Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring (2003) – 8/10 – Simple yet philosophical
Overall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring is a coming-of-age South Korean drama that is akin to philosophical art than a cinematic experience. The poetic story takes place in a floating house built on an artificial lake in South Korea. Each season in the title symbolizes a cycle of existence, growth, and emotion. It’s the story of life, of loneliness and lust, peace and fury, innocence and corruption, indifference and desire, student and master, nature and civilization, and loss and redemption. These layers unfold across different stages of life. The core of each theme is the underlying Buddhist belief that enlightenment requires erasing the self and desires. Transcendence also demands atonement for one’s sins, which endure forever in some form. Each decision sets something else in motion. The goal of Buddhism is to move beyond the self and simply be present, releasing the past and future. The author handles these themes with subtlety and realism.
Would I recommend this?
Yes, this movie is worth watching. It’s unlike any I’ve ever watched. Each person will find something for themselves. Because of its philosophical nature and slow pacing, some may not enjoy it. There is minimal dialogue, limited characters, and much subtlety. The visuals and actions depict the story brushes. Note that a couple of scenes are graphic for various reasons and may not be family-friendly. Though I didn’t recognize or understand the Buddhist symbols, the filmmakers included each detail with purpose. My rating is 8/10.
Plot (spoiler-free)
A Buddhist monk in South Korea guides his young apprentice as he tries to overcome his wants, including joy from punishing animals to later his lust for a girl whose mental health they try to restore. At each step, the unnamed master teaches and guides the young student through wisdom and compassion while the student stumbles.
Technicals
Spring, Summer… is a film of simplicity, but within that simplicity lies a plethora of ideas. The filmmakers masterfully wove the direction, acting, script, soothing background music, camerawork, and cinematography into a memorable experience. With limited dialogue, this movie relies on other storytelling aspects, such as the visuals, facial expressions, and environment. The characters did a marvelous job of making the viewers feel present on the journey. I must say the location is breathtaking. While I don’t consider it a flaw here, the pacing is slow. Second, life is not quite the puzzle that requires overcoming these failures and experiences to attain enlightenment. That part undercuts Buddhism’s simplistic principles. While this work is spiritual in nature, Buddhism expresses these ideas more simply. But I recognize that entertainment calls for drama and crisis to keep it captivating.
*Obtained trivia facts from IMDb’s trivia page and plot/basic history/name information from Wiki
