Overview
In the 12th century, Buddhism was still a relatively new religion in Japan. At that time, one school (Shingon) offered extensive training in complex and very demanding practices which might eventually bring about spiritual purification and realization. Various Zen schools offered students a lengthy path, literally composed of a blank wall and unceasing meditation. Yet another school (Tendai) emphasized complex metaphysics and the study of philosophical systems. Basically, all of them were designed to cater to the few who were able to give up everything else in their lives and focus on liberation, such as scholars and noblemen. In this historical and biographical drama, this is the situation that the young Shinran (1173-1263) discovered when he began exploring Buddhism as an alternative to the violence and ceaseless civil wars that racked Japan at the time.
Director and cast
More films
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (2003)
Drama · R
An isolated lake, where an old monk lives in a small floating temple. The monk has a young boy living with him, learning to become a monk. We watch as seasons and years pass by.
- Runtime
- 1h 43m
- Director
- Kim Ki-duk
- Cast
- Oh Young-soo, Kim Young-min, Seo Jae-kyeong
The Last Emperor (1987)
Drama · History · PG-13
A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden City, the object of worship by half a billion people; through his abdication, his decline and dissolute lifestyle; his exploitation by the invading Japanese, and finally to his obscure existence as just another peasant ...
- Runtime
- 2h 43m
- Director
- Bernardo Bertolucci
- Cast
- John Lone, Peter O'Toole, Joan Chen
Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
Adventure · Drama · History · PG-13
Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer journeys to the Himalayas without his family to head an expedition in 1939. But when World War II breaks out, the arrogant Harrer falls into Allied forces' hands as a prisoner of war. He escapes with a fellow detainee and makes his way to Lhasa, Tibet, where he meets the 14-year-old Dalai Lama, whos...
- Runtime
- 2h 16m
- Director
- Jean-Jacques Annaud
- Cast
- Brad Pitt, Jamyang Jamtsho Wangchuk, David Thewlis
Aśoka (2001)
Action · Adventure · Drama · History · Romance · War · R
A young Prince Asoka works to perfect his skills in battle and also deals with family conflict. During a struggle with one of his step-brothers, his mother urges Asoka to escape to stay alive. While away, Asoka meets Kaurwaki and falls in love, but must use his skills as a warrior to protect her. A dangerous and heartbreaking web of co...
- Runtime
- 2h 55m
- Director
- Santosh Sivan
- Cast
- Shah Rukh Khan, Ajith Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan
Samsara (2002)
Adventure · Drama · Romance · R
A love story situated in the Himalayas. A Buddhist monk can't choose between life and the way of the Buddha.
- Runtime
- 2h 18m
- Director
- Pan Nalin
- Cast
- Shawn Ku, Christy Chung Lai-Tai, Neelesha Barthel
Underground (2007)
Action · Not Rated
In the UK suburbs, an underground tournament is set to challenge twelve fighters from different backgrounds to compete for the price of £500,000. They have been handpicked for a no-holds barred competition that will push each fighter to their limit. Each fighter has their own reason for competing, and each will give everything they've ...
- Runtime
- 1h 35m
- Director
- Chee Keong Cheung
- Cast
- Mark Strange, Nathan Lewis, Joey Ansah
Bodyguard: A New Beginning (2008)
Action · Drama · Thriller · R
Leung is the bodyguard of a Chinese Triad boss, Wong, to whom his loyalty is unrivaled. Living in Hong Kong, Wong requests that his bodyguard travel to the UK to protect a young British woman, whose true identity is known only by Wong himself. Even Wong's son, Yuen, is kept in the dark, which leads to a betrayal that threatens to destr...
- Runtime
- 1h 35m
- Director
- Chee Keong Cheung
- Cast
- Vincent Sze Cho-Lam, Richard Ng Yiu-Hon, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
Comments
Talk about the film with other members