Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (2003) Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom (original title)

Director:

Ki-duk Kim

Writer:

Ki-duk Kim (writer)

Release Date:

19 September 2003 (South Korea)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

On an isolated lake, an old monk lives on a small floating temple. The wise master has also a young boy with him who learns to become a monk. And we watch as seasons and years pass by.

Plot Keywords:

Monk | Lust | Seasons | Catharsis | Love

Awards:

12 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Yeong-su Oh	...	Old Monk (as Young-soo Oh)
Ki-duk Kim	...	Adult Monk
Young-min Kim	...	Young Adult Monk
Jae-kyeong Seo	...	Boy Monk
Yeo-jin Ha	...	The Girl
Jong-ho Kim	...	Child Monk
Jung-young Kim	...	The Girl's Mother
Dae-han Ji	...	Detective Ji
Min Choi	...	Detective Choi
Ji-a Park	...	The Baby's Mother
Min-Young Song	...	The Baby

Directed by
Ki-duk Kim

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ki-duk Kim		writer

Produced by
Karl Baumgartner	....	co-producer
Soma Chung	....	executive producer
Raimond Goebel	....	co-producer
Dong-Joo Kim	....	producer
So-hee Kim	....	co-producer
Seung-jae Lee	....	producer

Original Music by
Ji-woong Park

Cinematography by
Dong-hyeon Baek

Film Editing by
Ki-duk Kim

Costume Design by
Min-Hee Kim

Sound Department
Stephan Konken	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bon-seung Ku	....	sound
Richard Welsh	....	dolby sound consultant

Production Companies

• Korea Pictures
• LJ Film
• Pandora Filmproduktion
• Cineclick Asia
• Cinesoul
• Mirae Asset Capital
• Muhan Investment

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Cineclick Asia (2003) (worldwide) (theatrical)
• Cinema Mondo (2004) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Festive Films (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Filmhouse (2004) (Mexico) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Mikado (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Mongrel Media (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Pandora Filmproduktion (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Pretty Pictures (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• SPO (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2004) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Triangelfilm (2004) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• United King Films (2004) (Israel) (theatrical)
• Amazonia Films (2004-2011) (Venezuela) (all media)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Bavaria Film International (2003) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
• Califórnia Home Vídeo (2005) (Brazil) (all media)
• Divisa Home Video (2004) (Spain) (DVD)
• Dolmen Home Video (2004) (Italy) (DVD)
• Dolmen Home Video (2006) (Italy) (DVD) (boxed set)
• Festival Films S.L. (2004) (Spain) (all media)
• Fundamental Films (2009) (China) (TV)
• Gateno Films (2005) (Peru) (all media)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Rialto Distribution (2005) (Australia) (all media)
• Rialto Distribution (2005) (New Zealand) (all media)
• SPI International (Czech Republic)
• Slovenska Kinoteka (2004) (Slovenia)

Other Companies

• Konken Studios  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

"Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom" - South Korea (original title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong sexuality

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

South Korea | Germany

Language:

Korean

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Czech Republic:15 | Finland:K-11 (re-rating) | Finland:K-15 (original rating) | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Italy:T | Mexico:B15 | Netherlands:MG6 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | USA:R | Chile:14 | Hungary:16 | Japan:R-15 | Denmark:11 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Norway:11 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:18A (Manitoba)

Company:

Korea Pictures

Trivia:

Director Cameo: [Ki-duk Kim]the adult monk at the end of the movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the young monk finishes inscribing the Heart Sutra on the floor and falls down exhausted, the inscriptions below him change between shots (even though he is lying motionless). In one shot, the inscriptions he is lying on have been painted; and as he wakes up, the paint is gone.

Quotes:

Old Monk:Lust awakens the desire to possess. And that awakens the intent to murder.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Arirang (2011)

A Visual Delight

I'm constantly amazed by the appearance of some seemingly off-the-wall piece of art that when you view it evokes a stunning effect. The simplicity of this film, its low-key action and pace, its visual surrealistic beauty, all interact to create an emotional impression that is long-lasting and thought-provoking. Korea has been somewhat slower to enter the international cinematic world and here is a film with actors whose names stir little or no recognition. For myself, who has enjoyed the Korean films I've seen before, it was a delightful surprise. The film itself is a wonderful tapestry of Korean Buddhist culture, with quiet visual beauty, simple moral themes and human passions put into a simple, homespun perspective. The remarkable natural setting which reflects the wide spectrum of Korea's seasons, which range from hot, sticky humid-fraught summers to icy, cold snow-bound winters, become a metaphor of life with unadorned figures, completely human in form. The old monk becomes a witness to the interplay of human qualities, without judgment yet with a complete and quiet moral presence. The foibles of child cruelty is met with a simple retribution which imparts a lasting lesson. Judgment is always withheld and warnings are given simply. The effect of all of this rings long and lasting, much like the impression of a delicate Korean silk print: simple in design with plain brush strokes and stylized representations of nature-- yet, lasting in impression, often to the point of being unforgettable. I buy few videos and DVDs, preferring to see things I really enjoyed again and again. But, I've ordered this one.