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BLACK OX

KURO NO USHI

By Tetsuichiro TSUTA

ASIAN SHADOWS - CHINESE SHADOWS - as SALES Theatrical, VOD, DVD-video, TV, Airline, World

Drama - Completed 2024

Inspired by the Ten Ox-Herding Pictures from Zen Buddhism tradition, BLACK OX is a unique and epic period work that takes us on a journey towards spiritual awakening.

- Year of production
- 2024
- Genres
- Drama, Environmental
- Countries
- JAPAN, TAIWAN, USA
- Languages
- JAPANESE
- Duration
- 114 mn
- Director(s)
- Tetsuichiro TSUTA
- Writer(s)
- Tetsuichiro TSUTA, Koichi KUBODERA, Masayuki UEDA, Keita KUMANO
- Cast
- Kang-Sheng LEE, Min TANAKA, Ryubun SUMORI, Kei TAKEI, Blanca ADIKA
- Producer(s)
- Tetsuichiro TSUTA (Niko Niko Film), Yin-Yu HUANG (Moolin Films), Eric NYARI (Cineric Creative), Shozo ICHIYAMA (Fourier Films), Alex C. LO (CINEMA INUTILE)
- Synopsis
- In the Meiji Period, in the 19th century Japan, transitioning towards modernization, BLACK OX explores the relationship between man and ox, inspired by the “Ten Ox-Herding Pictures” a series of short poems and illustrations from Zen Buddhism tradition that depict the path to enlightenment and spiritual awakening. BLACK OX follows the life of a Man, a former hunter-gatherer who loses his connection to the gods of nature and to his spirituality in the process of becoming a farmer and becoming “Japanese” during the nation’s period of westernization in the Meiji Period. Transitioning from a life in the mountains to a life in the farm, one day he comes across a Black Ox. He somehow succeeds in leading the reluctant animal back to his home, and begins living with it. The OX becomes his companion in a life of seasons in the attempt to reconnect with nature.