Product Details

• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Screen Media
• DVD Release Date: May 27, 2008
• Run Time: 62 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0013LRKQ2
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,093 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Transformation: The Life and Legacy of Werner Erhard" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Thirty years after self-help workshop pioneer Werner Erhard started hosting his EST seminars, people still hotly debate the authenticity of Erhard's teachings. The historical background of this controversy and the fundamental beliefs behind EST are well explained in Transformation, a documentary that stars Erhard alongside many prominent scientists, philosophers, activists, and actors who were influenced both positively and negatively by this movement. Tracing EST's relationships to 1960s counterculture, Eastern mysticism, and even Scientology, Transformation seeks to defend and redeem Erhard, who was the subject of positive and negative media attention in the U.S. before he left the country in the early 1990s. Interviews with critics and journalists who reflect on the movement's weaknesses intelligently illustrate how sensationalism has deemphasized Erhard's positive messages of personal freedom, regardless of his sketchy personal past. Interviews with George Leonard of Esalen, as well as the founders of The Hunger Project and Landmark Education, discuss Erhard's indisputably far-reaching influence. The strength of this documentary lies in its effort to transcend previous media bashing in order to express Erhard's flawed but ultimately philanthropic yearnings, and his influence in non-profit and business sectors. Regardless of whether one subscribes to EST's tenets or relegates it to passé cult status, Transformation is worth a viewing as it highlights an ambitious global effort that has indirectly inspired countless contemporary self-help gurus, from Deepak Chopra to Dr. Phil. --Trinie Dalton

Product Description

From two-time Emmy winner Robyn Symon comes an intriguing documentary which offers an intimate look at Werner Erhard founder of the "est" program that sparked today's multi-billion dollar personal growth industry. In his first interview in more than a decade Werner gives a rare glimpse into the controversy surrounding his life and his program that has inspired millions of people all over the world.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Story and Brilliant DVD, July 1, 2008

By 

Roger T. G. Patterson "Roger" (Hong Kong, China) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Transformation: The Life and Legacy of Werner Erhard (DVD)

A brilliant documentary on an amazing guy whose work has made a huge difference in the lives of many many people. It was fascinating to hear about what went into what is now the Landmark Forum and other programmes put on by Landmark. The revelations about how members of the Scientology Church actively set out to damage the reputation of Mr Erhard are well worth watching, if only so you can be clear and complete about the guy who founded it all. Personal attacks from what appear to be more members of the Scientology Church continue, even in the reviews of this DVD, I see.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's not about Werner Erhard, June 2, 2008

By 

Amazon Chuck (Hartford, CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Transformation: The Life and Legacy of Werner Erhard (DVD)

I gave 5 stars to acknowledge what Werner's humanity and commitment contributed to the world. When I think of him, I am moved to tears--not because of a fawning cult figure adoration. Like myself, I am aware of his many human flaws and failures. I am moved to tears because when I remember Werner Erhard, I remember who I am.

I remember how I hated my mother and father and had little contact with them for 12 years. After doing the est Training & The 6-Day Course, I began getting to know them for the first time. As a result, my father ended up being the "best man" at my wedding 25 years ago. How do you thank a person for something like that?

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The most balanced version told so far - Enjoyable/Recommended!, June 30, 2008

By 

Gunnar Forsgren "gunnar-amazon" (Stockholm, Sweden) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Transformation: The Life and Legacy of Werner Erhard (DVD)

I enjoyed viewing this. I remembered participating in some of these seminars back in the late 80's and much of the thinking Erhard compiled into his seminar products had a powerful impact on the participants. This documentary sets straight in a good way some of the concepts that typically have been misunderstood and portrayed in a distorted way by media. Thanks for the extras footage from the Training. Clearly more footage from those early seminars showing Erhard and others in their prime days deserve to become available to the world. I thoroughly enjoyed the part where Erhard "makes the blow disappear". It's clear to realize how the issues dealt with 30 years ago in those trainings continue to be as valid for humans today although today more people are aware of how to handle them, and I think that's a legacy. The DVD is mostly an affair for those who have any experience of the work, but I guess also those totally new to the whole thing could find something to think about from watching it.