How to Cook Your Life (2007)

Doris Dorrie's loving portrait of Buddhist priest and chef Edward Espe Brown showcases his message that paying attention to the mundane processes of food production, preparation and consumption can be a gateway to larger spiritual revelations.

A low-key but pleasant and thoughtful examination ... The film could use a lot more time in the kitchen.

Cook and Zen priest Edward Brown is profiled in this documentary by German filmmaker Doris Dörrie (Men), who follows the witty, pleasant Brown as he offers cooking and life lessons in Buddhist retreats in Austria and California.

Brown as a subject does sometimes intrigue and he even grows emotional, but this does not necessarily make him more endearing.

The Zen priest who dominates the film as its talking head is laid-back to the point of being soporific and engages in speech mannerisms that could make even an adolescent hit the ceiling.

The documentary plays like a long, dull parody of pure living.

Despite the film's repeated exhortations that humans need to be more humble about who is cooking whom, the broccoli continues to seem inert.