SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, WINTER AND SPRING

Director Kim Ki-duk / 2004 / South Korea
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter' and Spring (Bom, Yeoreum, Gaeul, Gyeowool, Geurigo Bom) South Korea

'spring, Summer, Fall, Winter' and Spring is an exquisitely simple movie. The film's lyrical plainness is the sign of a profound and sophisticated artistic sensibility. Kim Ki-duk manages to isolate something essential about human nature and at the same time, even more astonishingly, to comprehend the scope of human experience.' -The New York Times

This ninth film from Kim Ki-duk is almost a complete about-face in tone from his earlier, violence-infused work. Structured as five chapters, as alluded to by the title, the film focuses on the journey a young buddhist monk takes on the path to enlightenment. Beginning with the monk as a young boy under the tutelage of an old master, we trace his progression through episodes of learning, romance, violence and redemption. Set against the dreamlike background of a monastery floating on an enormous, man-made pond within a lush forest, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter' and Spring is a sumptuous meditation on the cycle of life.

Winner of the Audience Award at San Sebastián Film Festival and four awards at Locarno Film Festival.

D/S Kim Ki-duk P Lee Seung-jae, Karl Baumgartner WS Bavaria Film L Korean w/English subtitles TD 35mm/Col/2003/101mins

Kim Ki-duk was born in South Korea in 1960. Films include: Crocodile (MIFF 2002), The Isle (MIFF 2001), Address Unknown (MIFF 2002), Samaritan Girl (MIFF 2004).

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