In 1998, controversial author Carlos Castaneda (The Teachings of Don Juan), celebrated godfather of the New Age, died in his Los Angeles home. Five women from his notorious "harem" disappeared within days of his death. In 2004, the skeletal remains of one of those women were found at the edge of Death Valley. In a series of Californian road trips, filmmaker Minou Norouzi attempts to unravel the women's obsession with Castaneda. Norouzi meets numerous Castaneda friends and acquaintances ranging from his dentist to a former lover and muse, all at some time in their lives drawn to the mysterious figure. As her investigation progresses, Norouzi finds herself seduced by Castaneda's persona, and feels her life mirroring that of the women who vanished. Anatomy of Failure is a fascinating study of the power of myth and personality.
-Shannon Abel