A MOMENT FOR REFLECTION : "SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, WINTER… AND SPRING"

A change of pace, methinks. If you have tried Miike, his editing is as frantic as his weird and err… I don’t quite know how to describe it, although wonderful would be one way of putting it doesn’t quite capture what I mean… Anyway his weird and … More weird acts of violence are enough to tire anyone out, we need to slow down and chill out a bit. And as we are in Asia, we can go all the way into the mountains, to a Buddhist monastery and do just that…
In this extraordinarily beautiful and striking Kim Ki-Duk fim, none of the characters have names. Not that there are many characters to name. We are in a Buddhist monastery hidden in the mountains, somewhere in Korea. In the middle of a tiny island on a hidden lake this small monastery has one master and one very young pupil, living a quiet, Buddhist life in the timeless mountains, far from the modern world in more senses than one. The pupil, starting off as a child in the spring of his life, will with the changing seasons become a young man. And of course, like most of the young, he will be filled with emotion, passion and curiosity towards the world. As the seasons continue, the call of the outside world is balanced with the fact that the old monk is dying and the young man’s turn is coming to become the teacher… Which will win? The wisdom of the Budhist world or the passion of the outside?
As you can probably already imagine, this film is more about philosophy and less about actions and adventures. Kim Ki-Duk uses beautiful, subtle symbolism to reflect on life, love and the passage of time. And while we’re on the subject of beauty, the cinematography and scenery simply have to be noted. Ki-Duk’s is some of the most, subtle and graceful I have seen, and of course the natural beauty of the shooting location – wherever it may be – doesn’t hurt. There are scenes from the film one could frame and hang on the wall, such is their grace… As for the content, naturally a lot of the content reflects the Buddhist outlook on life. But the great thing is, they are neither over-explained nor rammed down our throats, they are just, very powerfully “there”. Like the old monk, who prefers to teach his young pupil not with long lectures but single, powerful demonstrations we watch, experience and are led to draw our own lessons and conclusions…
It is strange, that with so little happening – in truth if I told you any more I will have given the entire film away – this film is so powerful and so thought-provoking. Definitely watch it when you’re in a mood to think and reflect. As you will quickly realize, there is a lot of depth to be covered here…