Whispers That Carry Thunder: Celebrating Her Vision in the World of Film
An interview with Auroville filmmaker Alessandra Silver and Miriam Belov, on the journey of The Owl-Eyed Guardian to the Womens’ Filmmaker Platform Herflix.
Alessandra and Miriam, thank you for collaborating on this interview. Seeing Alessandra’s film being recognized and supported by Herflix, the international women’s film group is so inspiring. And none of this would have happened without you, Miriam.So let’s find out how it all came to be.
Miriam, how did you first learn of Alessandra’s film?
Miriam:I learned of Alessandra’s film through an AVI USA newsletter. Having been in the yoga since 1975, I was able to be in Auroville from the end of The Mother’s centenary birth celebration for a year. What a joy to finally be there—in a corner of the world brimming with the future. Deeply touched, I returned several times, with my most recent visit in 2020.
Intrigued by the film, I was able to donate some funds and watched its progress. I was hoping that it would be professional enough to introduce it to Herflix. I was very impressed upon seeing it at its premiere last year.
Alessandra, how do you see yourself in the world of filmmaking, particularly in relation to women’s storytelling?
Alessandra: I see myself as part of a quiet but growing movement of filmmakers—especially women—who are interested in re-enchanting the way we tell stories. The filmmaking world has long been dominated by narratives shaped through a male lens: linear, outcome-driven, often externalized.
But I find myself more drawn to what lies beneath—inner journeys, subtle tensions, spiritual awakenings, ancestral memory, and the poetry of the in-between. For me, filmmaking is not about standing out, but about tuning in. It’s less about conquering a place in the industry, and more about serving something larger through each story.
What was the common ground between you, and how did your collaboration begin?
Alessandra: When Miriam first contacted me, I was honestly surprised—touched in that way you feel when a thread you didn’t even know existed suddenly connects. We didn’t know each other personally before. Our connection began through AVI-USA and a generous fundraising campaign launched by the Matching Funds Donation Campaign in December 2023, which supported the post-production and release of The Owl-Eyed Guardian.
It was only after the film was completed and we held a global Zoom premiere in collaboration with AVI-USA that Miriam reached out directly. And in that moment, her name became more than an email signature—it became a presence, a heart, a spirit I felt a genuine resonance with.
Miriam became one of those subtle but essential guiding figures. Our common ground was not something planned—it was a shared intuition for stories that matter, and for women’s voices that are often whispered but carry the power of thunder.
Miriam: Yes. It felt organic, purposeful. I recognized something sacred in the film—its reverence for the land, for women, for history. Our connection wasn’t about roles or titles. It was about being called to serve the same vision. Alessandra and I both understood that She wanted this project to succeed. And it was a joy to support that unfolding.
What was the process of connecting the film to Herflix?
Miriam: Knowing Herflix’s founder and working with Adriana Shaw on some previous projects, I was able to show her the film. Adriana knows of my involvement in the yoga and was happy to help. Importantly, the film was of a quality that could be included in Herflix. It fit its mission of showing films by and about women perfectly.
Alessandra, Adriana, and I spoke once and it was supportive. Any problems were quickly solved as everyone wanted to see this come to fruition.
Herflix on French Forbes
Founded by Adriana Shaw, Herflix is the world’s first and only premium streaming service dedicated exclusively to films and entertainment for, about and by women. There are few businesswomen or entrepreneurs who have managed to stand out from the crowd in the media. However, Adriana Shaw’s journey is one of unwavering passion to champion the idea that women-centered stories deserve to be shown on a global platform. “Herflix is the culmination of a lifetime’s work” says Adriana Shaw to Forbes. “I’ve never taken the easy way out, but my determination to revolutionize the way women explore, identity and provide entertainment options has always been unwavering. I was simply not going to miss this incredible and crucial opportunity. “
How did it feel to have your film recognized by a women-led platform like Herflix?
