"Enlightenment Guaranteed" is a wonderful film. Funny, visually interesting and intelligent. However, education about Buddhism is required, I think, for real appreciation of the film's layers of story telling. The independent film feeling was really charming. Ochsenknecht and Wohler work well as a comic team. The monastery scenes were fascinating and fun. There is a whole self consciousness of the play as a play that I really liked. It seemed more like small, alternative theater than film at times. I don't think this could be a commercial hit, simply because it takes a certain level of education and understanding of philosophy to get many of the jokes. The small audience, with whom I saw the film, were split down the middle. Half of them seemed as delighted as I was. Half seemed bored and restless. The German speakers near me were laughing as often and as loudly as I was. My own education in Buddhist practices was a major source of my appreciation for the film, I think. Well worth seeing, if you can find it.
20 Reviews
Real Japan
cat-zaq29 April 2006
If you want to see a little of the real Japan then watch this movie rather than "Lost in Translation" (which would have been better if it was filmed in New York so the director knew what she was talking about). Yes, it is a bit slow in some parts but anyone who has been on a self-finding journey will relate, and laugh even more at the funny situations they get into. Germans and Japanese have a lot in common so that makes the misunderstandings real rather than the usual "foreigners in Japan trying to make the Japanese seem like savage aliens".
In this time of reality TV and home-movies being used on various TV shows, the hand-held camera shots are very real. Also interesting is that the characters names are the actors real names so it adds to the effect.
In this time of reality TV and home-movies being used on various TV shows, the hand-held camera shots are very real. Also interesting is that the characters names are the actors real names so it adds to the effect.
gem
emptyfullness22 May 2017
Loved this movie, can't find a copy of it at this point. Rented it on VHS way back. But I'd love to see it again. A heartfelt movie, a beautiful glimpse of zen life in/ and japan, a movie about brotherhood, a movie about being human. wish i could get my brother to watch it with me! -rm
Enjoyment Gauranteed
stuffedcapsules8 November 2003
I took a change with my movie rental dollars when I grabbed ENLIGHTENMENT GAURANTEED at the video store and found it to be a delightful, low budget picture. It's a German PLANES, TRAINS and AUTOMOBILES with spiritual overtones. The two main characters, who are brothers, make their way to a Japanese (Buddhist) Monastery to escape their lives and their troubles. The trip to the Monastery is great. However, once at the Monastery the film slows down too much. Too many shots of people banging drums in ritualistic bliss. Thankfully, the film soon picks up again with main characters gaining new perspectives on life. Throughout the film cemeteries, homeless people and ravens are referenced leaving the viewer to figure some things out on their own. If you like funny, semi-deep movies with no effects or explosions you may really dig this. Curiously, the actors used their real names for their characters which explians why Petra's kids look just like her.
quite interesting, but sometimes boring
kamilakuanysheva18 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I have watched a documentary movie named "Enlightenment Guaranteed" by Doris Dorrie. At the first sight, I thought that this movie was produced by the students of any film academy because I was not familiar with German cinematograph before. Only after doing some research I realized that the cast consists of quite famous actors in Germany. I believe that my fist assumption appeared due to the reason that the beginning of the movie was boring. Generally speaking, a small number of dialogues makes the viewer bored and does not involve him in the course of the movie. Moreover, slow development of the story also forces to turn the movie off as soon as possible. I would like to watch more about the process of coming to the enlightenment rather than family dramas or drunk adventures in Japan.
Speaking about the essence of the film, I can say that it was pretty interesting. A typical story of rivalry between two brothers makes each person to see him- or herself in the place of main character. The younger one have always tried to be perfect compared to elder because of the fictional and self-imposed complex that parents love one child more than another. Against the backdrop of that complex brotherhood relationships were strained enough and the younger brother Gustav decided to turn to religion. However, I think that it was just a tool as he still had bad habits and anger towards his brother Uve while the true Buddhist, trying to get good karma and increase merit, tries to completely clean the mind of bad things.
Gustav was going to go to the trip to Japanese monastery named Mon Zen when the Uve's wife leaved him. After a number of absurd circumstances, both brothers went to Japan as they believed that Uve will get distracted from the problems in his personal life. On the contrary, he started to hate her wife more and more and on the day of arrival they went to a bar and, as a result, got lost in the large metropolis without money. However, they were lucky to meet a countrywoman in a completely foreign country who helped the brothers to reunite and reach the monastery.
Uve always disregarded Buddhism and laughed at Gustav but when he met so many problems in one moment he began to see the meaning in the Buddha's words and other sutras. If Gustav was aware of monastery life, then for Uve it was something new and confusing because monks have completely different lifestyle. Brothers were immersed in the search of who they really are, meditated, read sutras and so on. But surprisingly, Uve made much greater progress that Gustav. I believe that this happened because he focused on the real problems, inner thoughts and attempts to understand himself while his brother though about physical pain and was not motivated at all. Moreover, in my opinion, for Gustav Buddhism is more a lifestyle and instruction set about how to live while for Uve is like a rescue.
