Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... And Spring...
Dir: Kim Ki-duk South Korea / Germany 2003 103 mins CLUB
Winner of the International Federation of Film Societies¹ Don Quixote Prize at
the Locarno Film Festival last year, this marks something of a departure for Kim
Ki-duk from his often angry, violent and disturbing earlier films. In contrast,
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring is serene, contemplative and
evidently self-reflective.
The setting is a beautiful temple on a secluded lake where an old monk and his
young charge, a boy of barely school age, live. Anchored by the compelling and
sometimes funny relationship between master and pupil, the film finds its pace
in their daily regimen, and in the gentle rhythms of nature. Under the old
monk's tutelage, the youngster learns the secrets and lessons of the world
around him. When he gleefully ties stones to a fish, a frog and a snake, his
master binds a rock to the child's own back. As a teenage boy, the young monk
experiences carnal passion and attachment. As an adult, he feels jealousy and,
following a terrible misstep, suffers profound despair. He leaves and returns
cyclically, each season a stage in his progress from novice to the enlightened
human being who finally assumes the role of master himself.
This ravishingly beautiful film never leaves the floating monastery and its
breathtaking vistas, yet its seemingly hermetic world is a window on life's
mysteries. Director Kim Ki-duk, who himself plays the young man who finally
finds enlightenment and peace, has created a deeply personal work of
extraordinary elegance and spiritual feeling.
Kim Ki-duk (born Kyungbook, South Korea, 1960) has worked in factories, served
in the military, lived in Paris as an art student and earned a living selling
his paintings on the streets. A dropout with no formal education in film, this
prolific autodidact of cinema has gained international recognition with films
made on shoestring budgets that have often caused a stir, including his
directorial debut The Crocodile (96), Wild Animals (97), The Isle (00), Address
Unknown (01), Bad Guy (01), The Coast Guard (02) and most recently, Samaritan
Girl (04), which earned Kim the Best Director award at Berlin.
³Sublime, enchanting...a compelling parable that restores hope that the world
can emerge from its current crises with some lessons learned.² - Empire
³A wonderful cinematic experience.² - The List
Winner - Don Quixote Prize / Locarno Film Festival
Winner - FIPRESCI Prize / Karlovy Vary Film Festival
Winner - Best Picture / Grand Bell Awards
Winner - Best Picture / Blue Dragon Awards