It is a South Korean drama film. Written & Directed by Kim Ki-duk. Starring O Yeong su, Kim Ki duk, Kim Young min, Seo Jae kyung, Park Ji-a.
It is about a Buddhist monastery that floats on a lake in a pristine forest. The life of a Buddhist monk as he passes through the seasons of his life from childhood to old age.
Released on 19 sept. 2003.
Box office $ 9. 53 million.
Spring : The animal owned by the monastery is a dog. Fidelity to one’s master. The young boy ties thread to a fish, frog & snake. The stone tied by the thread brings death to them. The boy cries.
Summer :The young boy encounters a young girl. His emotions get the better of them. The old master warns him, lust leads to a desire for possession & possession leads to murder’.
The old man asks the girl to leave. Her mother had left her to cure her illness. The young man steals the Buddha idol & the rooster & goes in search of the girl.
Fall: The aging master chances to see a newspaper. The young man is wanted for murdering his wife. He anticipates his return.
Two detectives also come on his heels. He is ordered to carve Chinese characters into wooden floor to quiet his heart. The cat leaves with the boat carrying the two detectives & the culprit. The master piles a pyre in the boat & dies. A snake swims from the boat to the monastery.
Winter : The middle aged apprentice arrives . Finds his master’s clothes. He finds a book of meditative stances& trains in the cold weather.
A woman comes with her baby son . At night she leaves but falls in the ice dug by the monk. The monk carries a statue of the Buddha to come, Maitreya, a top a hill, contemplating on his sins.
…and Spring : The boy is shown tormenting a turtle, a traditional symbol of longevity & Prognosticating the future. Then he goes after a fish, frog & a snake .Troubles them by inserting a stone in their mouth. Giggling boy echoes his predecessor.
In the US certain scenes were cut & animal cruelty raised a few objections.
95% on Rotten Tomatoes & 85 over 100 on Metacritic. The Guardian ranked it a number 5 among the classics of modern South Korean Cinema.
The pristine waters & the scenery in all seasons is breathtaking.
Asian Entertainment 