[ARTS] Movies/Documentaries with a Buddhist-ish Theme

[Jundo]

Dear All,

We had a request from Ester for a part of the Arts center to list some movies and documentaries with a, more or less, Zen and Buddhist-ish theme.

Already we have had discussion of the Master Dogen bio-pic, aptly called ... ZEN .... LINK

We have also had our first submission by friend Matt J. (including a couple I have missed, look forward to checking them out:

Burmese Harp

La Mar al Dentro

Cloud Atlas

Waking Life

Donnie Darko

Departures

Julian Donkey-boy

The Holy Mountain

Any others come to heart? Please feel free to tip us off, with a little review if you wish.

Gassho, Jundo in the Balconey
stlah

[Guest]

Oh crap! I would like to add the caveat.... I was kind of unsure about whether we were restricted to overtly Buddhist movies.... that's actually quite limiting.... A few of those films I relayed are actually portrayals of mental illness so please don't get confused.... I often get confused between zen and mental illness so....



_/\_
sat/ah
matt

[IanSmith]

Matt, I share your confusion
Gassho
Satlah

[Shoshin]

Dear All,

We had a request from Ester for a part of the Arts center to list some movies and documentaries with a, more or less, Zen and Buddhist-ish theme.

Already we have had discussion of the Master Dogen bio-pic, aptly called ... ZEN .... LINK

We have also had our first submission by friend Matt J. (including a couple I have missed, look forward to checking them out:



Any others come to heart? Please feel free to tip us off, with a little review if you wish.

Gassho, Jundo in the Balconey
stlah

Thanks!!!
Gassho,
Ester
Satlah

[Shoshin]

Oh crap! I would like to add the caveat.... I was kind of unsure about whether we were restricted to overtly Buddhist movies.... that's actually quite limiting.... A few of those films I relayed are actually portrayals of mental illness so please don't get confused.... I often get confused between zen and mental illness so....



_/\_
sat/ah
matt

From my part any film/documentary that someone thinks is somehow related to Buddhism can be nice to be added here.

If we think it is not obvious how it relates to Buddhism it might be helpful, ( only if we feel like typing a bit more) , to add a line explaining why we think that the film is related to Buddhism to make it easier for everyone to decide if we want to watch the film or not. Otherwise we can always refer to https://www.imdb.com where we can find info about almost any film if we know the title.

Btw, I loved Departures. Such an awesome film.


Gassho,
Ester
Satlah

[Shoshin]

Kundun (1997)
A biography of the Dalai Lama.

Perfect Days (2023)
A poetic film about a solitary toilet cleaner in Tokyo. The main character is inspired in zen monastics.

Gassho,
Ester
Satlah

[Jundo]

Oh crap! I would like to add the caveat.... I was kind of unsure about whether we were restricted to overtly Buddhist movies....

Well, in the sense that Zen is all of reality and all reality is Zen, then Zen is any movie and any movie is Zen.

However, generally around here, we are trying to stay focused on Buddhist and Zen teachings and practices, so we should stay close to home, or try to tie the theme in to Buddhism.

For example ....
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A movie about attachments (to walls) combined with flexibility, as all thing are connected by a vast web. Good triumphs over evil and, of course, we all possess within ourselves our own super-powers hidden within human form.

Gassho, J
stlah

[Bion]

My recommendations [for now]:

Karma, a movie about two Tibetan nuns, one more free-spirited, one more traditional, on a mission to get some money for their monastery, after the death of the abbess, who is expected to return in another reincarnation. For that to be facilitated, money is needed. (can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_ISjugQr2Y&list=PLVCeg72gX2-JDsmaKI8AzhRU2V22ptxfj&index=1 )

Legend of Huineng, a Chinese retelling of the story of the Sixth patriarch's life. ( can be found here: https://youtu.be/JCII3Gs_Pzk?si=VMzgAmYfRg1RwPiJ )

Xuan Zang another Chinese movie about a well known buddhist character, the monk Xuan Zang, who left China in search of Sutras, walking towards India, to reach Nalanda monastery. It has some fantastically beautiful scenes, my favorite being towards the end, where Xuan Zang, exhausted by his voyage, is seen approaching a master, his raggedy Okesa clearly worn out, beaten up, dragging on the ground brushing away beautiful yellow flowers that are scattered everywhere. Absolutely gorgeous movie. (can be found here: https://youtu.be/ulDzLjz0wdw?si=i29T1GwIlrdicaUo )

Sheng Yen one of my favorite documentaries about the challenging path Chan master Sheng Yen took in order to reach the point where he could establish his Dharma centers, his travels to study and practice in Japan and then the United States, his monumental legacy and teaching. It is a documentary that mixes interviews, old videos of master Sheng Yen and nice animations to tell this somewhat of a hagiography of the respected teacher. I find it tremendously inspiring and a great example of what it means to dedicate one's life to the practice and the Way, holding nothing back. (can be found here: https://youtu.be/oIjCjGszu64?si=aVb2GWq_7KQCnbNG )

Hermits follows renowned buddhist translator Red Pine as he ventures back to the mountains he first visited decades ago, and that offered him the chance to meet Buddhist and Daoist hermits living there. It is a particularly wonderful documentary, as it highlights just how respected and appreciated Red Pine actually is in China by serious buddhist practitioners, even those spending their time isolated on mountain peaks. There are some brilliant moments in the interviews, where we get a taste of the wisdom of some these hermits and we also get to see a Red Pine that's an actual serious buddhist practitioner, not just some character behind a desk. ( can be found here: https://youtu.be/s_YV3E9Rwac?si=ixcFB3BRMnZTXqIQ )

