Zen

2009 2h 7m JA

👍

7.1

SOLID

⭐

7.3

IMDB

★7.1TMDB · 31★7.3IMDB · 1,224

DramaHistory

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In the early 1200s, Dogen brought Chinese Zen philosophy to Japan, and established the Japanese Zen school of Buddhism. He taught that a person was capable of realizing Buddhahood within himself, by way of Zazen. Zazen is extended hours of sitting and meditating to achieve a state of “Mu” (nothingness, or empty existence).

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Kantarô Nakamura
Dogen
Yuki Uchida
Orin
Ryushin Tei
Ji-uen / Kugyo Minamoto
Kengo Kora
Tatsuya Fujiwara
Jun Murakami
Masanobu Katsumura
Zheng Tianyong

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Banmei Takahashi
Writers: Banmei Takahashi
Languages: Japanese, Mandarin
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 17 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Japanese, Mandarin.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Banmei Takahashi, shot by Noriyuki Mizuguchi. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Ryudo Uzaki. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Hani Mituhashi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Kantarô Nakamura and Yuki Uchida and Ryushin Tei carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt1156470 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Banmei Takahashi directs. Noriyuki Mizuguchi behind the camera. Ryudo Uzaki scores. Hani Mituhashi cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese, Mandarin.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 17 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Japanese, Mandarin.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Banmei Takahashi, shot by Noriyuki Mizuguchi. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Ryudo Uzaki. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Hani Mituhashi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Kantarô Nakamura and Yuki Uchida and Ryushin Tei carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt1156470 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 31 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.