-Written by Kyle Bain.
Leon Logothetis is a bestselling author, the host of a Netflix series, and a man best known by the name “the kindness guy.” He’s now faced with demons, ones that take him to the brink of expiration, ones that force him to seek help outside of the typical avenues. The Kindness Within follows Leon as he travels the world looking for answers, hoping to find his way back to inner peace.
The Kindness Within is a story and a journey that seems to exist so far outside of what is considered normal to me. I’m used to using what is readily available to me when I’m looking for emotional support–and it’s never once crossed my mind that the greatest healing powers in this regard exist halfway across the world. With that I found it incredibly challenging to connect with Leon and his journey. Back and forth viewers are pulled between being grounded and existing in the world of the spiritual–and the spiritual aspect of Leon’s expedition feels out of reach to me. I believe in God, and I was raised to understand that he is a resource and an outlet available during trying times–but The Kindness Within extends too far in this direction, often losing me along the way.
The Kindness Within is incredibly linear, a story that is easy to follow–but its overwhelming simplicity is challenging to overcome. With the film being so simplistic I found myself struggling to remain focused. A little jeuje could have gone a long way here–just something small to spruce up the film and make the story more compelling. I often felt that I was being talked at, like The Kindness Within was trying to force opinions rather than open viewers up to conversation. That’s troubling, and it’s off putting.
Dimiter Yordanov develops a wonderful score that helps to electrify these otherwise cumbersome and challenging moments strewn throughout The Kindness Within. This is what elevates the film beyond the standard simplistic algorithm–this is really the only reason my ears perked up every now and then. Without Yordanov I believe that The Kindness Within may have felt tortuous–but his expertise is a spark of light in an otherwise dark film.
There’s a powerful message present in The Kindness Within, and I think it’s there for the taking–available to anyone willing to give this film a chance. However, those slow moving, overly simplistic moments present throughout the duration of the documentary can create something of a hurdle that must be overcome. And beyond the message of inner peace, one with which just about everyone can appreciate, The Kindness Within pushes religion at an aggressive rate, one that will antagonize viewers, one that will force them to turn up their noses to the documentary as a whole.
Directed by Steven Priovolos.
Written by Leon Logothetis & Asimakis Alfa Pagidas.
Starring Leon Logothetis, Neale Donald Walsch, Inni Kaur, Ted Klontz, Kute Blackson, etc.
4.5/10 = WORTH WATCHING, BUT YOU’VE BEEN WARNED
