Echos of Enlightenment

What a surprise!

A sleazy lawyer stumbles upon enlightenment!

This film is grounded in the expression of the Buddha nature. I think this is the first time the essence of Buddhism is expressed on the screen. Even if the quote from the Lotus Sutra is unrecognizable to the general audience, everyone can relate to the impact of a single life on so many others and the struggle for meaning in life.

The route to Daniel's enlightenment was laced with social commentary and humor about the mundane routine of life. The lawyer's daily trudging his cases up to the courthouse was a great motif for showing the increasing burden his life and his unraveling before he finds enlightenment. Daniel's struggle between his humanity and his dreary work is something many people can relate to. (I'm especially recommending this to my lawyer friends).

Very good actors, well cast. The direction, camera work, and editing were well done--better than many movies emerging from the independent market. (Clerks, Chuck and Buck come to mind). Visually interesting, particularly that scene where his suicide is envisioned. Powerfully presented.

"Echos of Enlightenment" Dan Coplan's indie is a great study of humanity in the 21st century. The character Dan is, whether or not we admit it, can be found in all of us. He is a man coping in the 21st century with all the stresses of outside influences hammering away at anything good he has, or is about, when he disappears. This movie is an excellent metaphor for the Buddhist principle of the mutual possession of the Ten Worlds and shows that happiness is possible under any circumstance. It's all up to the individual. The characters journey from Hell to Buddhahood is depicted with seriousness and humor. A great movie for anyone open to the possibilities of innate happiness.

Sitting through this movie made me realize just how gullible I am by believing a good tag line. This movie, on paper, looks good. I liked the idea, and am not biased toward poor cinematics, poor dialog, and poor acting if the plot or narrative of a story is really original and fresh. Often times all those overcome a poor plot in Hollywood, and sometimes, a superb plot can overcome them.

Sadly, it doesn't happen here.

This movie is a metaphorical train wreck that I kept hoping would reach the destination no matter how horrible the journey - and it doesn't.

Just skip it and watch "The grand canyon" again if you're looking for enlightenment of the human condition.

Echoes of Enlightenment could have easily gotten lost in a maze of contradictions and metaphors. However, the narrative holds the whole script together coherently, and the metaphors add deliberate depth to the stylish visuals.

Interpreting the concept of enlightenment on screen requires the finesse of walking the fine line between proselyting and sentimentality in which Coplan skilfully surpasses. Quite remarkably, Coplan's Echoes coaxes the audience to surrender disbelief and be drawn into a vibrant world of magical realism. We cannot help but recognize a part, if not all, of ourselves in Daniel Geser.

The performance of Daniel Geser is poignantly human; shades of pathos unravelled reminiscing of Martin Sheen in Apocalypse Now! For good measure, there are sexual and violent scenes for universal appeal. Echoes of Enlightenment is an engrossing, post-viewing conversation piece, bridging pop-culture with religious classic.

It is one of the those films that you must see more than once. A film that has many levels, and makes you think and reflect on life. It is a journey of the soul, and a film that reminds me of a famous line from a famous play: "Most people live their life in quiet desperation."