Kadokawa Pictures (Japan)
Directed by Banmei Takahashi
My rating: 3 stars out of 4
IMDb
(YouTube)
The story of Dogen Zenji, a young Buddhist monk in search of a teacher and the truth. He finds both in China, and decides to introduce it in his native Japan. He builds a simple zendo in the mountains and find a few devoted students. They have trouble with the local established religious hierarchy who try to burn them out. Meanwhile, Dogen accepts new students, including an important politician who may be more trouble than he is worth, and an ex-prostitute looking for meaning in her life. More than just a biography, this epic tale conveys the spirit of Zen very effectively. Occasionally loses its way with some ill-advised CGI scenes, but overall quite engrossing, especially for those interested in Zen and its history.
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