"Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter . . . and Spring"

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at Ki-duk Kim's film "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter . . . and Spring". The paper holds that the film teaches the viewer a great deal about Buddhist philosophy, through everything from the scenery to the characters, including animals. The paper argues that the director is not always subtle about his Buddhist message. However, it concludes that he does seem to present a view of Buddhist philosophy that allows the viewers to draw their own conclusions.

Outline:
Summary
The Meaning of the Film
What the Film has Taught Me
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter . . . and Spring opens during the springtime at a floating temple on a lake set somewhere in Korea. This part of the movie features a small boy who is studying with the elderly monk who inhabits the temple. Although he is preparing to become a monk later in life, Ki-duk Kim shows the boy committing acts of cruelty against animals. The monk attempts to teach the boy respect for the natural world around them by assigning him a punishment for tying rocks to the animals. The monk's warning that the boy will carry a stone in his heart forever if he kills an animal, along with the punishment, sets a theme for the boy's mental state over the course of the movie. Animals, too, play a part throughout the film beginning with the animals being tormented and continuing through to the monk using the cat's tail to paint the characters of the sutra."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter . . . and Spring. Dir. Ki-duk Kim. Yeong-su Oh, Ki-duk Kim, Young-min Kim. Korea Pictures, 2003.

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• Analytical Essay # 16103 : "Field of Wheat"

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