Japanese Religion in Film

[Tom Mes]

Let's not forget Daiei's shot at a 70mm religious epic with the 1961 BUDDHA 
/ SHAKA, directed by Kenji Misumi and featuring an all-star cast that 
includes Machiko Kyo, Shintaro Katsu and Isuzu Yamada.
There's a Taiwanese DVD of this out, featuring only a horrid English dub 
soundtrack, but Misumi's characteristic use of expressionist shadows and 
silhouettes is very much in evidence. (Kojiro Hongo plays Siddharta, but 
after he ends his meditation under the Bodhi tree and becomes Buddha, only 
his shadow or silhouette is shown.)

Also worthy of investigation is the work Akio Jissoji, which is infused with 
Buddhist concepts, in particular THIS TRANSIENT LIFE / MUJO (see Roland 
Domenig's review at Midnight Eye:
http://www.midnighteye.com/reviews/thistransientlife.shtml).

Tom

Midnight Eye
http://www.midnighteye.com

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