Filmed on location at the Ananda communities in California, Italy and India, the fictional Juliet meets real people who not only answer her questions, but welcome her to a reality she had never imagined.
The story that emerges has its origins in the 1920s, when yoga was first brought to the shores of America by Paramhansa Yogananda, who became famous as the author of the most-read autobiography of all times: Autobiography of a Yogi. His two main messages – that change comes from within; and that environment greatly influences our life experiences and spiritual evolution – were embraced by one of his youngest disciples, J. Donald Walters, later known as Swami Kriyananda, who in 1968 founds the first “world brotherhood community,” envisioned by Yogananda.
As Juliet researches her story, a self-portrait of the community emerges. The audience meets the people who, in their own unscripted words, have journeyed from idealism, to inner transformation, to practical, viable solutions for a sustainable, harmonious, fulfilling way of life. During her interviews, and especially those with Kriyananda, she comes face-to-face with her own odyssey through life, and her own quest for happiness. His answers lead her to discover not only the facts about the community, but the universal truths that hold the power to transform her own life.
Finding happiness: you change, everything changes.
Elizabeth Rohm plays the lead role of Profiles magazine journalist Juliet Palmer, juggles a full-time acting career with her firm commitment to be a devoted, always-available mom.
Swami Kriyananda (1926–2013) Prominently featured in Finding Happiness is a true-life account of Swami Kriyananda, one of the foremost spiritual teachers of yoga principles in the world today.
In 1948 at age 22, J. Donald Walters became a disciple of the Indian master of yoga Paramhansa Yogananda. For the next 63 years he was the most widely known of Yogananda’s disciples throughout the world.
Paramhansa Yogananda (1893–1952)
Author of the best-selling spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi, India’s “spiritual ambassador to the West” came to America in 1920 and was the first great master of yoga to live and teach in the United States for most of his life. Yogananda lived in the U.S. for more than 30 years, taking citizenship in the late 1930s.
Sujon Datta - Seen briefly in archival footage, Yogananda also appears in the re-enactment scene, “The Beverly Hills Garden Party,” played by his great-grand nephew, Sujon Datta.
John M. Jackson, who plays the role of Juliet’s boss at Profiles magazine, is best known for his role as Rear Admiral A. J. Chegwidden on the long-running CBS series JAG, a role he played for nine seasons.
David Eby plays the guide who introduces investigative reporter Juliet (Elisabeth Rohm) to Ananda Village. He also served as the film’s music director for the film, and music supervisor for the soundtrack.
