DRAMA . 1975 . 3h 33m . 6.8/10

The Fossil_

An industrialist is diagnosed with terminal cancer. 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.

Starring Shin Saburi, Keiko Kishi, Gō Katō
6.8/10
Rating
3h 33m
Runtime
1975
Year
Updated Feb 16, 2026
The Fossil poster

An industrialist is diagnosed with terminal cancer. 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.

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Cast
Shin Saburi stars as Tajihei Itsuki in The Fossil.
Shin Saburi →
Year context
The Fossil was released 51 years ago in 1975.
Overview
An industrialist is diagnosed with terminal cancer. He is on a trip to Europe at the time, and a glimpse of a Japanese woman in that setting causes him to fa...
The Fossil is a Drama, Fantasy film with a runtime of 3h 33m.

DETAILS

Release
Status
Released
Runtime
213 min (3h 33m)
Country
Rating
6.8/10 (11 votes)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is The Fossil about?
An industrialist is diagnosed with terminal cancer. 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.
How long is The Fossil?
The Fossil has a runtime of 213 minutes (3h 33m).
Who stars in The Fossil?
The cast of The Fossil includes Shin Saburi, Keiko Kishi, Gō Katō, Hisashi Igawa, Mayumi Ogawa.
What is the rating of The Fossil?
The Fossil has a rating of 6.8 out of 10 based on 11 votes on TMDB.

GENRES (2)

Drama Fantasy
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