Abstract

The movie is one of great innovation. It tells the story of a Buddhist master and his young student, who have in an attempt to escape the dangers of the secular world have sealed himself or herself off in a small floating monastery hidden in the secluded mountains. It follows them through significant events of their lives. These events are split into seasons. However, there is an untold amount of time between each season. This shows how each event has changed the characters. Many important features of following Buddhism are conveyed in ways that require at least a basic knowledge of Buddhism to fully comprehend. However, it also conveys features of manhood and coming of age.

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring movie

Introduction

Writer-director Kim Ki-Duk delves deep into the realm of spirituality and fables. The film takes place upon an almost dream like lake, surrounded all about by woodland and mountains, on which a small temple floats. In this temple live an old monk, or master, and his child apprentice. The film follows the pupil's life, from boyhood to old age, and witnesses various turbulent events that take place, all staying within the idyllic setting of the lake. This movie, as the name indicates, takes place over 4 ''seasons''. These seasons are metaphorical for a young boy's life. Each season being a different part of his life. The orphaned boy is being trained by a master in a monastery, which floats upon a picturesque lake. Spring is this boy as a child. He is unaware of Buddhist ways and because of this does unskillful actions. These actions lead to him having bad Kamma. He ties rocks to animals and his master catches him. The master then ties a large rock to him to teach him a lesson. The boy is sent to free the animals he tied to rocks and is told if any of them are dead then it will be with him for the rest of his life. It goes without saying two of the animals were dead. In summer, the boy is in his late teens. A young woman goes to the monastery to receive aid from the master who can heal illnesses. The boy and, the girl begin to sleep together and the master catches them. He says that it is natural for them to feel this way, but sends the girl away to prevent the boy from desiring (desiring leads to suffering). The boy then leaves to find the girl and marry her. In autumn, the master is reading a newspaper, and he reads an article about a man killing his wife and then running away. Soon after the man turns up at the monastery. It was the same boy who used to live there. He is angry as the girl cheated on him with another man. The police then come to the monastery and arrest him. In winter, the master has killed himself, presumably for failing the boy. The man is released from jail and takes ...