What Is Crows Are White About?
The premise of Crows Are White in 267 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a remote monastery outside Kyoto, an ancient Buddhist sect has spent centuries pushing the boundaries of human endurance, practicing rituals so extreme they border on the mythic. Filmmaker Ahsen Nadeem arrives with his own unresolved questions about faith, drawn to capture the legendary Kaihōgyō — a discipline demanding such devotion that its practitioners must either complete a thousand marathons or choose a far more permanent path. Yet his access is fragile, and the mountain guards its secrets closely.
Raised in a conservative Muslim household in Saudi Arabia, Nadeem’s life was uprooted by the Gulf War, carrying his family to a quiet corner of Ireland where old beliefs collided with new surroundings. The tensions of that journey — between inherited devotion and emerging desires, between fear and freedom — have shaped him in ways he is only beginning to understand. He carries a long-held secret that has quietly defined his relationship with his parents, one whose revelation he suspects could shatter their bond entirely.
When a ban from the monastery threatens to end his project, an unexpected friendship emerges at the gift shop with the monastery’s lowest-ranking monk — an irreverent figure whose love of ice cream sundaes and the heavy metal band Slayer sets him apart from his austere peers. Their unlikely bond becomes the heart of the film, a window into questions of devotion, identity, and what it means to truly belong. Filmed across three continents, from snow-dusted Japanese peaks to quieter landscapes closer to home, the documentary weaves meditation, music, and shared meals into a tender exploration of the spaces between discipline and desire.
What Happens in Crows Are White?
The complete story of Crows Are White, from the first scene to the last, in 315 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 1 cast member page.
Spoilers ahead
The film follows the journey of Ahsen Nadeem, who travels to a remote monastery located on the outskirts of Kyoto. His primary goal is to document a high-ranking monk engaging in an incredibly perilous spiritual practice. This grueling discipline demands that the practitioner either complete one thousand marathons or, failing that, commit ritual suicide.
However, the production takes an unexpected turn when a mishap occurs, resulting in Ahsen Nadeem being banned from the premises. In a moment of reflection, he breaks the fourth wall to address the audience directly, delving deep into his personal history. He recounts his childhood spent in Saudi Arabia, where he grew up within the confines of a strictly conservative Muslim household. This stability is shattered when his family is forced to flee the region due to the Gulf War, leading them to relocate to the unlikely setting of Cavan, Ireland.
Once settled in Ireland, Nadeem begins to drift away from the religious roots of his upbringing. In response to this perceived rebellion, his parents impose a new, rigid code of religious orders. This tension causes Nadeem to live a double life, frequently lying to his parents and developing a profound, lingering fear of going to hell. He reveals to the viewers that he has harbored a deep secret for many years—a secret so significant that he believes if his parents ever discovered the truth, they would never speak to him again.
While visiting the monastery’s gift shop, Nadeem encounters the lowest-ranking monk on the mountain. Despite their differing stations in life, the two discover a shared passion for desserts and a surprising mutual love for heavy metal music. This connection sparks an unlikely friendship that spans several years. Against the atmospheric backdrop of the Kaihōgyō—the seven-year journey of endurance—this bond provides Nadeem with the strength and perspective needed to finally confront the secret he has kept hidden for so long.
Crows Are White Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Arrival at the Monastery Outside Kyoto” to “The Completion of the Kaihōgyō”. 11 events name a place, across 4 locations.
- 1
Arrival at the Monastery Outside Kyoto
Ahsen Nadeem travels to a monastery nestled in the mountains outside Kyoto, Japan. His goal is to film a high-ranking monk engaged in an extreme and rarely documented spiritual practice. What begins as a documentary project brings him face to face with one of the most dangerous endurance rituals in the world.
Where:Monastery outside Kyoto, Japan
- 2
Witnessing the Kaihōgyō
Nadeem learns about the Kaihōgyō, a practice requiring monks to complete a thousand marathons over seven years or commit ritual suicide. The immense danger of the ritual shocks him and raises the stakes of his filming. Success means spiritual completion, but failure carries a fatal price.
Where:Monastery outside Kyoto, Japan
- 3
The Mishap and the Ban
During his time at the monastery, Nadeem makes a mishap that results in him being banned from the grounds. Suddenly cut off from the story he came to document, his project is thrown into jeopardy. This unexpected setback forces him to turn his camera inward on himself.
Where:Monastery outside Kyoto, Japan
- 4
Breaking the Fourth Wall
With his access revoked, Nadeem speaks directly to the audience and begins telling his own life story. He reveals that this trip to Japan is tied to a deeply personal history he has never fully shared. The documentary transforms from an external subject into an intimate confession.
- 5
A Conservative Childhood in Saudi Arabia
Nadeem recounts his early childhood growing up in Saudi Arabia in a strictly conservative Muslim household. Faith, discipline, and religious rules shaped his earliest years and his sense of identity. These foundations set the stage for the struggles that would follow his family across the world.
When:Childhood Where:Saudi Arabia
- 6
Fleeing the Gulf War
The outbreak of the Gulf War forces Nadeem's family to flee their home in Saudi Arabia. They uproot their entire lives and resettle in Cavan, a quiet town in Ireland. The sudden move strips Nadeem of everything familiar and drops him into a completely foreign culture.