In conclusion, I think that this movie is really good and understandable regardless the shooting quality and directing work. Many concepts, such as Four Noble Truth and sungha, were explained by simple words and on the real life examples that might help us. In addition, there was a drop of humor and drama that diversified the film a little bit. What I liked most is that each viewer might see himself or his problems like cheating of Gustav's wife, divorce or again drunk problems. In addition, some scenes shot in the form of video diary caused interest inside of me.
Brilliant, introspective, funny film.
Dougie Bell1 August 2000
Shown at the MIFF as 'The Bridge in the Rain' (why? I dunno).
I almost didn't see this film as it sounded as if it could easily have been another of those 'mundane' foreign films but no, it was excellent.
Gustav, who originally intended to go to the Tokyo monastery, is the type who gets lost in supermarkets. The other brother, Uwe, ends up going along after drowning his sorrows when his wife leaves him. Unfortunately, Uwe seems to fit right in with the strict monastery life, much to Gustav's torment! He even copes better than his brother when they get lost and separated in Tokyo. They both have personal torment and sibling rivalry which is equally engaging and funny.
The monastery is in quiet, idyll surroundings out of Tokyo. A memorable line which hits home if you live in a big city comes in the form of a saying about 'hate' and anger - but I won't give it away.
I thought that the story could have gone in any number of possible directions with equally enjoyable results.
I also think that filming this on video and using footage from the video camera in the film enhanced the realism. A very memorable film.
I almost didn't see this film as it sounded as if it could easily have been another of those 'mundane' foreign films but no, it was excellent.
Gustav, who originally intended to go to the Tokyo monastery, is the type who gets lost in supermarkets. The other brother, Uwe, ends up going along after drowning his sorrows when his wife leaves him. Unfortunately, Uwe seems to fit right in with the strict monastery life, much to Gustav's torment! He even copes better than his brother when they get lost and separated in Tokyo. They both have personal torment and sibling rivalry which is equally engaging and funny.
The monastery is in quiet, idyll surroundings out of Tokyo. A memorable line which hits home if you live in a big city comes in the form of a saying about 'hate' and anger - but I won't give it away.
I thought that the story could have gone in any number of possible directions with equally enjoyable results.
I also think that filming this on video and using footage from the video camera in the film enhanced the realism. A very memorable film.
Excellent movie: funny, profound comedy
Rick-3425 March 2000
This movie is really quite a feast. It shows two German brothers on a trip to Japan to visit a Zen monastery. Both brothers face personal questions: one has just been left by his wife, and the other, well, that comes too late in the film for me to discuss here.
Upon arriving in Tokyo, they settle in a comfortable hotel and go out for a night on the town. Problem: where is the hotel? At first this seems comical, but it quickly becomes a serious crisis.
They sleep in cardboard boxes on the street.
The brothers' ability to deal with these problems and their other problems are examined in the light of the daily mundane tasks they take upon themselves when they arrive at the monastery.
The movie handles religion very well. It shows the value of their meditation without getting overly preachy. It shows the brothers, especially Uwe, the one whose wife left him, trying very hard to find a meaning in what they do.
The movie is about people and the deep problems people have. Some viewers might find this boring, but I found it compelling. There is no one thing I can point to, but the whole feel of the movie and the characters seemed right.
Upon arriving in Tokyo, they settle in a comfortable hotel and go out for a night on the town. Problem: where is the hotel? At first this seems comical, but it quickly becomes a serious crisis.
They sleep in cardboard boxes on the street.
The brothers' ability to deal with these problems and their other problems are examined in the light of the daily mundane tasks they take upon themselves when they arrive at the monastery.
The movie handles religion very well. It shows the value of their meditation without getting overly preachy. It shows the brothers, especially Uwe, the one whose wife left him, trying very hard to find a meaning in what they do.
The movie is about people and the deep problems people have. Some viewers might find this boring, but I found it compelling. There is no one thing I can point to, but the whole feel of the movie and the characters seemed right.
A masterpiece on how lives can be totally changed from within
Shahman27 January 2004
Enlightenment Guaranteed may seem funny at first but in fact it's very serious and explicitly Buddhist, since it involves two German brothers and their adventures in getting into and out of Japan's Monzen Buddhist monastery. Unfortunately the only format in which it has been released in North America is German VHS with English Subtitled which is somehow disappointing but the beauty of the movie almost makes you forget this little problem, The more interesting fact is that the actors actually had to live the monastery life during the shooting: for two weeks they and the crew never left the Monzen grounds!
Really lovely.
jordanernesto11 June 2001
I adored this movie; it was sweet, funny, honest, beautiful, and poetic; I was smitten. As a friend of mine (a film critic) wrote to me, "I've rarely seen anything that matches form to content in such an easy and really loving way."
...that is if by "Enlightenment" you mean "Boredom"
bburns5 October 2001
"Enlightenment Guaranteed" is a feel-good comedy in the grand tradition of so many feel-good comedies: it is neither funny, nor does it make the viewer feel any better for having seen it. I have read some reviews that say it is profound and edgy, but I believe those reviewers have mistaken non-English dialogue for depth and the stunningly bad hand-held video cinematography for artistic purity.
