In the Pipeline: Peaceful Warrior

In the Pipeline presents: Victor Salva’s Peaceful Warrior

[Ed’s note: A big thank you to Marc-Andre Rouleau for once again delivering us the cool little doodle above for our fav. Wednesday read! Cheers!]

Whether cinema can inspire people to change their lives rather then just saying they will for a couple of hours after a screening is debatable. Nevertheless, the hope of such seems to be driving the upcoming film Peaceful Warrior, an adaptation of Dan Millman’s ‘inspirational’ novel, Way of the Peaceful Warrior. The film follows Dan, an athletic success who can’t help feeling that there is something missing from his life. In a chance encounter with “Socrates”, Dan is sent on a spiritual journey to enlightenment and the true meaning of winning. For the viewers, hopefully there is something meaningful for them as well.

The adaptation of Dan Millman’s novel is the latest project from director Victor Salva. Salva has made a name for himself for directing narratives in a somewhat fantastical world. With Socrates a character, the trend seems to continue to Salva’s newest film. Salva started in horror with the short Something in the Basement and his first feature, Clownhouse, but would be better known for Jeepers Creepers and Jeepers Creepers 2. A departure from horror isn’t unusual however as Salva has honed his skills for drama with Powder and Rites of Passage.

Salva has certainly put together a talented cast of actors of both rising names and seasoned veterans for his latest film. Scott Mechlowicz appears as the lead character, Dan. Mechlowicz may be recognizable as the comical lead in EuroTrip but recently gave a particularly strong dramatic performance in Mean Creek. Amy Smart fills out the supporting cast along with Nick Nolte as “Socrates”, and I am sure Nolte needs no introduction.

As the film has missed out on creating word-of mouth of the festival circuit, there seems to be little indication to how the film with be other then impressions from the novel itself. The novel seems to be reviewed greatly by those working in the field of psychology. Dr. Stanley Krippner, from the Institute of Humanistic Psychology, described the book as, “remarkably wise, provocatively humorous and hauntingly beautiful. It may even change the lives of many of those who peruse its pages.” Laura Goad, from the Association for Transpersonal Psychology, found the book profound, stating, “It helped answer inner questions I’ve been battling for a long time.” Whether or not these characteristics make it onto the screen, the film sounds like it will be a different breed of cinema and it will be of interest to see if it works.

Lionsgate releases Peaceful Warrior on June 2nd in New York and Los Angeles with a wider release to occur in the weeks to come.