The Followers -- 1981 -- New Bhaktas at ISKCON Montreal (Les Adeptes) -- (French)

Documentary following the lives of three new Hare Krishna devotees, two boys and a girl, for one year, from shaving up to initiation. A unique film capturing the mood and preaching methods of ISKCON in the years immediately following the disappearance of the Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
"The Followers" (Les Adeptes) focuses on nineteen year old Michael. We see him in the beginning with a full head of hair, he gets shaved up in the temple and we follow his progress in Krishna consciousness for six months.
The preaching mood, book distribution, street chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, strict following of the regulative principles (no illicit sex, no meat eating, no gambling and no intoxication) are evident.
Michael and other devotees from ISKCON Montréal travel to the United States to visit New Vrindavan in West Virginia for Janmastami and Srila Prabhupada's appearance day festival.
The film concludes with Michael and a number of other new devotees being initiated by Kirtananda, who they call "Bhaktipada", seated on a royal throne, presenting himself as Srila Prabhupada's successor and claiming to be a liberated, self-realized soul, non-different from Krishna, just like Prabhupada.
Michael was initiated as Maha Visnu dasa, I wonder where he is now? And the hundred or more full-time devotees in the Montréal temple at the time? I hope they are all chanting Hare Krishna and very happy.
This film, "The Followers" (Les Adeptes) is an incredible snapshot in time and has captured a unique picture of ISKCON just after the departure of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Filmed mainly at the Montréal community of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness(ISKCON).
Directed by Gilles Blais
Produced by the Office of National Films, Canada.