Sleeping Man
(Nemuru Otoko)
1996 / 35mm / 103 min / Color / Dolby Stereo / 4K
Director: Kohei OGURI / Screen Play: Kiyoshi KENMOCHI and Kohei OGURI / Cinematographer : Osamu MARUIKE
Cast: Ahn Sung ki / Koji YAKUSHO / Christine HAKIM
©1996 / 2024 Nemuru Otoko Production Committee
INTRODUCTION
A meditative journey into the spiritual essence of existence.
Directed by Kohei Oguri, Sleeping Man is a cinematic poem that transcends traditional narrative. A unique collaboration with Gunma Prefecture starring South Korean maestro Ahn Sung-ki, the film was honored with the Special Grand Prix of the Jury at the Montreal World Film Festival. It stands as a visual philosophy elebrating the quiet sanctity of life and the profound dignity of "being."
STORY
In a secluded mountain village, Takuji lies in an unwavering sleep following a forest accident. Though motionless, his presence becomes the spiritual center of the
ommunity. As villagers visit his bedside, they are drawn into his stillness, finding space to confront their own memories and the fleeting nature of time. Through breathtaking imagery of the shifting seasons, the film invites the audience to shift focus from "doing" to "being," honoring the sacredness of the silent breath of the forest.