The Petrified Forest (1973)
| The Petrified Forest | |
|---|---|
| Japanese | 化石の森 |
| Hepburn | Kaseki no mori |
| Directed by | Masahiro Shinoda |
| Produced by | Tomohiro Kaiyama |
| Written by | Shintarō Ishihara (novel) |
| Screenplay by |
Nobuo Yamada Masahiro Shinoda |
| Starring | Ken'ichi Hagiwara |
| Music by | Tōru Takemitsu |
| Cinematography | Kōzō Okazaki |
| Edited by | Sachiko Yamaji |
Release dates | 1 September 1973 (Japan) |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
The Petrified Forest (化石の森 Kaseki no mori) is a 1973 Japanese existential drama directed by Masahiro Shinoda. The film follows the life of a young medical student (Ken'ichi Hagiwara) and his troubled relationship with his mother, as well as his relationship with a female childhood friend. Primary themes in the film include the distant relationship between science and spirituality, and the influence, when acted upon, ethics have in society. The film is based on a novel by Japanese author/politician Shintarō Ishihara.
Plot
The movie revolves around youth angst and a complicated relationship between mother and son. Haruo works in a university hospital trying to work toward a degree in medicine, but is hindered by his hatred of department head Mr. Miyaji. Meanwhile, he decides to get a rival in love out of the way by poisoning him. As the angst-ridden Haruo deals with his problems in his own unique ways, his nagging mother holds out hope that her son will soon return home.