama, which brings about an understanding of the participants'
journey towards awareness and self-consciousness.
The film invites us to ponder upon the applications of the Method, on
a personal and universal scale. The issues, which emerge, are relevant
to all viewers- whether they have practiced Feldenkrais
or not.
Seven out of the thirteen original disciples participated in the Group-13
reunion: Ruth Alon, Shlomo Efrat, Devora Hisdai, Yochanan Ryverant, Chava
Shelhav, Eli Vadler and Bruria Milo, who passed away during the making
of this film- which is dedicated to her.
As Bruria Milo said: "Feldenkrais is a
process. What is interesting is not the final product, but how someone
reaches his/her goal. The way, the pathway to the destination is interesting.
The way of doing so makes all the difference."
