The cycle of life, learning, death, and rebirth is depicted with charm, elegance, and dramatic resonance in this visually enthralling, spiritually uplifting film from Korean writer-director Kim Ki-duk. Set at a lovely, isolated lake where a hermitage-houseboat is home to an aging Buddhist monk and his young charge, the story is divided into four sections. In the first, set during a radiant spring, the boy is taught by his mentor to respect the natural order by undergoing pain similar to that which he's thoughtlessly inflicted on animals. Next, during a summer some years later, the youth--now on the cusp of manhood--is aroused by a young girl who comes to the monastery for a spiritual cure, and he leaves to follow her. The third section, to which the word “fall” applies in more than one sense, finds the now-grown man returning as a hunted criminal and undergoing a cleansing ritual before being taken into custody. In the final, wintry segment, the man returns and two key events bring the process full circle. Though portrayed in Buddhist terms, this is essentially the biblical story of paradise, temptation, sin, repentance, and redemption, told with beauty and quiet authority, inviting viewers to luxuriate in its gorgeous scenery while enjoying a narrative that's meaningful without being preachy. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (F. Swietek)
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring
Columbia TriStar, 103 min., in Korean w/English subtitles, R, VHS: $90.99, DVD: $29.95, Sept. 7 Volume 19, Issue 5
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
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