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Spring, summer, autumn, winter... and spring (Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom) - Yeong-su Oh, Jong-ho Kim, Jae-kyeong Seo, Ki-duk Kim

Threat advisory: High - High risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

In a beautiful temple on a secluded lake live an old monk and his young charge, a boy of barely school age. Under the old monk's tutelage, the youngster learns the secrets and lessons of the world around him. When he gleefully ties stones to a fish, a frog and a snake, his master binds a rock to the child's back. As a teenage boy, the young monk experiences carnal passion and attachment; as an adult, jealousy and profound despair. He leaves and returns cyclically, each season a stage in his progress from novice to enlightened human being. This ravishingly beautiful film never leaves the floating monastery and its breathtaking vistas, yet its seemingly hermetic world is a window on life's mysteries.

Theatrical propaganda posters

Spring, summer, autumn, winter... and spring (Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom) image

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

Film drama monk Korea master monastery lake Bhuddist student master Bhuddism prayer serenity

Persons of interest

Yeong-su Oh .... Old Monk
Jong-ho Kim .... Child Monk
Jae-kyeong Seo .... Boy Monk
Young-min Kim .... Young Adult Monk
Yeo-jin Ha .... The Girl
Dae-han Ji .... Detective Ji
Ki-duk Kim .... Adult Monk
Ji-a Park .... The Baby's Mother
Ki-duk Kim .... Screenwriter
Ki-duk Kim .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Spring, summer, autumn, winter... and spring (Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom) official movie site
Spring, summer, autumn, winter... and spring (Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom) QuickTime movie trailers
Awards and film festivals:

Bangkok International Film Festival 2004: Nominated: Golden Kinnaree Award Best Film (Ki-duk Kim)
Cinematic Intelligence Agency Trenchcoat Awards 2004: Nominated: Best cinematographer (Dong-hyeon Baek)
European Film Awards 2003: Nominated: Screen International Award (Ki-duk Kim)
International Press Academy Satellite Awards 2004: Nominated: Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language (Korea)
Locarno International Film Festival 2003: Won: CICAE Award (Ki-duk Kim), Don Quixote Award (Ki-duk Kim), Netpac Award (Ki-duk Kim), Youth Jury Award (Ki-duk Kim); Nominated: Golden Leopard (Ki-duk Kim)
Melbourne International Film Festival 2004: Regional Focus
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2003: Won: Audience Award (Ki-duk Kim)

NB: Korean language dialogue with English language subtitles
See also Into great silence (Die große stille), The vertical ray of the sun (À la verticale de l'été)
Studios and distributors:

Rialto Entertainment

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

Oh boy, if you like those silent spaces between words that are filled with the incessant noise of modern urban life then Spring, summer, autumn, winter... and spring is just what you need.

As indicated by the title, the film is broken up into five sections: the seasons themselves and the stages of human life (childhood, adolescence, youth, adulthood, rebirth). It's all very mystical and meaningful. And funny. There's nothing like a Buddhist monk to see the lighter side of re-incarnation.

If you need a holiday but only have 2 hours, this is the film for you. Soul food.