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Zen (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version) DVD Region 2

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Zen (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version)

YesAsia Editorial Description

Directed by Takahashi Banmei, Zen is an elegant and fascinating look into the life and 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 monk's life, the film follows Dogen, handsomely portrayed by kabuki actor Nakamura Kantaro, from an orphan child inspired by his mother's 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 and fierce detractors who cast him as a heretic.

In his travels and teachings, Dogen encounters many different people. Some guide him, some follow him, and some test him, but all become crucial figures in his spiritual journey of peace and meditation. Zen's supporting cast includes Kora Kengo (Snakes and Earrings) as a young monk gone astray, Uchida Yuki (Welcome to the Quiet Room) as a prostitute and aspiring nun, and Fujiwara Tatsuya (Death Note) as the shogun haunted by inner ghosts.

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Technical Information

Product Title: Zen (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version) 禪 Zen (DVD) (英文字幕) (日本版) 禅 Zen (DVD) (英文字幕) (日本版) 禅 ZEN Zen (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version)
Artist Name(s): Uchida Yuki | Nakamura Kantaro | Fujiwara Tatsuya | Aikawa Sho | Jun Murakami | Katsumura Masanobu | Sasano Takashi | Sugata Shun | Kora Kengo | Takahashi Keiko | Nishimura Masahiko | Zheng Tian Yong 內田有紀 | 中村勘太郎 | 藤原龍也 | 哀川翔 | 村上淳 | 勝村政信 | 笹野高史 | 菅田俊 | 高良舞吾 | 高橋惠子 | 西村雅彥 | 鄭天庸 内田有纪 | 中村勘太郎 | 藤原龙也 | 哀川翔 | 村上淳 | 胜村政信 | 笹野高史 | 菅田俊 | 高良舞吾 | 高桥惠子 | 西村雅彦 | 郑天庸 内田有紀 | 中村勘太郎 | 藤原竜也 | 哀川翔 | 村上淳 | 勝村政信 | 笹野高史 | 菅田俊 | 高良健吾 | 高橋惠子 | 西村雅彦 | 鄭天庸 Uchida Yuki | Nakamura Kantaro | Fujiwara Tatsuya | Aikawa Sho | Jun Murakami | Katsumura Masanobu | Sasano Takashi | Sugata Shun | Kora Kengo | Takahashi Keiko | Nishimura Masahiko | Zheng Tian Yong
Director: Takahashi Tomoaki 高橋伴明 高桥伴明 高橋伴明 Takahashi Tomoaki
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Release Date: 2009-06-26
Publisher Product Code: ASBY-4356
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Country of Origin: Japan
Picture Format: NTSC What is it?
Disc Format(s): DVD
Region Code: 2 - Japan, Europe, South Africa, Greenland and the Middle East (including Egypt) What is it?
Publisher: Amuse soft Entertainment
Other Information: DVD
Shipment Unit: 1 What is it?
YesAsia Catalog No.: 1019701929

Product Information

タイトル:禅 ZEN
出演:中村勘太郎/内田有紀/藤原竜也/村上淳/哀川翔/勝村政信/笹野高史/テイ龍進/高良健吾/安居剣一郎/菅田俊/西村雅彦/鄭天庸/高橋惠子
監督:高橋伴明

時は鎌倉時代。24歳の道元は、仏道を極めるため宋へと渡った。ひたすら座禅に打ち込むという厳しい修行の末、ついに悟りを得た道元は、日本で如浄禅師の「禅」の教えを広めようと決意。道元の教えに賛同する者が次第に増えてくるなか、道元を認めない比叡山が圧力をかけてくるようになる。やがて越前に移った道元たちは、永平寺を建立するのだが…。
鎌倉時代に曹洞宗を開いた孤高の僧・道元の生きざまを描いた歴史ドラマ。「光の雨」の高橋伴明監督が、道元の生涯を軸に、彼が広めた「禅」という教えの本質に迫っている。主演は、歌舞伎界の若き実力派として活躍する中村勘太郎。青年期から老年期までの道元を熱演し、高い評価を得た。内田有紀や藤原竜也、西村雅彦など、共演陣にも豪華な顔ぶれが揃っている。

■映像特典:メイキング-ZEN of 禅-/中村勘太郎 参禅研修 永平寺にて/相田みつをと『禅』フォト・ギャラリー/予告編

テクニカル・インフォメーション
:カラー
画面:16:9/4:3(LB)
言語/音声:日本語:DD(ステレオ)

その他の情報
製作年:2008
著作権:(C)2008 「禅 ZEN」製作委員会
日本小売価格:¥3800

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Customer Review of "Zen (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version)"

Average Customer Rating for this Edition: Customer Review Rated Bad 8 - 8 out of 10 (1)

Kevin Kennedy
See all my reviews


August 26, 2009

Attractive biopic of Zen master Customer Review Rated Bad 8 - 8 out of 10
"Zen" tells the story of Buddhist monk Dogen (Nakamura Kantaro), credited in the film with bringing Zen Buddhism to Japan. Nakamuro does a remarkable job of depicting the kind-hearted and pious monk from callow youth to aged ascetic. The movie's first half is a bit of a slog. Its story is too unnuanced and it is saddled by too many Japanese actors pretending to be Chinese while speaking absolutely atrocious putonghua. Couldn't they find any Chinese actors to cast in those roles? The second half is much more interesting and compelling, as it grapples with a prostitute (Uchida Yuki) who wishes to leave her old life behind and become a nun, a fledgling monk (Kora Kengo) tested by his physical attraction to the prostitute, and Dogen's attempt to counsel the regent (Fujiwara Tatsuya) to the shogun who, as a consequence of his grasping at the reins of power, suffers from horrifying delusions.

The film is beautifully lensed and somehow manages to lend drama to scenes of monks simply sitting and meditating. It certainly succeeds at demonstrating the power and attraction of intense Zen meditation, although the nature of the enlightenment said to be obtained through that process remained elusive. As a Christian, I found it interesting to see some parallels between Zen philosophy and Christ's teaching, while at the same time I found Zen's intense inward focus disturbing.

As both an attractively filmed and well-acted life story and as an introduction to Zen Buddhism, I can recommend "Zen".
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