Inspired by the Ten Oxherding Pictures, a series of Zen Buddhist illustrations tracing the path to enlightenment, director Tsuta Tetsuichiro’s sophomore feature follows a former hunter-gatherer finding his bearings in late-19th-century Japan as the country hurtles toward modernization. Living in near solitude, he finds companionship—and spiritual guidance—in an unruly black ox. Taiwanese screen icon Lee Kang-sheng, the longtime muse of Tsai Ming-liang, gives a mesmerizing, dialogue-free performance of extraordinary, raw physical intensity. Shot on 35 mm and 70 mm film, largely in luminous black and white, this hypnotic work pairs breathtaking visual splendor with a delicate, resonant score by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto. Black Ox (黒之牛) is a profound cinematic meditation on labor, nature, and self-discovery.
Organized by La Frances Hui, Curator, with Steve Macfarlane, Department Assistant, Department of Film.
Film at MoMA is made possible by CHANEL.
Additional support is provided by the Annual Film Fund. Leadership support for the Annual Film Fund is provided by The Contemporary Arts Council of The Museum of Modern Art, Agnes Gund through The International Council of The Museum of Modern Art, the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP), and The Young Patrons Council of The Museum of Modern Art.
