Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring

A young boy lives in a small floating temple on Jason pond, a beautiful artificial lake in the North Kyungsang Province of Korea. An old Buddhist monk teaches the boy about the value of all sentient beings, and after the boy ties a rock to three animals the monk ties a rock around him while he sleeps. The monk tells the boy that he must find and free the animals; otherwise there will be a stone in his heart forever. The boy seeks out the animals, but finds that two of them have died, thus loading him with a burdensome guilt.

When the boy is a young monk, at the age of 17, a mysterious girl arrives at the temple whose mother has brought her there to be cured by the monk. After some time the young monk succumbs to the girl and they sneak away to have sex. The old monk knows about their liaisons and when the girl is cured he sends her away and tells his pupil that lust leads to possessiveness, which leads to murder. The young monk decides to leave and slips away in the night. What follows is a painful lesson for the young monk from the world, and a karmic return to the beginning.

This is a very visual film, none of the characters have names and there are very few lines of dialogue. The story relies on the actors to embody complex emotions through their art and the cinematography to give insight into the situations. The setting for this film is perhaps the most beautiful ever used and every frame is composed like a painting. What with the seasons altering the landscape, the scenery itself is enticing enough to watch without the story played out on its stage.

This film is hypnotic and uplifting, the Buddhist teachings and serene setting elevate it into something of a spiritual experience. It is a moral tale told in a simple style making it calm yet powerful.

If studies or life in general is getting to you then take a break and see this film, it will bring you a sense of calm and peace. It's more of a dream than a film.

Parker Bic