A comprehensive and visually stunning journey into one of the planet’s most unique and intriguing alternative societies.

The Damanhur federation has its own laws, currency, customs, and schools of meditation. All daily life within the community is guided by the spiritual awakenings and directions of Falco Tarassaco, a charismatic leader who founded the community in the 1970s. Since his death in 2013, the community has continued his visions, and the site is filled with statues and murals to Falco.

What’s more, the founding members of Damanhur built, by hand, an unbelievable network of hidden underground temples. Initially built illegally and in great secrecy, the huge structure is equivalent to an eleven-storey building. But when a former member of the community denounced the temple’s existence to the authorities, claiming there were drugs, weapons and people killed inside, 52 police officers raided the temple.

Friends Rebecka and Axelina move to Damanhur to trade the monotony of everyday life for an alternative, spiritual way of living. Through their eyes, we explore what it’s like to join the community and how it reshapes their worldview and ways of living. Whilst Rebecka integrates fully into this alternative society, changing her name to Celastrina, Alexina begins questioning her choice and drastically decides to quit the community—but why?