FOLLOW SEASONS OF A MONK'S LIFE.Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic THE OLD real-estate maxim ``location, location, location'' is stunningly rendered in Kim Ki-duk's gorgeous ``Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter ... and Spring,'' which examines the cycles of life and the serenity of nature in one of the most dazzling settings ever captured on film. The movie is set on a floating monastery that the filmmakers built on Jusan Pond, a Korean national treasure that is surrounded by lush, forested mountains. You couldn't find a more beautiful place to watch the seasons change. Kim's movie has more going for it than just its scenery. The film follows the lifelong relationship between an old monk Old Monk is a vatted Indian Rum, blended and aged for 7 years (though there is also more expensive, 12 year old version). It is dark, with an alcohol content of 42.8%. It is produced by Mohan Meakin, based in Mohan Nagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. (Oh Young-soo) and a young boy who was brought to the monastery when he was a baby. Each episode lasts about 25 minutes and catapults the viewer ahead in time about 12 years. We meet the pupil as a child and leave him as a man and, in the process, watch him learn about life, love, anger and regret. It's a contemplative con·tem·pla·tive adj. Disposed to or characterized by contemplation. See Synonyms at pensive. n. 1. A person given to contemplation. 2. A member of a religious order that emphasizes meditation. film, deeply rooted in Buddhism but not without its share of interesting plot developments and action. The initial spring segment sets up the film's parable parable, the term translates the Hebrew word "mashal"—a term denoting a metaphor, or an enigmatic saying or an analogy. In the Greco-Roman rhetorical tradition, however, "parables" were illustrative narrative examples. Jewish teachers of the 1st cent. A.D. . Summer has the young monk (Seo Jae-kyung), now 17, becoming hot and bothered by a beautiful young woman (Ha Yeo-jin) who has been brought to the monastery to recover from a spiritual malaise malaise /mal·aise/ (mal-az´) a vague feeling of discomfort. mal·aise n. A vague feeling of bodily discomfort, as at the beginning of an illness. . The old monk isn't bothered by all the raging hormones but cautions his young charge, ``Lust awakens the desire to possess.'' These words set up the final two segments, which follow, as you might guess, the expected metaphorical journeys (cue Sinatra's ``September of My Years'') but do so with a gentleness and a beauty that prove profoundly moving. By the time winter arrives and the lake freezes over, the movie's simple lessons have taken on an accumulated depth that leaves a lasting impression. The film may not lead to enlightenment, but it's a remarkable achievement nonetheless. Glenn Whipp, (818) 713-3672 glenn.whipp(at)dailynews.com SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, WINTER ... AND SPRING - Three stars (R: strong sexuality. In Korean with English subtitles sub·ti·tle n. 1. A secondary, usually explanatory title, as of a literary work. 2. A printed translation of the dialogue of a foreign-language film shown at the bottom of the screen. tr.v. ). Starring: Oh Young-soo. Director: Kim Ki-duk. Running time: 1 hr. 43 min. Playing: Laemmle Playhouse 7 in Pasadena; Landmark Westside Pavilion The Westside Pavilion is a shopping mall located in West Los Angeles. It is owned and operated by The Macerich Company. It is a three story urban-style shopping mall with 150 shops and is anchored by a Macy's (formerly May Company and later Robinsons-May) and a Nordstrom. in West Los Angeles
In a nutshell: The circle of life, gorgeously displayed. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Ha Yeo-jin is a young woman who comes to the floating monastery on Korea's Jusan Pond to recover from a spiritual malaise in ``Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter ... and Spring.'' |
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