Uwe is a kitchen salesman in Munich who likes his sleep and who loves his kids and has a very Western outlook on life. His brother Gustav is a Feng Shui consultant who structures his life around Zen meditation. When Uwe's wife leaves with the kids, Gustav takes him along on a trip to Japan, to the Monzen monastery near Tokyo.
Actually, the first hour where the brothers lose all their money and can't find their hotel and wander around lost in Tokyo is fairly amusing. The brothers don't speak Japanese, and the locals don't speak German. The only way they can communicate is in English, which neither the brothers nor most of the locals have a firm grasp of. Especially funny is when Gustav is forced into singing a German-language version of the disco hit "I Will Survive" for train fare.
But then the brothers eventually find the monastery and the film grinds to a halt. I guess the audience is supposed to be surprised that the "rigid Westerner" Uwe is more open-minded and better able to adapt to monasticism than the new-agey Gustav. Knowing as I do that Zen is about being connected rather than being detached from reality, that plot twist was not shocking to me. And seeing them perform the same rituals over and over again wasn't enlightening or meditative, it was simply numbing. And there are too many missed avenues of exploration. For instance: both brothers drive their wives away by making their wives do all the work at home; they never discuss this topic, and it fades away in the first half of the film. Instead, they keep chanting, cleaning, and making meaningless video diaries ad nauseum.
Some people say when praising this film that no Hollywood movie factory would ever make something like this. But I ask: is that necessarily a bad thing? 5 out of 10
Uwe is a kitchen salesman in Munich who likes his sleep and who loves his kids and has a very Western outlook on life. His brother Gustav is a Feng Shui consultant who structures his life around Zen meditation. When Uwe's wife leaves with the kids, Gustav takes him along on a trip to Japan, to the Monzen monastery near Tokyo.
Actually, the first hour where the brothers lose all their money and can't find their hotel and wander around lost in Tokyo is fairly amusing. The brothers don't speak Japanese, and the locals don't speak German. The only way they can communicate is in English, which neither the brothers nor most of the locals have a firm grasp of. Especially funny is when Gustav is forced into singing a German-language version of the disco hit "I Will Survive" for train fare.
But then the brothers eventually find the monastery and the film grinds to a halt. I guess the audience is supposed to be surprised that the "rigid Westerner" Uwe is more open-minded and better able to adapt to monasticism than the new-agey Gustav. Knowing as I do that Zen is about being connected rather than being detached from reality, that plot twist was not shocking to me. And seeing them perform the same rituals over and over again wasn't enlightening or meditative, it was simply numbing. And there are too many missed avenues of exploration. For instance: both brothers drive their wives away by making their wives do all the work at home; they never discuss this topic, and it fades away in the first half of the film. Instead, they keep chanting, cleaning, and making meaningless video diaries ad nauseum.
Some people say when praising this film that no Hollywood movie factory would ever make something like this. But I ask: is that necessarily a bad thing? 5 out of 10
An amazing film that succeeds on several levels
howard.schumann22 July 2002
"To live is to suffer," says brother Gustav, blissfully. "Buddha's first noble truth."
Enlightenment Guaranteed, a German Zen comedy is an amazing film that succeeds on several levels: as an insight into Buddhist philosophy and practice, as the maturing process of two brothers, and as a look at the hectic world of Tokyo, Japan. I won't guarantee you'll be enlightened but I'm sure you'll be entertained.
Shot with digital video, the film revolves around two brothers, Gustav, (Gustav Peter Wöhler), a single Feng Shui consultant, and Uwe (Uwe Ochsenknecht), a salesman whose wife and children have just left him. After his brother's marital breakup, Gustav reluctantly takes Uwe with him to the Sojiji Soin Father Temple (a Zen monastery) in Monzen, outside of Tokyo.
Their adventures in Tokyo are funny and touching. One time they get lost and cannot find their way back to their hotel. Another time they run out of money and are bilked by a singing ATM machine in a hilarious sequence. Finally, they end up sleeping in cardboard boxes, then in a tent next to a railroad train. The two are thoroughly spent when they finally arrive at Monzen. There is a stunning contrast between the frenetic pace of Tokyo and the serene setting of the monastery.
The brothers have to get used to getting up at 4:30 A.M., taking cold baths, running cleaning rags across the floor and the elaborate unwrapping of eating utensils. Roles are reversed to a certain extent as Gustav buckles under pressure, while the uninitiated Uwe, merely along for the ride, proves surprisingly adaptable to the rigors of monastery life. The two brothers gradually lose "control" of their lives and learn to live in the present. As the Abbot of Monzen explains, enlightenment is not the achievement of something, but the absence of something. In Uwe's case, it might be the absence of attachment to the circumstances of his life.
Enlightenment Guaranteed is a celebration of the act of looking within ourselves to unravel the mysteries of who we really are. The clanging of the various chimes and gongs, the beating of the drums, and the meditation rituals of the Buddhist monks create an atmosphere of calm and spirituality that left me with a feeling of joy.
Enlightenment Guaranteed, a German Zen comedy is an amazing film that succeeds on several levels: as an insight into Buddhist philosophy and practice, as the maturing process of two brothers, and as a look at the hectic world of Tokyo, Japan. I won't guarantee you'll be enlightened but I'm sure you'll be entertained.
