Robert Johnson – In Search of the Holy Grail Understanding Masculine Psychology

In this film Dr. Johnson unveils a blueprint for the modern western male by taking us back to an ancient Arthurain myth. As he sits in his garden with Steven H. Wong, Dr. Johnson on touches many human themes, expanding on his best selling book HE. Dr. Johnson highlights Parsifal’s story as a collective dream, one that carries with it the wisdom of the ages combined with a map onto the future of the western psyche.
Review

I own this Robert Johnson DVD as well as the more recently issued ‘Slender Threads’ interview disc and would recommend them to anyone interested in Jungian psychology or the functioning of mythic themes in our lives. For readers of Johnson’s book ‘He’ the material covered on this disc will be familiar but one does benefit by having Johnson himself discussing the ideas with an interviewer.talked of the Lakotas as being contributors to being Code Talkers. The firy discourse of Chief Red Cloud was momentous as he talked of pride, duty and honor so as to instill a sense of pride and direction for the youth who has lost their way as all of our nation’s youth has. Tulac Cochise told of his service to our country and honored all men who have served and gave homage and honor to all men of all nationalities, including Native Americans, saying that we all are Americans and must all come together as one. My father was quite moved to tears as a veteran of WWII himself and found this documentary to be an outstanding informational and historical documentary and homage for all veterans. –Hans Arp

Having met and known Robert Johnson since 1962, I am pleased to have this visual reminder of his wisdom and presence. His discussion is clear and practical. I was fortunate to be a part of the group that assembled at St Paul’s Episcopal church, San Diego, in the early 1970’s when Robert was developing his lectures on this subject, from which his book HE has evolved. The video is a wonderful visit with a good friend. –Seldom Scene

I bought this with great hopes and was a little disappointed. I do not find fault with the video as much as with my intent. I was hoping to show it to my class and use it to explain the masculine myth. The introduction was more work than anything the film could have contributed. It was just a little above the mark. Again, not finding fault with the film itself, but rather my motivation in buying it –Professor Tito
About the Actor

Robert A. Johnson, D. Hum., was born born in 1921 in Portland, Oregon. He attended the University of Oregon and Stanford University before studying under Fritz Kunkel in Los Angeles. This eventually led to study at the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich, Switzerland. He did further work under Tony Sussman in London, England. In the early 1950 s Robert established an analytical practice with Helen Luke in Los Angeles, California and became at this time a father figure to her two young boys. After Helen s youngest was successfully launched Robert left his busy analytical practice to enter a Benedictine monastery in Michigan. He left the monastery after four years to establish Saint Johns House, a retreat center, where he specialized in the synthesis of Christianity and the work of C. G. Jung. Robert during the 1991 filming of In Search of the Holy Grail. Eventually Robert found his way back to California, where he became a resident lecturer at Saint Paul s Episcopal Church in San Diego, working with Jack Sanford to make a bridge between traditional Christianity and depth psychology. In 1974 one of Robert s lectures was published by the Religious Publishing Company of Pennsylvania with the title HE! Robert became a best selling author when this small publisher was purchased by HarperCollins. In 1973 Robert s interest in mythology took him to India where he began a study of the great Hindu Epics. He soon abandoned his studies to spend his time making friends and soaking in the culture. Robert returned to India annually for over twenty years. He established deep friendships with many of the people he met from all walks of life. Many of these friendships exist to this day. Through the years Robert saw much of India, but he preferred to spend the vast majority of his Indian life in the southeastern coastal city of Pondicherry. Currently Robert makes his home in San Diego, California. He is mostly retired from writing, traveling and lecturing. He spends his energy attending to his garden and his friends. More information about Robert s life can be found in his critically acclaimed memoir Balancing Heaven and Earth.
About the Director

New York native Russ Hopkins’ has spent many years in the music business as a performer, songwriter, sound designer, audio engineer and music producer. He has opened for John Sebastian of The Lovin’ Spoonful and John McEuen of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. He has recorded Michael Hedges, Odetta, Tom Paxton, Al Stewart, Leo Kottke, Jerry Jeff Walker, David Bromberg… Hopkins is also a much published photographer and filmmaker who’s work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, HarperCollins’ best selling publications, ABC televison… Hopkins also produced the film Strong Heart, a documentary filmed in the Lakota Nation of South Dakota, USA.