29. SPRING, SUMMER, AUTUMN, WINTER... AND SPRING (2003)
Directed by Kim Ki-Duk
Korean cinema has had a wonderful decade, with three major filmmakers having an enormous impact on world cinema, Bong Joon-Ho, Park Chan-Wook and Kim Ki-Duk. SPRING, SUMMER, AUTUMN, WINTER...AND SPRING was the first film from Kim to really make a mark on Western audiences, although his body of work had already included two terrific films in BAD GUY and, especially, THE ISLE.
SPRING, SUMMER... has plenty in common with THE ISLE, not least the setting, a floating cottage in the middle of a lake. In the previous film, it was a raft of floating cabins, which people rented for fishing or for time away from their daily grind. Here, the cottage is a small monastery, hosting a monk and his young apprentice. The film follows them for five seasons, and tracks the changes that come in each of their lives when the younger man discovers his lustful urges.
Contemplative, engrossing and completely gorgeous to look at, this is a film of such assurance and style that it immediately announced Kim as a standout talent. That makes it inexplicable that since its release, only one of his films (3-IRON – excellent) has received a cinema release in the UK, while another four are only available on DVD import. Still, watch any of his stuff you can find, and you’ll be as eager as can be to check out the rest.
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