Shot with digital video, the film revolves around two brothers, Gustav, (Gustav Peter Wöhler), a single Feng Shui consultant, and Uwe (Uwe Ochsenknecht), a salesman whose wife and children have just left him. After his brother's marital breakup, Gustav reluctantly takes Uwe with him to the Sojiji Soin Father Temple (a Zen monastery) in Monzen, outside of Tokyo.
Their adventures in Tokyo are funny and touching. One time they get lost and cannot find their way back to their hotel. Another time they run out of money and are bilked by a singing ATM machine in a hilarious sequence. Finally, they end up sleeping in cardboard boxes, then in a tent next to a railroad train. The two are thoroughly spent when they finally arrive at Monzen. There is a stunning contrast between the frenetic pace of Tokyo and the serene setting of the monastery.
The brothers have to get used to getting up at 4:30 A.M., taking cold baths, running cleaning rags across the floor and the elaborate unwrapping of eating utensils. Roles are reversed to a certain extent as Gustav buckles under pressure, while the uninitiated Uwe, merely along for the ride, proves surprisingly adaptable to the rigors of monastery life. The two brothers gradually lose "control" of their lives and learn to live in the present. As the Abbot of Monzen explains, enlightenment is not the achievement of something, but the absence of something. In Uwe's case, it might be the absence of attachment to the circumstances of his life.
Enlightenment Guaranteed is a celebration of the act of looking within ourselves to unravel the mysteries of who we really are. The clanging of the various chimes and gongs, the beating of the drums, and the meditation rituals of the Buddhist monks create an atmosphere of calm and spirituality that left me with a feeling of joy.
Bridging the spiritual gap between two capitalist countries : Japan and Germany.
FilmCriticLalitRao7 August 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Doris Dorrie has got the uncanny knack of rendering us speechless with her serious comic sagas which depict mundane human foibles.Erleuchtung Garantiert recounts a few mirthful episodes in the lives of its "crazy about spirituality" protagonists Uwe and Gustav.Uwe has never meditated in his life but still believes that it would help him in lessening his conjugal distress.The problems arise for them as they foolishly spend all their money in Tokyo.Things come to such a pass that they are forced to spend a few restless nights on the streets.Uwe and Gustav seem to have lost themselves completely in a metropolis like Tokyo where everyone is busy chatting on their mobile phones.The path to enlightenment is tricky for them but they happily tolerate all inconveniences in order to find spiritual bliss.They finally reach the Monzen monastery where they comprehend their innate strengths and weaknesses.Uwe overcomes the agony arising out of his failed marriage.Gustav realizes that he was never happy leading the life as a heterosexual male.He grasps that he has always been a homosexual person.Even though Erleuchtung Garantiert has been shot on Digital Video,it still manages to retain its ineffable charm. Erleuchtung Garantiert's biggest positive feature is that it reveals how one should move away from the hustle and bustle of a materialistic society in order to gain inner happiness.
Beautifully rendered film about reconcilliation
xnoybis30 May 2003
Though I haven't seen a lot of John Casavetes' work, apart from
that, this is one of the best modern (read: 1985-present) uses of
8mm film that I've ever seen. This is one of those films you just
have to throw yourself into. I'm not drawing a parallel between the
two--at all!--but people who have seen 'Neon Genesis Evangelion'
will recall how by the end of the first episode you had no idea what
was going on, right alongside the principle character. This movie
has a similar feel--It's unsettling at first, but ultimately presents
itself as a curiously wonderful juxtaposition of warmth and
coldness; interrelation and alienation. Very few films are capable
of doing this well. Oh, and as a side note -- this is NOT one of
those aimlessly meandering art films hell-bent on using 8mm to
generate indie/underground credibility. In sum: a thoughtfully
rewarding film about two very different German brothers lost in
Japan and discovering a fine gray line dividing the point of no
return from the point just before it and overcoming that dualism.
that, this is one of the best modern (read: 1985-present) uses of
8mm film that I've ever seen. This is one of those films you just
have to throw yourself into. I'm not drawing a parallel between the
two--at all!--but people who have seen 'Neon Genesis Evangelion'
will recall how by the end of the first episode you had no idea what
was going on, right alongside the principle character. This movie
has a similar feel--It's unsettling at first, but ultimately presents
itself as a curiously wonderful juxtaposition of warmth and
coldness; interrelation and alienation. Very few films are capable
of doing this well. Oh, and as a side note -- this is NOT one of
those aimlessly meandering art films hell-bent on using 8mm to
generate indie/underground credibility. In sum: a thoughtfully
rewarding film about two very different German brothers lost in
Japan and discovering a fine gray line dividing the point of no
return from the point just before it and overcoming that dualism.
