Japan/Germany 2016, 43 min., in Japanese with English subtitles
Available for educational institutions with Public Performance Rights / Digital Site License. Pricing varies by country and institution. The film has been acquired by many universities in the USA, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Germany and other countries, including Stanford University, New York University (NYU), University of Chicago and SOAS University of London.
This documentary film introduces the core ideas and the history of the so-called Kyoto School, an open network
of 20th century Japanese thinkers representing an encounter between Zen Buddhism and Western philosophy. Some of them had studied in Germany with Martin Heidegger, whose son speaks in the film. The main protagonist is 90-year-old Shizuteru Ueda (†), at the time the last living representative of the original Kyoto School movement.
“Beautifully done documentary film… Good discussions of its basic concepts concerning nothingness, language, experience, place, subject-predicate, relationship with Heidegger, Zen."
John W.M. Krummel, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, New York, USA,
member of the Board of Directors at Journal of Japanese Philosophy
Filming locations include Kyoto University, Nishida Kitarō Museum of Philosophy designed by Tadao Ando,
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Shokoku-ji Zen Temple and Ryoanji Temple Rock Garden, both Kyoto.
Contact: dokhausberlinfilm@gmail.com
A short version of the film (20 min.) premiered at the London
Raindance International Film Festival 2015 (Official Selection).