‘Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring’ is an internationally acclaimed film by Kim Ki-Duk that tells the principals of Buddhism using seasons to portray stages of life. It is perhaps one of Kim’s most notable works, and my personal favourite of his. The story revolves around a boy who is adopted to a Buddhist temple in the middle of the mountains, and his life as he grows into an adult. True to his signature style, the movie has almost no dialogue and uses minimal characters (3 main characters with a few extras). It is a refreshing take on narrative structure as each act transitions between the concepts and stages of Buddhism. The film is also beautifully shot and I highly recommend it to anyone new to Korean cinema as it is an insightful watch. It is probably the most tame film by Kim Ki-Duk, so don’t be shocked to see some gruesome violence and controversial themes in his other work (seriously).
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RIP Kim Ki-Duk.
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