Fascinating, but best viewed with the right background
El_Burro19 October 2003
Warning: Spoilers
Warning, slight spoilers within To me, this was a fascinating Movie, about two Germans, leaving their (more or less)slowly eroding lives in Germany, and managing to live in Japan, a country they no pretty much nothing about (which surprised me concerning Gustav, a Zen Buddhist - I think it to be pretty much impossible to understand a religion without any knowledge about its cultural background). In Japan itself, they find two different worlds, the fast-paced metropolis of Tokyo, and the buddhist Temple, where time seems to stand still. All this leads to a huge amount of cultural "clashes", but of course, this is a comedy, so it doesn't end in prison. I really enjoyed these last two hours- but I was the perfect audience, so to say: As a German with huge interest in Japanese culture, a basic knowledge both of Japanese language and traditions(though in both I still have lots to learn) - I can understand many jokes which are often unnoticed. It was really entertaining to see how I myself would have reacted to being in Japan only two years ago. Therefore, much of the joy I had watching this movie may very well be coming from being proud of my own progress - which of course will not happen to most other viewers. Therefore I recommend this one to those who know a bit about Japan, knowledge about Germany might increase the fun, but isn't really necessary. Without knowing either country, this one is just a German comedy with fascinating pictures of a Japanese temple and an "artsy" touch - which isn't a bad thing, but not more than 7/10. For me though, i give 9/10.
...if Enlightenment means at least a smile
rafael-5026 May 2005
This is a funny movie and an interesting perspective on culture shock (Germans in Japan) and, generally, of coming to terms with one's life. It is at least not as superficial as many other movies I've seen, and that's not because the dialog is in German or because it is mostly shot with a hand-held camera. It's just a different movie.
Don't expect, however, that a movie will give you the answers to everything, or that a movie, any movie, will depict Japan or Zen philosophy in their entirety and in detail. This movie, and any movie, will necessarily have loose ends and inconsistencies. Do expect to be amused for a couple of hours, what else can you ask for?
Don't expect, however, that a movie will give you the answers to everything, or that a movie, any movie, will depict Japan or Zen philosophy in their entirety and in detail. This movie, and any movie, will necessarily have loose ends and inconsistencies. Do expect to be amused for a couple of hours, what else can you ask for?
Mocking of Zen...or Zen is not for evreyone...
sorokous27 September 2020
I don't consider Zen or any other religion that try to finds a harmony with escaping of real, human, bustling and hectic world as right. But I respect the choice of those monks of any religion who do that. And mocking with them as this film does I find it repulsive, nihilistic and life hating....
A first steps into Buddhism
ajantemirova18 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
"Enlightenment Guaranteed" is a German movie that was directed by Doris Dörrie. The genre of this film is drama and comedy. The main characters of this movie are two German brothers, Uwe and Gustav, who spend some time in the Japanese Buddhist monastery at Monzen. Prior to this trip one of the brothers, Gustav, was actually a follower of Buddhism and originally, he wanted to visit this monastery alone. However, his brother Uwe faced serious family problem when his wife left him and took all their 4 children with her. Being upset and angry at his wife, Uwe persuaded Gustav to take him to the trip to the Buddhist monastery and that is how their story began.
First of all, we can clearly identify main Buddhist notion through this movie. All of their personal problems that they face in Germany along with the hardships faced in Japan, such as getting lost and losing all belongings, shows the Buddha's teaching that life is a suffering. Gustav as a person more familiar with this religion understands this idea and tries to comfort his brother during these hard times. All of the problems that they faced actually made it possible for them to better understand the Buddhist ideas.
Furthermore, one of the good features of these movie is the detailed demonstration of the life of the monastic community, the sangha. Almost half of the movie is devoted to the life in the monastery of two brothers, where we can see the daily routine of all monks. When two main characters share their fears and problems with the monk viewers also are able to see some of the Buddhist ideas. The interesting point is that the advices given by the monk can actually relate to all people, even who are not familiar with Buddhism.
With regard to the production of this movie one of the interesting features is that it looks like a documentary film. All of the actors in this movie play characters with their own name, that is why viewers have a feeling that everything happened is based on the real events. In addition, the montage of the movie resembles documentary, because some of the shots added were video fragments that two brothers have recorded during this trip. Some of the fragments resembles a personal diary or sometimes an interview, that makes the movie a little bit special.
However, one of the things that may disappoint viewers is the duration of the movie. It seems like the story line was extended on purpose and some of the scenes included have no meaning in the movie, that is why viewers can get bored while watching this film.
In conclusion, this movie can help people, who are not familiar with Buddhism, to become acquainted with it, as this movie introduces one of the main teachings of Buddha that life is a suffering and it successfully shows the life of the sangha in the monastery. This can be counted as a first step in learning about the religion. Even though the resemblance with documentary film makes "Enlightenment Guaranteed" unique for that time, the duration of the film and the development of the story line makes this movie less interesting. I evaluate this movie as 8/10.
"Too much enlightenment dazzles me"
dinarayessimova18 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Enlightenment Guaranteed is the movie filmed by a director Doris Dorrie. It tells the viewers a story of two brothers, who at a first sight live usual life in Germany. One of them Gustav tries to follow Zen and practices some meditation. At the hard time of their lives, both of them go to the monastic temple opposite to Tokyo to seek enlightenment. The author of the movie emphasizes the illusion that westerns see in trying to reach for real Zen and enlightenment.
