Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring | 
 enlarge | Actors: Min Choi, Yeo-jin Ha, Dae-han Ji, Jong-ho Kim (ii), Jung-young Kim (ii)
Studio: Sony Pictures
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.94
Buy New: $7.50
You Save: $7.44 (50%)
New (43) Used (19) from $5.89
Avg. Customer Rating:  87 reviews
Sales Rank: 7064
Format: Ac-3, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: Korean (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 103
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: COLD04127D
ISBN: 1404952071
UPC: 043396041271
EAN: 9781404952072
ASIN: B0002J4X20
Theatrical Release Date: 2003
Release Date: September 7, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
In a tranquil & timeless setting of a temple floating atop a manmade lake in a forest surrounded by mountain spires that cut the monastery off from worldly concern an old monk teaches his young disciple the wisdom of buddha over the many seasons of their lives. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 02/26/2008 Run time: 103 minutes Rating: R
Amazon.com
Working miracles with only a single set and a handful of characters, Korean director Kim Ki-Duk creates a wise little gem of a movie. As the title suggests, the action takes place in five distinct episodes, but sometimes many years separate the seasons. The setting is a floating monastery in a pristine mountain lake, where an elderly monk teaches a boy the lessons of life--although when the boy grows to manhood, he inevitably must learn a few hard lessons for himself. By the time the story reaches its final sections, you realize you have witnessed the arc of existence--not one person's life, but everyone's. It's as enchanting as a Buddhist fable, but it's not precious; Kim (maker of the notorious The Isle) consistently surprises you with a sex scene or an explosion of black comedy; he also vividly acts in the Winter segment, when the lake around the monastery eerily freezes. --Robert Horton
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| Customer Reviews: Read 82 more reviews...
 Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring December 19, 2008
This movie written and directed by Kim Ki Duk is not only the best Korean movie I've seen, it may be one of the best movies ever. As a professor of philosophy I would absolutely use this movie as a supplement to a discussion of Jean Jacques Rousseau's Emile. I'm not sure if that's what Kim intended to do, but it is an excellent movie. Bravo.
Simply Profound December 10, 2008
To most americans this will be a slow and painful movie to watch considering the slow progression of the plot and the subtle references to Buddhist philosophy, most americans simply will not get it. However, to anyone with even an elementary understanding of Buddhism you will get it and you may ponder this movie for years to come. The lessons that are taught in this movie are profound and I guarantee that you will gain a different outlook on life after viewing this movie. I consider myself a strong fairly unemotional man at least on the surface, as my girlfriend calls me an emotional rock, but even I had to secretly wipe a tear from the corner of my eye when the boy was being taken away by the police and the old man tried to stop him. If you see the movie you will know what I mean. anyway, I strongly recommend this movie to anyone who has a philosophical outlook on life.
 If You Like It I Understand, If You Don't Like It I Understand That Too September 23, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Everything about Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring is incredibly simple, so simple that it is borderline boring. The film about a young monk who is the understudy of a wise old monk. He starts out as just a boy but grows up with the seasons. They live on and take care of a floating monastery on a lake in the middle of a forest.
The young monk must experience life by himself for many years. As a young teen he is introduced to a young girl who's mother brought her to the floating monastery because of an illness. The girl is sick and can be cured but she will stay on the monastery until she is healthy again. Of course the young monk is curious, he has never seen nor been with a girl. Trying not to ruin the film I will stop here but the monk and the girl meeting basically change both of their lives drastically.
This film can really be anywhere from 3 to 5 stars depending on what type of day you're having. It's good but at the same time it is missing something. It's one of those things you just cant put your finger on but it's there for sure. It is definitely 5 stars on some levels though. The film has beautiful imagery and the floating monastery was stunning. The acting was really so so, nothing amazing but decent. The biggest problem was the story didn't have enough to it to really get you going for it. I understand that the simplicity is supposed to maybe add a bit to the overall feeling but it didn't for me. It's a good film but lacks in a few spots but still a decent one. It may be better depending on your mood at the time but it is very slow moving.
3 stars maybe August 6, 2008
Movie was cheesy. It was a slow movie (which I enjoy slow movies ),however the speed of the movie was only slow when nothing was happening and rushed to get to a point at other times (inconsistent speed). A film's rate is dependant on the rate of divulging information, plot, character etc.. I think it's supposed to be an artistic film but, I think artistic or not you can't sacrifice important elements and cinematography isn't everything, it certainly can't carry the weight of an entire film. That being said lets move on.
It's a morality tale, but the problem is that you see it coming a mile away. The child actor was terrible except when he was crying, that was his only believable scene. It only starts to become interesting when the boy grows up, but then later it becomes cheesy after a few unnecessary turns in the plot to bring him back. The end is beyond cheesy, a cheap excuse to show some martial arts, and some supernatural things which were thrown in (transformation into snake). The only good thing about this movie is that at times you can follow the story, the cinematography is amazing, and music is good. There was too much awkwardness (scene cuts, unexplainables, and unnecessary character introductions) to call this masterful. I would say this was rough draft turned into a film.
 Simple Beauty July 29, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
My rating is really a 3.5 but I will round it up to a 4. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter is a movie worth watching. The cinematography is beautiful throughout. The storyline is interesting and contains some fundamental lessons about life and its cycles. The script is also what fell short for me however. It was a little too simple for my liking. Given the lack of dialogue, or other alternate persuaders, it was difficult for me to believe the young woman was attracted to the young man in the first place. Additionally, the jump to her ultimate fate was too quick. While the wise old man made reference to the outcome earlier in the film it seemed too convenient. I was hoping for some dramatic revelation at the film's conclusion but it never came for me. The film ended as it began...quietly, in keeping with the wise old man's nature.
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