The Life of Buddha (1961)

This film is a re-edited, feature-length version of Noburô Ôfuji's monochrome silhouette films, "The Great Sage Shakyamuni Buddha." The story begins with the birth of Prince Siddhartha to Princess Maya after a dream about a white elephant. Raised in isolation, Siddhartha is deeply affected by the suffering he witnesses at age 12 and eventually leaves his palace life to find meaning. He finds enlightenment while meditating under a tree. Originally intended as a nine-part film, it was first shown in Cannes as "Part One" with only six reels. This final work by Ôfuji was completed posthumously and first presented as a full 72-minute film (ten reels) in 1961.