The way Gustav saw Zen Buddhism before going to the temple and after differs. For him at first, Zen was more of an illusion to escape the reality of his life. He tried to fill in his life with different kinds of "typical" Buddhist things that he could find or easily follow. He read about Zen, tried to meditate, he even had a sandbox to calm him down. He has been shown more a fanatic of a popular mainstream to help him deal with stress. His brother, Uwe, on the other hand, was mocking Gustav for his interest in it. Yet during his hardship, he begged him to take him to the temple as well. Even on their way to the temple Uwe was reading Gustav's book on Zen Buddhism and saying some of the key concepts of it: about suffering, illusion, meditation, and idea of 'self' or 'no-self'. There were no particular Sanskrit names for all these concepts, yet they have been illustrated in the way it would be perceived by the usual Western.
The pilgrimage to the temple and the life with the monastic community was for them the source to find the inner peace. Yet for both of them, it came differently. The film shows how hard both of them to bear the monastic life within the monks. At some point of the movie, Gustav even says: "And then I think to stay cool, Gustav. You came here to find inner peace".
The monastic life has been shown with great details, yet realistic, because of the struggles that alienated Gustav and Uwe go through. They have to wake up at 4:30 AM, clean the temple, participate in the practices and meditations, eat by the rules and repeat the cycle over and over again. The movie seems to be very accurate in this sense. It shows the small details, which are a part of Zen monastic life: they procedures before they are allowed to eat, the way the take chopsticks and even the method of "shock" during the meditation to achieve satori(enlightenment). Both of them do find this trip significant though: Gustav finally accepts him as being gay and Uwe seems to be ready to let go the situation that happened with his wife Petra. The sangha community did not help to become truly spiritually enlightened, but they did for sure found the peace and courage to come back to their lives and fight (or meditate) through the struggles. As Gustav said crying about his talk with Abbot: "He said that I could make mistakes and he'd still care for me".
The movie is anthropological, unique and very visual. By the usage of different filming techniques (or not using them) it did not felt like a film or a documentary, it felt like an honest diary. In this sense, it is phenomenal in showing the inner side of the monastic community, the struggle a 'new' monk can go through and the way Zen Buddhism can be seen by the Western people.
The way Gustav saw Zen Buddhism before going to the temple and after differs. For him at first, Zen was more of an illusion to escape the reality of his life. He tried to fill in his life with different kinds of "typical" Buddhist things that he could find or easily follow. He read about Zen, tried to meditate, he even had a sandbox to calm him down. He has been shown more a fanatic of a popular mainstream to help him deal with stress. His brother, Uwe, on the other hand, was mocking Gustav for his interest in it. Yet during his hardship, he begged him to take him to the temple as well. Even on their way to the temple Uwe was reading Gustav's book on Zen Buddhism and saying some of the key concepts of it: about suffering, illusion, meditation, and idea of 'self' or 'no-self'. There were no particular Sanskrit names for all these concepts, yet they have been illustrated in the way it would be perceived by the usual Western.
The pilgrimage to the temple and the life with the monastic community was for them the source to find the inner peace. Yet for both of them, it came differently. The film shows how hard both of them to bear the monastic life within the monks. At some point of the movie, Gustav even says: "And then I think to stay cool, Gustav. You came here to find inner peace".
The monastic life has been shown with great details, yet realistic, because of the struggles that alienated Gustav and Uwe go through. They have to wake up at 4:30 AM, clean the temple, participate in the practices and meditations, eat by the rules and repeat the cycle over and over again. The movie seems to be very accurate in this sense. It shows the small details, which are a part of Zen monastic life: they procedures before they are allowed to eat, the way the take chopsticks and even the method of "shock" during the meditation to achieve satori(enlightenment). Both of them do find this trip significant though: Gustav finally accepts him as being gay and Uwe seems to be ready to let go the situation that happened with his wife Petra. The sangha community did not help to become truly spiritually enlightened, but they did for sure found the peace and courage to come back to their lives and fight (or meditate) through the struggles. As Gustav said crying about his talk with Abbot: "He said that I could make mistakes and he'd still care for me".
The movie is anthropological, unique and very visual. By the usage of different filming techniques (or not using them) it did not felt like a film or a documentary, it felt like an honest diary. In this sense, it is phenomenal in showing the inner side of the monastic community, the struggle a 'new' monk can go through and the way Zen Buddhism can be seen by the Western people.
Rings very true
Horst_In_Translation1 August 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Very recently, actor Gustav Peter Wöhler had his 60th birthday, so I decided to rewatch his possibly most known work: "Erleuchtung garantiert" or "Enlightenment Guaranteed" is a 105-minute live action film from Germany. It was written and directed by Doris Dörrie, one of Germany's most known female filmmakers for quite a while already. The two main characters in here are portrayed by Uwe Ochsenknecht and Gustav-Peter Wöhler and they have the same first names in this film as they do in real life and this also applies to everybody else acting in this movie (including Ochsenknecht's sons). Anica Dobra and Heiner Lauterbach are also somewhat known, at least here in Germany and they play supporting roles. Lauterbach and Ochsenknecht starred in one of Dörrie's most known works in the 1980s, "Männer...", which was her big breakthrough. I must say I was not a big fan of that one and I am a bit undecided on Dörrie. There are works from her that I did not enjoy at all, but there are also films that I ended up liking. This one here is definitely one of the latter. It is probably my favorite film from her.
