Erleuchtung Garantiert

A free and satirical comedy in which both classical and modern Japan play an important part. Two German brothers, Uwe (Uwe Ochsenknecht) and Gustav (Gustav Peter Wöhler), are wrestling with a major mid-life-crisis. Gustav thinks he has found the answer in meditation and the teachings of Zen Buddhism. He prepares for a journey to Japan to spend a while in a traditional Zen monastery. Uwe only lives for his work, but when his wife leaves him, he decides on the spur of the moment to go with Gustav. In hectic Tokyo the men are immediately put to the test. They lose their way to their hotel and have to survive in the hypermodern urban jungle without credit card, passport or knowledge of the language. Once they reach the monastery, their hardships really start. Without comfort and goodies they have very long days with lots of meditation and lots of scrubbing floors. The film at first only seems to make fun of Japan, but eventually displays a lot of respect for its antique and modern wisdom. Doris Dörrie, who has made many major comedies, felt the need for a small and flexible production. She wanted to be able to improvise and therefore shot the film on compact digital video. She wanted a production team that was so small that the whole crew could eat lunch at one table. A homely approach that benefited the film. GjZ