Missing in the Land of Gods

At first glance, Australians Jock and Dianne Chambers look like an ordinary couple on a trip around India. But their motives for being here are very different: they are searching for their son Ryan, who vanished in 2005 after staying in an ashram. He vanished without a passport, money or his cellphone, leaving only a note behind: "If I'm gone, I'm not dead. I need to free minds, but first I had to free my own." Although his parents have looked everywhere, during their travels new doors occasionally seem to open that could lead to a clue to their youngest son's whereabouts. Astrologers, clairvoyants, ceremonies: the couple try everything. Even a phone call offering to put them in contact with the "supreme almighty" is not immediately dismissed. According to Dianne, "You don't want to leave a stone unturned." With incredible patience, the couple plough through the hustle and bustle of India, from one potential clue to another. Hanging on to their resilience, even when the latest hopeful path turns out to be a dead-end. Gradually, their sober, Western worldview fades and the values and standards of the spiritual world take over. A poignant road movie about hope, faith and spirit. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)