Skip to main content

Movie Review : Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring

Title : Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring
Language : Korean
Year : 2003
Director : Kim Ki-duk
Genre : Drama
IMDB Link
Watch trailer on Youtube
Lead Role :  Su Oh-yeongKim Young-minSeo Jae-kyung, Kim Jong-ho


The title of the film is quite unusual, so is the movie itself. If you ask me the story, it is pretty much simple and one dimensional - but if you watch closely, you realize the plot is pretty intense and layered.

The movie opens up to reveal a simple floating monastery, with a master and his young disciple being its only inhabitants. These two spend their lives praying and preparing herbs. As the story progresses, we see different stages of their lives, drawn to an analogy of changing seasons.

The essence of the movie could not be fully digested if you are not at all familiar with Buddhist beliefs  and symbols. For instance, rooster, cat and snake symbolize lust, fighting of evil, and anger respectively.

This is a philosophical account, and probably supports the cyclic theory of life. The movie has a very slow pace, and dialogues are used only where you could not do without them.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

First Rejection

About four years ago, I self-published my first novel, I Want Your Life . Self-publishing was not my initial plan. Like most aspiring writers, I envisioned my book being published under the label of one of the prominent publishing houses in the country, such as Penguin or HarperCollins. However, my editor gave me a reality check and explained that large publishing houses receive several submissions daily, making it highly unlikely for a first-time writer to get noticed. More than the prestige of being published under an established banner, my excitement lay in seeing my story in the form of a book. So, I chose the self-publishing route. After months of back-and-forth with my publishing team - proofreading, editing, revisions, illustrations, book registration, and printing - my book was finally out. It was truly a dream come true. The upside of self-publishing is the sweet certainty of getting published. The downside, however, is that you are responsible for everything, including promot...

Book Review : Scion Of Ikshvaku

Author : Amish Tripathi Genre : Mythological Fantasy Published On : 22 June 2015 Watch trailer on Youtube Buy Online! As the makers put it, this first installment of the Ram Chandra series is the most awaited literary blockbuster of the year. The frenzied wait had its effect on me, as I had pre-ordered a copy, days before its release. Obviously, the most weighted factor which prompted me into this craze was The Shiva Trilogy, the previous work of the boring banker turned happy author. Shiva Trilogy achieved its cult status for two major reasons: a) the plot being discussed offered a welcome change from the modern day love stories that had mushroomed up in the post Chetan era. b) The author had meticulously researched through Vedas and other ancient texts, and had reconstructed the very image of Shiva, into a very capable man rather than a miracle performing God. To quote the First City, Amish had succeeded on reintroducing Hindu mythology to the youth of t...

an Exclusive Inclusivity

Inclusivity is a popular term in modern-day discourse. Quite literally, the term inclusive refers to the habit of including everything or all types of people—irrespective of their backgrounds, beliefs, or personal preferences—as long as one’s actions do not cause harm to anyone else. Inclusivity is relevant because it ensures equity, social cohesion, and diversity of thought, which is why most modern-day progressive societies aspire to be as inclusive as possible. So that everyone feels welcome. So that no one feels left out. If you have watched Modern Family, you might know what I am talking about. The show has taken the example of a family and has beautifully incorporated inclusivity into it. You see a divorcee, an interracial couple, a homosexual couple adopting an orphan child, a person who loves dogs living with a person who doesn’t, and your good old traditional family—all living in harmony. Sure, they have their differences. But nobody belittles anyone for their choice of life. ...