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Enlighten Up!

Play trailer Poster for Enlighten Up! Released Apr 1, 2009 1h 22m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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56% Tomatometer 39 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Filmmaker Kate Churchill has a theory that the practice of yoga can transform just about anyone. Skeptic Nick Rosen has his doubts, but agrees to be the filmmaker's guinea pig. Churchill immerses Rosen in yoga, then follows him around the world to meet with celebrity yogis, true believers and true kooks.
Enlighten Up!

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Critics Consensus

Enlighten Up! is a funny, warmhearted documentary that's uneven in spots, but thought-provoking nonetheless.

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Critics Reviews

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Ty Burr Boston Globe Rated: 2/4 Nov 24, 2011 Full Review Maitland McDonagh Time Out Rated: 4/5 Nov 16, 2011 Full Review Hank Sartin Time Out Rated: 3/5 Nov 16, 2011 Full Review Jim Slotek Jam! Movies Weirdly, it's the documentarian who seems to unravel throughout. Rated: 2.5/5 Aug 28, 2009 Full Review Marty Mapes Movie Habit Give director Churchill credit for including her own obstinacy in the movie Rated: 2/4 Jul 26, 2009 Full Review Rob Thomas Capital Times (Madison, WI) In the end, both the believer and the skeptic end up less sure of their beliefs than they were when they started. Which must be at least a small step towards true enlightenment, right? Rated: 3/4 Jun 26, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member a ideia é ótima, a execução mediana. mesmo assim, dá pra tirar umas pérolas dali do meio (e provavelmente a minha pérola vai ser bem diferente da sua haha). Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member I recognize the problems with the documentary--that the filmmaker somewhat forced her philosophies and bias onto her subject--but I think that adds to the film, seeing that it is in fact a documentary. The filmmaker and the subject getting frustrated with each other, that's reality, and that's what I look for in a documentary. The story was very transparent, and the filmmaker was willing to admit that she was wrong in some ways. The fact that the subject was skeptical throughout the movie gave it more value. I don't want a movie that is preaching to the choir, I want something that challenges my thoughts and my beliefs. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Chad B A quaint, quick, and interesting documentary showing several varying approaches to the vast and deep world of yoga. It may not necessarily lead to anything conclusive, all things considered, but it certainly does enough to get you thinking without being forceful or pandering. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/10/13 Full Review Audience Member Not Real eventful just some guy globetrotting around the USA and India finding the meaning of Yoga..Really enjoyed it though. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member This was entertaining even thought the film maker was annoying, the subject was engaging and Iyengar's interview is badass... Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member a somewhat enjoyable doc about a guy seeking to get in touch with his spiritual life through yoga. he pretzels up with california strippers to yogis in india, and everyone in between. interesting, but at the end of the day he's just not a very likeable dude and that definitely brings this one down. the yoga looks AWESOME though. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Enlighten Up!

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Cast & Crew

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Kate Churchill

Director

Kate Churchill

Screenwriter

Jonathon Hexner

Writer

Kate Churchill

Producer

Jeanne Hagerty

Executive Producer

Tom Hagerty

Executive Producer

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Enlighten Up!

Nick Rosen in "Enlighten Up!" Nick Rosen in "Enlighten Up!" (Right) Director Kate Churchill on the set of "Enlighten Up!" Nick Rosen in "Enlighten Up!" Nick Rosen in "Enlighten Up!" Nick Rosen and Shyamdas in "Enlighten Up!" Yoga master BKS Iyengar in "Enlighten Up!" Students at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in "Enlighten Up!" View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Filmmaker Kate Churchill has a theory that the practice of yoga can transform just about anyone. Skeptic Nick Rosen has his doubts, but agrees to be the filmmaker's guinea pig. Churchill immerses Rosen in yoga, then follows him around the world to meet with celebrity yogis, true believers and true kooks.
Director
Kate Churchill
Producer
Kate Churchill
Screenwriter
Kate Churchill, Jonathon Hexner
Distributor
Balcony Releasing
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 1, 2009, Limited
Release Date (DVD)
Nov 13, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA)
$246.6K
Runtime
1h 22m