David Wants to Fly

David is a filmmaker who lives with his girlfriend Marie in Berlin. David's parents still pay the rent, as he is not the most successful filmmaker in the business. He looks with envy upon his idol, the renowned experimental filmmaker David Lynch. Then David gets the chance to attend a seminar given by Lynch in the States, in which the more famous David expounds on his fascination for transcendental meditation and levitation. The "flying monk" phenomenon is a component in a religious movement led by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who inspired the Beatles as well. Lynch manages to persuade David to meditate, and David visits adherents in India, Switzerland and the Netherlands. He also joins a pilgrimage to the source of the Ganges high in the Himalayas. In a continual tone of surprise, a style somewhat reminiscent of Michael Moore's, David discovers how the Maharishi's followers struggle for power after his death and learns how much money is flowing through the organization. The Indian village that supposedly houses 10,000 followers meditating for world peace turns out to be inhabited by only eight Hindus. This amusing documentary blends a personal focus with journalistic detective work. Lynch and the Maharishi's followers sought to prevent publication of this film and have announced that they will release their own film in response.