Zen
ZEN
(c) 2009 ZEN Production Committee
(c) 2009 ZEN Production Committee
- Release Date
- January, 10th, 2009
- Running Time
- 127 min
- Genre
- Drama , Historical , Feature
- Color
- Color
- Screening Format
- 35mm
- Screen Size
- American Vista (1:1.85)
- Sound Processing
- Dolby SR
[ Directed by ]
[ Produced by ]
[ Cast ]
- NAKAMURA Kantaro ── Dogen
- UCHIDA Yuki ── Orin
- FUJIWARA Tatsuya ── HOJO Tokiyori
[ Staff ]
- OTANI Tetsuo ── Executive Producer
- TAKAHASHI Banmei ── Screenplay
- OTANI Tetsuo ── Original Story
- UZAKI Ryudo ── Music
- NAKANISHI Haseo ── Music
- MIZUGUCHI Noriyuki ── Cinematography
- KIKUCHI Junichi ── Editor
- MARUO Tomoyuki ── Production Design
[ Production Company ]
ZEN Production Committee
[ Distributor (Japan) ]
Kadokawa Pictures
[ Production Studio ]
Twins Japan
[ Story ]
Based on Komazawa University president Otani Tetsuo's historical novel which chronicled Zen monk Dogen's achievements in spreading the Soto school of Zen Buddhism across Japan. Engaged solely in zazen, Dogen sacrifices himself to attaining a spiritual state of nothingness in this illuminating portrait set against the beauty of the four seasons. As Dogen, kabuki actor Nakamura Kantaro gives an expectedly commanding performance that encompasses Dogen's life from his youth until his ripe age.
The turbulent Kamakura period. Having lost his mother as a young boy, Dogen (Nakamura) travels to China at the age of 24 in search of a Buddhist master. He goes through ascetic training under Zen monk Ju-ching (Zheng Tianyong). After he finally attains enlightenment at dawn one summer morning, he returns to Japan and endeavors to spread Zen Buddhism. Beginning with a prostitute (Uchida Yuki) nursing a baby and married to an indolent husband, Dogen gains the adoration of the general populace. This provokes jealousy in the monks from Mt. Hiei, who drive Dogen out to Echizen (modern day northern Fukui prefecture), where Dogen establishes Eihei-ji temple and continues to educate his students. Dogen is then summoned by the regent of the shogunate, Hojo Tokiyori (Fujiwara Tatsuya), who requests Dogen to free him from visions of vengeful apparitions. Dogen departs to Kamakura.
[ Official Site ]
[ Film Festivals, Awards ]
Wine Country Film Festival 2009 Best World Cinema Award, Best Cinematographer Award
[ Contact (International) ]
KADOKAWA CORPORATION
International Sales, Motion Picture Business
2-13-3 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8177
Rep: NATSUNO Takeshi (President)
Attn: MORI Chiyo
tel: +81 50 1746 1220
E-mail: mori-c@kadokawa.jp
http://www.kadokawa.co.jp