A Cloud Never Dies a nice and short little documentary from Plum Village about Thich Nhat Hanh. (can be found here: https://youtu.be/DRObW9noiVk?si=3OifLsEzgbguZRyT )

Mandala a 1981 movie about two very different buddhist monks traveling together, creating an image of life, individualism, spirituality and enlightenment. (can be found here: http:// https://youtu.be/s9doxhggvx0?si=MdBAviA28scu9V6X )

The Mountain Path a new version of the well-known Amongst White Clouds. A few years ago, Ed, the director thought he should re-cut the documentary, add more footage and polish it. He did so, and it almost feels like one is watching a completely new movie. Still one of my favorites. This one can be rented, streamed or purchased. (can be found here: https://www.onemindproductions.com/shop )

Enjoy!

Gassho
sat lah

[Jundo]

** I will just not that there are some historical doubts about elements of the story surround Master Shengyen, which contain the flavor of traditional Buddhist Master hagiography. It shares that with the Master Dogen movie in fact, even though Shengyen's story takes place in modern times. Stuart Lachs writes about the Shengyen biography here: LINK

On the other hand, the rest of his story is true and quite amazing, and he built a wonderful organization.
Maybe I can make up a good script for my legend movie before I leave this planet.

Gassho, J
stlah

[Bion]

** I will just not that there are some historical doubts about elements of the story surround Master Shengyen, which contain the flavor of traditional Buddhist Master hagiography. It shares that with the Master Dogen movie in fact, even though Shengyen's story takes place in modern times. Stuart Lachs writes about the Shengyen biography here: LINK

On the other hand, the rest of his story is true and quite amazing, and he built a wonderful organization.
Maybe I can make up a good script for my legend movie before I leave this planet.

Gassho, J
stlah

I find it noteworthy that he serves as a good example that it is entirely possible for one to have to step back and return to ordination as one figures out how to entirely give oneself to the practice.

Gassho
sat lah

[Dainei]

Perfect Days (2023)
A poetic film about a solitary toilet cleaner in Tokyo. The main character is inspired in zen monastics.

Gassho,
Ester
Satlah

I LOVED that movie! Watched with my youngest son, 22, and he really liked it too. I tried to explain the ending but IYKYK.


Bill
Sat

[Jundo]

Okay, I have to mention my own (beyond a "my"), all time (and timeless) Zen Movie ... funny and sad and liberating ... Erleuchtung Garantiert / Enlightenment Guaranteed

Two very different brothers get together for a temporary stay in a Japanese zen monastery. The trip from Germany to Japan brings up some unexpected things they have to manage. Soon both really have to leave their ordinary lives behind and are on a voyage to themselves.

It is available here online for so many years that I think it permissible to watch if you need ... and there are subtitles ... however better to rent it somewhere if you can ...
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Preview:
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ALSO ...

An Japanese comedy with definitely an 80s Japan feel, very manga-ish in style but funny and filled with a lot of truth about monastic life in a Soto Zen place ... FANCY DANCE / ファンシィダンス ! ... Sorry, you need to hunt around as a bit hard to find with English subs although it is around ...
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From a review (not by me) ...

Yohei Shiono , the lead singer in a rock band, is actually the heir to a Buddhist temple. In order to take over the temple, he must enter a Zen temple and undergo training. He reluctantly submits, shaving the half of his head which wasn't already shaved, and resigns himself to a life of asceticism and discipline in a mountain temple. But he and three fellow novices soon learn that some monks are more equal than others. The [head] monk secretly hoards chocolates and the disciplinarian monk likes to don a wig and hit karaoke bars. And then Yohei's girlfriend (Suzuki) shows up. The mix of belly laughs, slapstick, sex jokes and satire pushes towards a predictably serene, spiritual conclusion.

...

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ALSO ...

Same actor as in Fancy Dance, very different role, brilliant about the grace of death in Japan ... DEPARTURES ... I have experienced this in my own family ... Academy Award winner ... really a masterpiece ...
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Preview:
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That will keep folks busy for awhile ... EatingPopcorn-512.png

Gassho, J
stlah

[Bion]

Departures is still one of my favorite movies!!!!!

Gassho
sat lah

[Koriki]

This just popped up on my YouTube feed. A nice documentary on Antaiji. Google is clearly reading my mind now.

Gassho,
Koriki
s@lah

[Kokuu]

Perfect Days (2023)
A poetic film about a solitary toilet cleaner in Tokyo. The main character is inspired in zen monastics.

This was one of my favourite movies from last year (although admitted I watched about three!). It might even have been recommended by someone at Treeleaf.

I don't know if I missed it being mentioned but I really like Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring, which is set on a floating hermitage on a lake in Korea: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374546/

The Cup is a sweet film about young Tibetan monks who combine their practice with excitement over the football world cup, and the response of the Lama in finding a balance between the dharma and letting them just be young boys. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0201840/

How to Cook Your Life is another film by Doris Dorries who made Enlightenment Guaranteed and follows tenzo Edward Espe Brown (and author of the Tassajara Bread book): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0943512/

Amongst White Clouds is a lovely documentary about Chinese hermit monks: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1270080/

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-