When you talk to Mariel Hemingway, you quickly realize that, despite a successful acting and modeling career — not to mention her famous last name —, she’s very down to earth. That’s fitting considering one of her most recent projects.
Hemingway returns to the Sedona International Film Festival in the documentary “Down to Earth: The Remarkable Science of Grounding.” The film will be shown at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, at the Sedona Performing Arts Center.
According to the film’s synopsis, “‘Down to Earth’ shows a growing mountain of peer-reviewed research that shatters modern medical thinking. From reducing heart disease, to restoring balance in prenatal babies, to reducing or eliminating restless leg syndrome, to radically decreasing the recovery time for athletes, the film shows that study after study proves the effectiveness of grounding the human body.”
The film features interviews with scientists, physicists, medical doctors and well-known grounding advocates who explain both the science and their often life-changing personal experience with grounding. Along with wellness expert Deepak Chopra, it features Hemingway and actress Amy Smart. The film is directed by Josh and Rebecca Tickell, who attended the SIFF in 2017 with their film “Good Fortune,” a documentary about Paul Mitchell hair care co-founder John Paul DeJoria.
Following the film, the Tickells, Hemingway and Smart will be on hand for questions and answers. The granddaughter of Nobel Prizewinning novelist Ernest Hemingway, Mariel Hemingway is best known for the films “Lipstick” and “Manhattan” and the television show “Civil Wars.” She authored two memoirs, “Finding My Balance,” in 2002 and “Out Came the Sun,” in 2015.
During a recent phone interview, Hemingway discussed “Down to Earth” as well as her past appearance at the SIFF.
How do you feel about returning to the Sedona International Film Festival?
First off, Sedona is one of my favorite places in the world. So, when I was asked to attend, of course I was very excited to do so.
How did you become involved with the making of “Down to Earth?”
I’m very good friends with Josh and Rebecca. I reminded them that in the book Bobby [Williams, her boyfriend] and I wrote called “Running With Nature,” one of the chapters was about being barefoot outdoors. I’ve found that it’s the perfect way to get in touch with nature and heal your body. It’s a very important part of our lives — grounding or earthing. It’s one of the key ways to making ourselves better.
How did you become aware of grounding or earthing?
Not long after we met, Bobby reminded me of my childhood and how I’d spend my summers in Idaho running around barefoot. We rarely wore shoes and we were always very healthy. Sadly, kids nowadays are outside far less. Now, it’s become a big part of our lives. I remember him taking off his shoes on one of our first dates and me asking him what he was doing. He said he did it as a way to connect with the earth and to do so is a very powerful thing. There’s been scientific research that shows how incredibly powerful this can be and how you can get rid of infections, which is one of the key components to every ailment we suffer from.
You were here five years ago for “Running From Crazy.” What was that like for you in terms of attending various film festivals, considering the topic was a very personal one about your family’s struggle with depression?
The irony of taking part in all the festivals was that it kind of opened the door to me becoming an advocate for mental health issues. For me, one of the ways I dealt with depression, anxiety or other mental health issues was getting out into nature, which brings me back to grounding. But “Running From Crazy” was the catalyst that helped me realize what it is I’m here to do — that’s to let people know they’re not alone. Since that film came out five years ago, I’ve written two more books and toured the country talking about mental health issues.
Documentaries are always popular at this festival. What’s the appeal of documentaries?
Documentary filmmaking is an art form. The appeal to many is because they evoke emotions from people since they’re based on real-life events. It often gives clarity because you hear both sides of an issue or see an issue in a more in-depth, real-world perspective. We yearn for knowledge and film festivals are the perfect venue for documentaries to be seen. n Do you plan to do more documentaries in the future? I would love to and hope to work with Josh and Rebecca on a future project.
Why are film festivals so important to the movie industry these days?
They’re important because they give smaller films a platform to be seen. That’s why festivals like Sedona and Sundance are so important. In a world where so many movies these days cost $100 million or more to make, it’s important for filmmakers to have a way for their art to be seen.
