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This Transient Life
This Transient Life
8.3
/10
868 Ratings

THIS TRANSIENT LIFE

無常

Directed by Akio Jissoji
Japan, 1970
Drama, Erotica

Synopsis

Near a remote Buddhist monastery, Masao falls in love with his older sister, Yuri, and gets her pregnant. After a monk finds out, Masao tries to keep this a secret from his parents and decides to move away to become an assistant to a master sculptor, only to complicate matters with his affairs.

Synopsis

Near a remote Buddhist monastery, Masao falls in love with his older sister, Yuri, and gets her pregnant. After a monk finds out, Masao tries to keep this a secret from his parents and decides to move away to become an assistant to a master sculptor, only to complicate matters with his affairs.

Our take

One of the most successful experimental films in the history of Japanese cinema, this controversial New Wave classic from director Akio Jissôji is a marvel of stylistic ingenuity. Winner of Locarno’s Golden Leopard, This Transient Life is a truly transgressive examination of spirituality and desire.