Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter..

 

 

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A beautiful work of art. It captures the forces of life that take over thru disturbing emotions. The embittered way we think we know what is best for ourselves, even when it is totally based in desire. It shows the unyielding consequences of the harsh reality and remorse in life. A display of the continual round of existence and relentless suffering. And the exquisite means of ending the suffering.

Elegantly filmed with an artistic view of idyllic mountain scenes of North Kyungsan Province in Korea where Jusan Pond was created over 200 years ago. It is an artificial pond which looks like a lake and reflects the mountains like a mirror. The scenery calms the mind and soothes the soul, the camera's eye glides gradually to a small lake hidden between mountains ... on which floats a beautifully painted and carved Buddhist temple. The misty mountains and tall peaks hide an inner beauty far from the ordinairy. An elderly monk tends to his prayers and then goes about his daily chores in meditation and silence. He is accompanied by a young boy, a student, a "monk-in-training" who likely will inherit this peaceful lifestyle. "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring" makes the viewer awesomely quiet and silent, absorbing the landscapes created by nature. The viewer is spellbound, waiting, anticipating ... what is next? A young monk, about aged 7 or so is watched closely by the Master. He engages in boyish pranks, which harm some small helpless creatures. The Master is dismayed but uses the experience to teach the young monk a lesson he will not soon forget about "compassion." It is now "Spring" ...

Time passes, and the young monk is now an awkward teenager. He tends the Buddhist temple with care and occasionally rows a boat to a gate which leads to a path ... a path to the outside world, the mountains are like a wall from ordinairy civilization. From seemingly nowhere, a mother and her ill-looking teenaged daughter arrive at the temple. The mother has sought healing from many sources but nothing has cured her daughter, she asks the Master for help, she has nowhere else to turn. The elderly monk accepts the young lady as a guest. She participates in the simple life of the temple. The teenaged monk and she eye each other warily ... and inevitably ... teenage passions are aroused which erupt into actions. Trying to hide their feelings the teenaged monk and girl reveal more than conceal. The Master asks if she now feels cured, she responds, "yes". He then concludes, "you have received the right medicine, it is time for you to leave."

The film continues to reveal "seasons" of life ... the young monk as an adult wrestles with certain internal desires and leaves the monastery - to join life in the outside world. Lust, desire to control, and anger lead to evil behavior. While the actions are not shown, the implications of what happened are very clear ... The young monk returns to the temple, without explanation but among his belongings, the Master discovered a newspaper article in about the *unexplained* murder of a local married young woman. The behavior of the returned monk is subdued. LOcal police investigators arrive at the temple ... The young adult monk engages in painting out specific Buddhist sutras on the deck of the temple. No one is accused, no one is arrested. The air is thick with suspense ...Needless to say, this film continues symbolically revealing subtle life-altering experiences which are densely packed with meaning. There are suspense-filled moments that reveal intense emotions of shock, sadness, and revelation within the sphere of the idyllic floating Buddhist temple ... tucked between lush green, peaked and misty mountains. The impact of the lessons learned within this film are vast and deeply meaningful. This is a most highly recommended viewing experience. Erika Borsos [pepper flower]

I originally thought I may have already seen this movie, when it was called:
Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East (1989).
That was another amazing piece that deals with teachings of the Buddha from a decade ago. But this movie is not that movie. This is another visual masterpiece that fleshes out a timeless tale of the cycles of nature and the nature of humans. Other reviewers have already said enough. See it and enjoy the inner silence that comes.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Slow but very mesmerizing.......,
The movie is very slow and very deliberate. The team of cinematographer, Dong-hyeon Baek, and director, Ki-duk Kim, use stunning imagery to tell their version of the circle of... Read more

Published on July 2 2007 by Jenny J.J.I.

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Listen to the FIRST REVIEW
That man is an idiot, he just ruined the film for everyone. Why did he tell the entire plot, come on, i haven't even seen it yet. Read more

Published on May 22 2006 by Achtzen

1.0 out of 5 stars moronic
Torturing animals for the sake of "entertainment" or to "make a point" is about as moronic as it gets. I was deeply offended by this film.

Published on Jan 14 2005

4.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking vignette on consequens and life
"Spring, summer, fall winter and spring" is a thought-provoking film following the life of a young Buddhist novice. Read more

Published on Sep 26 2004

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