Kim Ki-duk's quiet, meditative Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring is deeply moving despite being simplistic and light on plot. In fact, on paper it probably sounds completely uninteresting and dare I say boring, but one would be dead wrong to assume the film is anything like that. Rarely have I seen a film take such advantage of its setting as in this, the serene qualities of the lake and the house floating in it transcending the screen and calming the senses. It exudes an aura unlike anything I've seen before and manages to immerse seemingly without effort. The change of seasons, each indicative of roughly a decade passing, alters the scenery, which as a result keeps it interesting and fresh…

Kim Ki-duk receive credits as writer, director, actor and editor in this meditative mood piece, and boy does he do a remarkable job.

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring, isn't about the acting nor the dialogue, it's about the beautiful scenery, the circle of life and the raw human interaction with and within it. It's meditative, melancholic and warm, all at once. It creates an atmosphere few other films manages, and therefore stands out to me as one of the finest foreign films of the 00's.

Some complain about the simplicity of the story and the symbolism, but I actually think that's one of the films strengths. The simplicity of life as shown by the story is reflected in the…

My most anticipated film of all Ki-Duk's film has arrived. I hear about this film all the time, how amazingly minimalist and powerful it is, a perfect halcyon that epitomizes his career. But i had to wait, wait for my filmography watch, wouldn't and couldn't allow myself to skip ahead. A man must have a code. As expected, this marks a huge change in style for Ki-Duk, a style which glimpses can be seen shining out of films like The Isle and Address Unknown, a style that has been waiting to break out, one that Ki-Duk should indulge more often. I can only hope he does. A far cry from the violent and sadistic projections of films past, as if…

Around the World in May-ty Days Challenge
Movie #4 - Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (South Korea)

It is always nice to see something different coming from a country like South Korea which is mostly known to produce the infamous revenge thrillers. And those who are familiar with the work of director Kim Ki-duk, knows how difficult it can be to watch his movies. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring is without a doubt, one of the most beautiful movies i have ever seen. It has heart stopping visual appeal but it goes way deeper into things and the way it does is unique and quite brilliant. This movie is set literally on a man-made lake, on a floating…

Plot: ''This South Korean film takes place on an isolated lake, where an old monk lives in a small floating temple. The monk has a young boy living with him, learning to become a monk. We watch as seasons and years pass by.''

Meditative & beautiful. I think the only 2 weak points in this film were the relatively ordinary performances, and the predictable storyline. That aside, it is quite a wonderful, near-flawless film. Loved its setting, with the floating temple in the middle of a lake, and the brilliant concept of the different seasons marking a new personality change/stage of life for the apprentice (though the motifs became obvious as the story progressed). The cinematography especially is probably one of…

Kim Ki-duk's quiet, meditative Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring is deeply moving despite being simplistic and light on plot. In fact, on paper it probably sounds completely uninteresting and dare I say boring, but one would be dead wrong to assume the film is anything like that. Rarely have I seen a film take such advantage of its setting as in this, the serene qualities of the lake and the house floating in it transcending the screen and calming the senses. It exudes an aura unlike anything I've seen before and manages to immerse seemingly without effort. The change of seasons, each indicative of roughly a decade passing, alters the scenery, which as a result keeps it interesting and fresh…

Around the World in May-ty Days Challenge
Movie #4 - Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (South Korea)

It is always nice to see something different coming from a country like South Korea which is mostly known to produce the infamous revenge thrillers. And those who are familiar with the work of director Kim Ki-duk, knows how difficult it can be to watch his movies. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring is without a doubt, one of the most beautiful movies i have ever seen. It has heart stopping visual appeal but it goes way deeper into things and the way it does is unique and quite brilliant. This movie is set literally on a man-made lake, on a floating…

My most anticipated film of all Ki-Duk's film has arrived. I hear about this film all the time, how amazingly minimalist and powerful it is, a perfect halcyon that epitomizes his career. But i had to wait, wait for my filmography watch, wouldn't and couldn't allow myself to skip ahead. A man must have a code. As expected, this marks a huge change in style for Ki-Duk, a style which glimpses can be seen shining out of films like The Isle and Address Unknown, a style that has been waiting to break out, one that Ki-Duk should indulge more often. I can only hope he does. A far cry from the violent and sadistic projections of films past, as if…