– MICHAEL MOORE

An Encounter with Simone Weil

An Encounter with Simone Weil tells the story of French philosopher, activist, and mystic, Simone Weil (1909-1943) — a woman Albert Camus described as “the only great spirit of our time.” On her quest to understand Simone Weil, filmmaker Julia Haslett confronts profound questions of moral responsibility both within her own family and the larger world. From the battlefields of the Spanish Civil War to anti-war protests in Washington DC, from intimate exchanges between the filmmaker and her older brother, who struggles with mental illness, to captivating interviews with people who knew Simone Weil, the film takes us on an unforgettable journey into the heart of what it means to be a compassionate human being.

★★★★ RECOMMENDED “A fruitful and thought-provoking introduction to this remarkable person.”~Educational Media Reviews Online (EMRO)

“…the film invites serious reflection on some of the most important and intractable elements of the human condition. I recommend it highly.”
~Vance Morgan, Philosophy Prof, Providence College

“Excellent for the college classroom because of its layered complexity.” 
~Jennifer Rycenga, Professor of Comparative Religious Studies & Humanities, San Jose State