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IMDbPro

The Human Revolution

Original title: Ningen kakumei
  • 19731973
  • GG
  • 2h 40m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
34
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
151,548
52,678
The Human Revolution (1973)
History
A twenty-year-old man meets another who is a headmaster of an elementary school in 1920. They form a teacher and pupil relationship. The headmaster has his own methods and is unorthodox lead... Read allA twenty-year-old man meets another who is a headmaster of an elementary school in 1920. They form a teacher and pupil relationship. The headmaster has his own methods and is unorthodox leading to his dismissal by the education authorities. The two men, as such, form an education... Read allA twenty-year-old man meets another who is a headmaster of an elementary school in 1920. They form a teacher and pupil relationship. The headmaster has his own methods and is unorthodox leading to his dismissal by the education authorities. The two men, as such, form an education-related business. The former headmaster converts to a sect of Buddhism five years later. ... Read all
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
34
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
151,548
52,678
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Toshio Masuda
    • Writers
      • Shinobu Hashimoto
      • Daisaku Ikeda(story)
    • Stars
      • Tetsurô Tanba
      • Shinsuke Ashida
      • Michiyo Aratama
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Toshio Masuda
    • Writers
      • Shinobu Hashimoto
      • Daisaku Ikeda(story)
    • Stars
      • Tetsurô Tanba
      • Shinsuke Ashida
      • Michiyo Aratama
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 2User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos

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    Top cast

    Edit
    Tetsurô Tanba
    Tetsurô Tanba
    Shinsuke Ashida
    Shinsuke Ashida
    Michiyo Aratama
    Michiyo Aratama
    Tatsuya Nakadai
    Tatsuya Nakadai
    Tetsuya Watari
    Tetsuya Watari
    Toshio Kurosawa
    Makoto Satô
    Makoto Satô
    Izumi Yukimura
    Akihiko Hirata
    Akihiko Hirata
    Kenji Sahara
    Kenji Sahara
    Akio Hasegawa
    Kazuo Katô
    Yoshifumi Tajima
    Yoshifumi Tajima
    Shigeo Takamatsu
    Yasushi Suzuki
    Hiromi Matsushita
    Hiromi Matsushita
    Ruriko Itô
    Toki Shiozawa
    • Director
      • Toshio Masuda
    • Writers
      • Shinobu Hashimoto
      • Daisaku Ikeda(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    User reviews2

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Well-made religious film
    Tetsuro Tanba, best known to international audiences as Tiger Tanaka in the James Bond film "You Only Live Twice", gives a riveting performance as Josei Toda, the leader of Soka Gakkai, an organization dedicated to spreading the Nichiren sect of Buddhism.

    I'm a former adherent of this sect, so my memories of the film are colored by a believer's perspective. However, Tanba (who reprised the role in a sequel not listed here) was not a believer and in fact described himself as an atheist. This is a movie with high production values and a strong storyline.

    Toda joined Soka Gakkai (Value Creation Society) before World War II and was imprisoned as a thought criminal during the war, along with his mentor Makiguchi, who died in prison. Toda attains a state of enlightenment and after the war, revives Soka Gakkai and establishes it as a major force in Japanese religion.

    This is a lot more absorbing than you might think. It spends some time describing the philosophy of Nichiren Buddhism, but Tanba's performance keeps the story going, and it's impressive how he "feels" the material.

    It's doubtful this will ever be made available in the United States. I saw it at a special showing arranged by Soka Gakkai back in 1974; it was in Japanese with English subtitles. It's hard to see it having a wide appeal here, as religious films generally have to be Christian to attract an audience in the U.S., but it's a shame, because it presents its message without badgering and is a powerful emotional experience. I don't believe in this stuff anymore, but there are some fascinating ideas in it.
    helpful•9
    1
    • pninson
    • Oct 5, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 1974 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • 人間革命
    • Production companies
      • Scenario Eiga
      • Toho Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 40 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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