I may be a bit biased as I always thought Asia, especially Japan, was such a fascinating country, but I guess Dörrie shares my opinion here as she made more films that are set in Japan in the last decades. Actually, her most recent work "Grüße aus Fukushima" is one of these as well. And while I thought that this one was an absolutely disastrous watch, I must say that all she did wrong in her new project is what she did 100% right in her old project from 1999 here. The main reason for this is Gustav Peter Wöhler, who is just tremendous in here and delivers a career-best performance. I don't know why he is not enjoying a bigger career, but maybe it was just that the character he plays here was perfect for him and not only because the actor is actually a homosexual himself. He made this film work almost on his own. His troubles early on, his struggling, his path to happiness and finally his coming-out. It all worked so well with the approach Wöhler gave his character and I cannot believe he did not get any awards recognition for his portrayal. Next to him, Ochsenknecht looked pretty bland at times, but this was just because Wöhler was so amazing. Ochsenknecht who I don't believe is the most talented actor also did a good job here and was a positive surprise for sure. He started off mediocre, but the longer the film went, the better he became.
This is also true about the movie in general. It was okay early on, but needed a while to become really great. Maybe this was intended as it is a parallel to the main characters' state of mind and how they are finally getting on the right path in the last 45 minutes, especially Wöhler's character. It rang very true to me on several occasions and there were many stunningly beautiful shots in here. One of them would be the tent on the tennis court, which shows that no matter how absurd it may seem, it's all about the harmony and there was a lot of harmony in this final shot with the two protagonists. There are many great quotes and memorable scenes from earlier on as well. I personally am a huge fan of "Lost in Translation" and if you like Asia-themed films like I do, then this one here is exactly the right choice. Or maybe also this can give you a decent idea if you currently feel a bit without direction in your life. I highly recommend the watch. One of Germany's very best from the 1990s and criminally underseen.
I may be a bit biased as I always thought Asia, especially Japan, was such a fascinating country, but I guess Dörrie shares my opinion here as she made more films that are set in Japan in the last decades. Actually, her most recent work "Grüße aus Fukushima" is one of these as well. And while I thought that this one was an absolutely disastrous watch, I must say that all she did wrong in her new project is what she did 100% right in her old project from 1999 here. The main reason for this is Gustav Peter Wöhler, who is just tremendous in here and delivers a career-best performance. I don't know why he is not enjoying a bigger career, but maybe it was just that the character he plays here was perfect for him and not only because the actor is actually a homosexual himself. He made this film work almost on his own. His troubles early on, his struggling, his path to happiness and finally his coming-out. It all worked so well with the approach Wöhler gave his character and I cannot believe he did not get any awards recognition for his portrayal. Next to him, Ochsenknecht looked pretty bland at times, but this was just because Wöhler was so amazing. Ochsenknecht who I don't believe is the most talented actor also did a good job here and was a positive surprise for sure. He started off mediocre, but the longer the film went, the better he became.
This is also true about the movie in general. It was okay early on, but needed a while to become really great. Maybe this was intended as it is a parallel to the main characters' state of mind and how they are finally getting on the right path in the last 45 minutes, especially Wöhler's character. It rang very true to me on several occasions and there were many stunningly beautiful shots in here. One of them would be the tent on the tennis court, which shows that no matter how absurd it may seem, it's all about the harmony and there was a lot of harmony in this final shot with the two protagonists. There are many great quotes and memorable scenes from earlier on as well. I personally am a huge fan of "Lost in Translation" and if you like Asia-themed films like I do, then this one here is exactly the right choice. Or maybe also this can give you a decent idea if you currently feel a bit without direction in your life. I highly recommend the watch. One of Germany's very best from the 1990s and criminally underseen.
A comedy worth watching
aruzhanmeirkhanova17 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
In "Enlightenment Guaranteed" (1999) a German director Dorris Dorrie showcases the story about the adventures of two brothers with different attitudes and characters on their way to and during their stay at the Japanese Monzen monastery. Uwe - a down-to-earth, somewhat pessimistic and impulsive salesman is contrasted to his sibling Gustav, who at first appears as a calm, peaceful meditation practitioner, devoted to Zen Buddhism. It follows, however, that both of them are undergoing middle-age crisis: while self-centered Uwe, uncompassionate towards his wife and children, feels anxious after being left by his family, Gustav's life is not as smooth sailing as it may seem as well. In pursuit of finding himself, he plans the trip to Zen monastery not far away from Tokyo, and after numerous pleadings of Uwe, resolves to take his brother with him as well. But once they come to the Japanese capital, the brothers face unpredictable circumstances. Left without a penny in their pockets, they get lost in the Japanese megapolis, but finally figure out a way to get to the monastery, where their path to the enlightenment begins...
