Delightful film illuminates enlightenment
The tale of two middle-age German brothers learning to let go in a Japanese Zen monastery, this film may not lead to your own enlightenment, but it is guaranteed to provide a few laughs, as well perhaps as stimulate a moment or two of personal reflection.

The humor comes mostly from the sparks given off in the clash of cultures, in this case not only German/Japanese, but also Christian/Buddhist. Uwe's middle-class world is turned upside down when his wife leaves with the kids. His sympathetic brother Gustav takes him along to his meditation retreat at the Soto Zen monastery at Monzen (a real temple in Ishikawa prefecture). Before getting to the monastery and the more insightful part of the film, the brothers stumble through a number of misadventures in Tokyo.

Director Doris Dörrie appears like many westerner writers and filmmakers to have been overwhelmed with the glittery facade of Japan, including tired Asian philosophical cliches about emptiness and no-self. This actually works out fine within context; one might expect her two innocents abroad to be taken in by such bromides. Where her sensitivity shines through is in not only having her characters come to understand the significance in these cliches, but also in having them work out a framework into which to fit their Japan experiences that then gives their lives a trajectory for resolving inner conflicts.

Shot on digital video, the film looks more like a home movie. But unlike more expensive, better looking films that really do leave you feeling empty, Enlightenment Guaranteed will leave you with a warm feeling, a smile, and perhaps a new way to look at life.

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Letting go is enlightenment
I love the underlying gentle Buddhist philosophy of this film by Doris Dorrie: when we are ready we get there. One does not have to insulate from life (and the pain of it) but fully experience life just as it is and to cope with exactly what you find. What is there is there. You are who you are. It is learning to look at yourself exactly as you are to see what is there and accept it fully. Only then can you change. Also, the second part of the film at the Zen monastery depicts well how ritualization of daily life adds presence and color to experience. What a wonderful, funny, warm and meaningful film! One of my very favorites.

fun and interesting but...
...mainly for the subject matter and location. As filmcraft, it could really use much tighter editing.

HOWEVER it's really not meant to be a "film" in the traditional sense...more like a reality-TV-style travel flick, shot on video---none of the lyrical and luscious cinematography of "Lost In Translation" which is in all respects a far far superior film. Plot: two German brothers, one very much interested in Zen and the other one not, go to Japan, get lost for a few days in Tokyo without money or ID or any way of returning to their hotel where their baggage and passports are, and (unfortunately this was only maybe 1/4 of the movie) finally reach their destination: a (Soto) Zen temple.

I suppose the 3/4 of the movie which showed them wandering around the sprawling megapolis of Tokyo is on some level meant to be a metaphor for their cultural and spiritual cluelessness and disorientation as Westerners entering the culture and practice of Zen. But it did get a bit tiresome at points, and there were more than a few total implausibilities.

Oh well, nevertheless I mostly enjoyed the movie. I was usually smiling throughout, no belly-laughs though...am not a big fan of slapstick sitcome type humor and the reality-TV format didn't do much for me. What really maintained my interest in the movie was just watching street-level modern-day Japan off the beaten track. Also being a longtime Zen meditator of course helped!

A Wonderful Little Movie
This movie was a delight at many levels. One brother carefully tends his table top sand garden, carefully making the pattern flow, with attention to detail and great mindfulness. The other brother bursts in, very agitated - and unthinkingly uses it as an ash tray. The movie is rich in metaphors and can be appreciated at many levels. For those who have spent time in a Soto-Zen environment, the movie is a special delight as one can anticipate the "issues" which will arise during the time at the monastery - and it is fun to see them make the same mistakes that we have made and struggle the same way we have struggled.

A bit contrived at times and the ending, for me, was - unresolved; just like life.

Very Funny
Not meant to actually enlighten the viewer this is just a funny movie. I like the fact these people look like real people and not plastic Hollywood types.