Directed by Takahashi Banmei, Zen is an elegant & fascinating look into the life & times of 13th-century monk Dogen, founder of the Soto sect in Zen Buddhism. Offering a fairly faithful depiction of what is known of the monks life, the film follows Dogen, handsomely portrayed by kabuki actor Nakamura Kantaro, from an orphan child inspired by his mothers dying words to a young monk wandering in China where he experiences his awakening. After reaching enlightenment, he returns to Kyoto to spread his teachings of silent meditation, attracting both dedicated followers & fierce detractors who cast him as a heretic.
In his travels & teachings, Dogen encounters many different people. Some guide him, some follow him, & some test him, but all become crucial figures in his spiritual journey of peace & meditation. Zens supporting cast
Includes:: Kora Kengo ( Snakes & Earrings) as a young monk gone astray, Uchida Yuki ( Welcome to the Quiet Room) as a prostitute & aspiring nun, & Fujiwara Tatsuya ( Death Note) as the shogun haunted by inner ghosts.