From the opening scene of the film, the director made the Buddhist context of the film quite clear while depicting children singing about shining lanterns. Some peculiar Buddhist features can be well observed throughout the movie: for instance, when the heroes engage in dialogue about existence of no self (anatman), central to Buddhist philosophy. The primary role ascribed to meditation in this movie, sheds light on peculiarities of Zen Buddhism, for example. The First Noble Truth, recited by Gustav at the beginning, is especially relevant for this movie. Uwe engages in repetitive thoughts about the reasons why his wife had left him, while Gustav is excessively afraid of not-making mistakes. When they get in trouble in Japan, the episodes are shown when the heroes of the movie feel desperate once they have to sleep in the boxes on the street, for instance. They seem to be attached to the material comfort they had, which is natural for people like them. But once they are deprived of this comfort, they start suffering, which is an accompanying component of life, according to the First Noble Truth.
This movie is a truly useful insight not only to Buddhism, but into the life and culture in Japan, in general. Busy streets of Tokyo are contrasted to the calm monastic atmosphere. But what is common among all Japanese is the strong discipline. It is so inherent to Japanese culture, that it is highly observed in shops and restaurants, and also in the monastery. Probably, this explains why Uwe and Gustav needed a long time to accustom to certain monastic practices, which are alien to their ordinary life. Nonetheless, they proved to be hard-working, and by the end of their monastic adventure, were so internalized that they even engaged in collecting alms.
Although the elements and concepts of Buddhism are well represented in the story, this is not to say that Buddhism is an overarching and dominating theme of the movie. Instead it can be viewed as a helpful tool accompanying the main characters on the way to the enlightenment. Enlightenment in this context, should not be perceived as the Buddhist awakening which one attains while striving to Buddhahood. Instead, for the heroes of this movie, enlightenment is something personal that is acquired as a result of self-investigation and meditation; it refers to their ability to become free from previous attachments and fears, as well as enables the brothers to look at their lives through a completely new prism. Such understanding of enlightenment might reflect how certain Buddhist notions are viewed from the Western perspective.
The work done by film crew is especially worth noting. Notwithstanding its modest budget, this movie has successfully combined the elements of comedy, that kept the spectator appealing to main characters with elements of documentary, which made the movie appear more realistic. The transformation which Gustav and Uwe have undergone on their way to enlightenment is so well-delivered, that viewers cannot but feel sympathetic towards these two brothers.
Overall, this fascinating movie with its naïve and attractive characters might barely leave someone indifferent. While it remains doubtful whether one as a viewer can be guaranteed enlightenment, it is certainly true that some food for thought and a pleasant spending of time are definitely guaranteed.
From the opening scene of the film, the director made the Buddhist context of the film quite clear while depicting children singing about shining lanterns. Some peculiar Buddhist features can be well observed throughout the movie: for instance, when the heroes engage in dialogue about existence of no self (anatman), central to Buddhist philosophy. The primary role ascribed to meditation in this movie, sheds light on peculiarities of Zen Buddhism, for example. The First Noble Truth, recited by Gustav at the beginning, is especially relevant for this movie. Uwe engages in repetitive thoughts about the reasons why his wife had left him, while Gustav is excessively afraid of not-making mistakes. When they get in trouble in Japan, the episodes are shown when the heroes of the movie feel desperate once they have to sleep in the boxes on the street, for instance. They seem to be attached to the material comfort they had, which is natural for people like them. But once they are deprived of this comfort, they start suffering, which is an accompanying component of life, according to the First Noble Truth.
This movie is a truly useful insight not only to Buddhism, but into the life and culture in Japan, in general. Busy streets of Tokyo are contrasted to the calm monastic atmosphere. But what is common among all Japanese is the strong discipline. It is so inherent to Japanese culture, that it is highly observed in shops and restaurants, and also in the monastery. Probably, this explains why Uwe and Gustav needed a long time to accustom to certain monastic practices, which are alien to their ordinary life. Nonetheless, they proved to be hard-working, and by the end of their monastic adventure, were so internalized that they even engaged in collecting alms.
Although the elements and concepts of Buddhism are well represented in the story, this is not to say that Buddhism is an overarching and dominating theme of the movie. Instead it can be viewed as a helpful tool accompanying the main characters on the way to the enlightenment. Enlightenment in this context, should not be perceived as the Buddhist awakening which one attains while striving to Buddhahood. Instead, for the heroes of this movie, enlightenment is something personal that is acquired as a result of self-investigation and meditation; it refers to their ability to become free from previous attachments and fears, as well as enables the brothers to look at their lives through a completely new prism. Such understanding of enlightenment might reflect how certain Buddhist notions are viewed from the Western perspective.
The work done by film crew is especially worth noting. Notwithstanding its modest budget, this movie has successfully combined the elements of comedy, that kept the spectator appealing to main characters with elements of documentary, which made the movie appear more realistic. The transformation which Gustav and Uwe have undergone on their way to enlightenment is so well-delivered, that viewers cannot but feel sympathetic towards these two brothers.
Overall, this fascinating movie with its naïve and attractive characters might barely leave someone indifferent. While it remains doubtful whether one as a viewer can be guaranteed enlightenment, it is certainly true that some food for thought and a pleasant spending of time are definitely guaranteed.
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