The Life of Buddha
釈迦の生涯
Synopsis
A re-edited, feature length compilation of the two parts of Ôfuji's The Great Sage Shakyamuni Buddha - the culmination of Noburô Ôfuji's monochrome silhouette films. After a portentous dream about a white elephant, the ancient Hindu princess Maya gives birth to a prince. Reared in seclusion from the troubles of the world, Prince Siddhartha is troubled by sights of poverty and deprivation when he is 12 years old. He is married to a beautiful wife, but he is unable to bear the thought of others suffering, and leaves the palace in search of an answer. While sitting beneath a tree, he achieves enlightenment. Planned as a nine-reel life of Buddha, but exhibited in Cannes as ‘Part One’ with only 6 reels completed, this late work by Noburô Ôfuji was not completed until after his death. It was only in 1961 that it was finally exhibited as a full 72-minute film (comprising 10 reels).
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Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Noburô Ôfuji
- Original Title
- 釈迦の生涯
- Country of Origin
- Japan
- Spoken Languages
- Japanese
- Runtime
- 1h 12m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Noburô Ôfuji
Department Leadership Roster
Noburô Ôfuji
Director
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Life of Buddha
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Life of Buddha about?
A re-edited, feature length compilation of the two parts of Ôfuji's The Great Sage Shakyamuni Buddha - the culmination of Noburô Ôfuji's monochrome silhouette films. After a portentous dream about a white elephant, the ancient Hindu princess Maya gives birth to a prince. Reared in seclusion from the troubles of the world, Prince Siddhartha is troubled by sights of poverty and deprivation when he is 12 years old. He is married to a beautiful wife, but he is unable to bear the thought of others suffering, and leaves the palace in search of an answer. While sitting beneath a tree, he achieves enlightenment. Planned as a nine-reel life of Buddha, but exhibited in Cannes as ‘Part One’ with only 6 reels completed, this late work by Noburô Ôfuji was not completed until after his death. It was only in 1961 that it was finally exhibited as a full 72-minute film (comprising 10 reels).
Who directed The Life of Buddha?
The Life of Buddha was directed by Noburô Ôfuji.
Who stars in The Life of Buddha?
The principal cast of The Life of Buddha includes Shintarō Katsu.
When was The Life of Buddha released and how long is it?
The Life of Buddha was released in 1961 with a total runtime of 1h 12m.