The Fossil (1975): cast, story & where to watch
1975 · Film · ★ 6.7
Released in 1975, The Fossil is a drama film directed by Masaki Kobayashi, running about 200 minutes.
What it’s about. This drama is adapted from a Japanese television mini-series. In the story, an industrialist learns of a medical condition which will greatly shorten his life. He is on a trip to Europe at the time, and a glimpse of a Japanese woman in that setting causes him to fantasize about her as the personification of his impending death. As his dialogue with his imagined mortality continues, he actually meets the living woman who is the template for his fantasy, and together they tour rural churches. Gradually he comes to some kind of peace about the diagnosis. When he returns to Japan, he is met with a series of challenges which profoundly test the lessons he has learned
Who’s in it. The Fossil stars Shin Saburi as Tajihei Itsuki, Keiko Kishi as Madame Marcelin, Gō Katō as Narrator and Hisashi Igawa as Funazu, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, The Fossil has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Fossil page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Fossil tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Fossil (1975)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Fossil change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Fossil worth watching?
- The Fossil holds an audience score of 6.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Fossil?
- The Fossil stars Shin Saburi, Keiko Kishi, Gō Katō, Hisashi Igawa and Mayumi Ogawa.
- When was The Fossil released?
- The Fossil was released in 1975, with a runtime of about 200 minutes.