ThefirstUKfilmbiographyoftheworld-renownedJapaneseartistKatsushikaHokusai(1760-1849),whoseprintTheGreatWaveisasgloballyfamousasLeonardo’sMonaLisa.WithAndySerkisreadingthevoiceofHokusai,thefilmfeaturesartistsDavidHockneyandMaggiHambling,andpassionatescholarswhostudy,admireandveneratethisgreatJapanesemaster.ThefilmfocusesonHokusai’swork,lifeandtimesinthegreat,bustlingmetropolisofEdo,nowmodernTokyo.Usingextraordinaryclose-upsandpioneering8KUltraHDvideotechnology,Hokusai’sprintsandpaintingsareexaminedbyworldexperts.IntheprocesstheyrevealnewinterpretationsoffamousworksandconveythefullextentofHokusai’sextraordinaryachievementasagreatworldartist.Hokusaispenthislifestudyingandcelebratingourcommonhumanityaswellasdeeplyexploringthenaturalandspiritualworlds,usingthefamousvolcanoMountFujiasaprotectivepresenceandpotentialsourceofimmortality.Heknewmuchpersonaltragedy,wasstruckbylightningandlivedforyearsinpoverty,butnevergaveuphisconstantstrivingforperfectioninhisart.HokusaiinfluencedMonet,VanGoghandotherImpressionists,isthefatherofmangaandhashisownGreatWaveemoji.