When:Early 1990s Where:Cavan, Ireland
- 7
Drifting from His Muslim Roots
In Ireland, far from the world he grew up in, Nadeem begins to stray from the Muslim traditions of his upbringing. New surroundings and freedoms pull him in directions his old life never allowed. The growing distance between his lifestyle and his roots creates friction within his family.
Where:Cavan, Ireland
- 8
A New Code of Religious Orders
Seeing their son drift away from the faith, Nadeem's parents respond by inflicting a new, stricter code of religious orders at home. The household becomes a battleground between tradition and his growing independence. Nadeem increasingly feels confined by rules that clash with the life he is building in Ireland.
Where:Cavan, Ireland
- 9
Lies and the Fear of Hell
Under the weight of his parents' religious orders, Nadeem begins lying to them about his life. The deception takes a heavy psychological toll, and he develops a deep, persistent fear of going to hell. Guilt and dread become defining forces in his young life.
Where:Cavan, Ireland
- 10
The Secret He Kept for Years
Nadeem confesses to the audience that he has been keeping a secret from his parents for years. He explains that if they ever discovered the truth, they would never speak to him again. The crushing weight of this secret is a hidden motive behind his journey to the mountain monastery.
Show the other 5 events of Crows Are White Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Meeting the Lowest-Ranking Monk
At the monastery's gift shop, Nadeem crosses paths with the lowest ranking monk on the mountain. Despite the gap between them in status and circumstance, an immediate connection sparks between the two. This unlikely chance encounter proves to be a turning point in his journey.
Where:Gift shop
- 12
A Shared Love of Metal and Dessert
The monk and Nadeem discover they share an unexpected passion for music, particularly heavy metal, as well as a mutual love of dessert. These simple common interests break down the barriers between a documentarian and a monk. Their bond grows quickly despite their vastly different backgrounds.
- 13
An Unlikely Years-Long Friendship
What began as a chance meeting blossoms into a lasting friendship that spans several years. As the monk works through the demanding seven-year Kaihōgyō, Nadeem remains a constant companion on the mountain. Their connection deepens through laughter, music, and moments of refuge away from the grueling ritual.
When:Seven years Where:Monastery outside Kyoto, Japan
- 14
Confronting the Secret
Through the safety and honesty of his friendship with the monk, Nadeem finally confronts the secret he has carried since childhood. The monk's companionship gives him the courage to face what he has hidden from his family for so long. This reckoning becomes the emotional core of both his journey and the film itself.
- 15
The Completion of the Kaihōgyō
The story culminates against the backdrop of the full seven years it takes the monk to complete the Kaihōgyō. As the monk approaches the end of the thousand marathons, Nadeem's own transformative journey reaches its resolution. Both men finish what they set out to do, forever changed by their years on the mountain.
Where:Monastery outside Kyoto, Japan
Who Are the Main Characters in Crows Are White?
Ahsen Nadeem: who they are and the part they play in the story. The profile links to the actor’s page.
- AN
Ahsen Nadeem
Played by Ahsen Nadeem
Ahsen Nadeem is the central character of the film, portrayed as introspective and conflicted. His journey reflects his struggle with cultural and religious expectations, as well as his quest for personal freedom and acceptance. Nadeem's experiences lead him to confront deep-rooted fears and secrets.
- 🎤 Self
- 🎬 Documentary
- 🌍 Journey
Where and When Is Crows Are White Set?
Crows Are White is set in Kyoto, Saudi Arabia, Cavan and Ireland (1990s (Gulf War)). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1990s (Gulf War)
The movie unfolds during the 1990s, a time marked by the Gulf War, which had profound effects not only in the Middle East but also on families like Nadeem's. This period saw many fleeing conflict zones in search of safety, leading to significant social and cultural shifts as individuals adjusted to new environments.
Where
Kyoto, Saudi Arabia, Cavan, Ireland
The film takes place in several significant locations, starting with a remote monastery near Kyoto, Japan, renowned for its strict spiritual practices. Nadeem's journey also leads him back to his childhood in Saudi Arabia, a place steeped in conservative traditions. Finally, he finds a new home in Cavan, Ireland, which serves as a backdrop for his formative years and internal conflict.
- 🏯 Monastery
- 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
What Are the Themes of Crows Are White?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Identity, Self-Discovery and Connection.
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01
Identity
The theme of identity is central to the film, as Nadeem grapples with his dual existence shaped by cultural heritage and personal choice. His journey reflects the struggles of balancing familial expectations with individual desires, highlighting the tension between traditional values and modern influences.
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02
Self-Discovery
Nadeem's path to self-discovery is marked by his experiences in the monastery and his friendship with a monk. This journey reveals hidden truths about himself and culminates in a confrontation with his fears and secrets, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's own identity.
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03
Connection
The unlikely bond between Nadeem and the monk illustrates the theme of connection across societal divides. Their shared love for heavy metal music and desserts showcases how common interests can unite individuals, offering solace and companionship in contrasting worlds.
What Kind of Film Is Crows Are White?
Bittersweet in tone, with slow pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Bittersweet
- Pacing
- Slow
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A contemplative documentary weaving a filmmaker's personal reckoning with religious trauma alongside an unlikely friendship built over ice cream and Slayer at a remote Japanese monastery.
- contemplative
- introspective
- searching
- gentle
- melancholic
- layered
- religious conflict
- identity
- family secrets
- unlikely friendship
Content notes: suicide, religious extremism, family conflict, war displacement, fear of damnation, mental anguish.
Quiz
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