Alessandra: It feels deeply affirming—not just on a professional level, but on a soul level. When a platform like Herflix chooses to spotlight a film, it’s not just showcasing a piece of art—it’s validating a way of seeing the world. A way of listening. A way of honoring the feminine, both as subject and as storyteller.
So often, films made by women, or films that center on deeply feminine themes, risk being labeled as “niche” or “too subtle” for mainstream platforms. But the stories we carry—rooted in intuition, transformation, silence, grace, and power—are not small. They’re essential.
What inspired you to dedicate your time to supporting this project, Miriam?
Miriam: Recognizing the importance of this collaboration at this time in the evolution, I was compelled to go forward with it. The various elements of the film: being female-centered, the mystic vision, the sacred banyan tree, the founding of Auroville, the recognition of the Tamil culture—all resonated for me.
I was grateful to be of service in bringing the film to a larger audience. It became evident to both Alessandra and I that She wanted this project to succeed.
Alessandra, do you find yourself drawn to women as central figures in your work?
Alessandra: Yes, I do—intuitively and consistently. The women I explore in my work are not necessarily loud or heroic in a traditional sense. They are often contemplative, complex, and deeply alive. What draws me to them is their ability to embody paradox: they can be strong yet vulnerable, sensual yet spiritual, grounded in the earth yet connected to something cosmic.
In many ways, these characters are bridges between worlds. They remind us of what we’ve forgotten: the intelligence of the body, the sacredness of intuition, the cyclical rhythm of nature. Through them, I explore not only gender, but the feminine as a universal principle—creative, magnetic, life-giving.
To tell their stories is, for me, an act of remembrance. Of honoring something both deeply personal and mythically timeless.
Are you both working on other initiatives or future projects that continue this energy?
Miriam: Continuing work with Herflix, I’m creating a new channel for the platform. It’s called EcoSpirit Wellness and covers sustainability, optimism, and storytelling. Since the need to protect nature and our world is closely connected to the resurgence of the feminine, this is an organic outgrowth.
A short meditation I did at the Nakashima compound will be included—“Miriam @ Nakashima: Intentional Meditations.”
Alessandra: At the time Miriam contacted me, I had never even heard of Herflix. But now, looking back, I realize I was already walking a path that aligned with its mission. Without knowing it, I had already begun my next film—about Valli, and the legend of Irumbai temple.
Valli is a temple dancer in 16th-century Tamil Nadu. Through her, I explore the lives of the Devadasis: women who lived on the edges of societal norms, yet held profound cultural, artistic, and spiritual authority. They were deeply educated, revered as artists and teachers, and often lived independently.
The synchronicity of connecting with Miriam and Herflix, while entering this new creative phase, feels like an affirmation. It’s as though the universe is saying: yes, keep going. This isn’t just one film—it’s part of a greater unfolding.
Any closing thoughts you’d like to share about this collaboration?
Miriam: This type of connection takes time and work to accomplish. But when it’s aligned, it flows. Everyone involved wanted to see this come to fruition. It was a joy to witness.
Alessandra:This connection gave me more than just exposure—it gave me fuel. And it reminded me that the stories we tell—especially those carried by women who didn’t ask to be seen—do have a place in the world. And more than ever, they’re needed.
Miriam Belov
Miriam Belov is the founder of The Wellness Agenda and Creative Concentration. She is an expert consultant in the field of complementary medicine working with some of the top wellness and self care.
Miriam has also produced hosted and directed her own radio show for the The Wellness Agenda.
Her work with the Nakashima Foundation includes directing a film on Intenational Meditation at the Nakashima Complex, in New Hope, PA. She is on the advisory Board of the Nakashima Foundation and helped to facilitate the Reading Room by Nakashima in the Arts of Japan Galleries at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Alessandra Silver
Alessandra Silver is an Italian Aurovilian filmmaker. Her work spans the spiritual roots of fantasy, myth and Tamil legends. She extensively documents Auroville life and work through the medium of film and photography.
Alessandra is the founder of InLight Productions. Click below to learn about her work