Kaseki (The Fossil), by Masaki Kobayashi, 1975

A detailed look at a Tokyo business tycoon (played by Shin Saburi) given a diagnosis of terminal cancer who must now re-assess his life and values.

Originally made for Japanese television, The Fossil feels like Kobayashi leaving behind his anger at systems and confronting mortality, as does his main character. In a surprisingly close telling of a very similar tale to Kurosawa's Ikiru, Kobayashi confronts a life of workaholism that suddenly and definitively will come to an end.

Director Masaki Kobayashi

Stars: Shin Saburi, Mayumi Ogawa, Keiko Kishi

Official submission of Japan for the 'Best Foreign Language Film' category of the 47th Academy Awards in 1975.

Subs only in English.

Video link: https://youtu.be/-018xPVd3F8

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