The Petrified Forest (1973 film)

The Petrified Forest (Japanese: 化石の森, Hepburn: Kaseki no mori) is a 1973 Japanese existential drama film directed by Masahiro Shinoda. The film is based on a novel of the same name by Japanese author and politician Shintarō Ishihara.^[1][2][3]

The Petrified Forest
Film poster
Directed by	Masahiro Shinoda
Screenplay by	Nobuo Yamada[1]
Based on	The Petrified Forest by Shintarō Ishihara[1]
Produced by	Tomohiro Kaiyama[1]
Starring	Kenichi Hagiwara Sayoko Ninomiya Masako Yagi Takeshi Kusaka Hiroshi Mizushima
Cinematography	Kōzō Okazaki[1]
Edited by	Sachiko Yamaji
Music by	Tōru Takemitsu[1]
Production companies	Tokyo Eiga Hyogen-sha[1]
Distributed by	Toho
Release date	1 September 1973 (1973-09-01) (Japan)
Running time	117 minutes[1]
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese

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.

Cast

• Kenichi Hagiwara
• Sayoko Ninomiya
• Masako Yagi
• Takeshi Kusaka
• Hiroshi Mizushima
• Masami Horiuchi
• Shin Tatsuoka
• Akio Tanaka
• Shin Kishida

Release

The Petrified Forest was released theatrically in Japan on 1 September 1973, where it was distributed by Toho.^[1]