Our Rating: 4.00
For a Buddhist meditation on the cyclical nature of life, this Korean film has a lot of old-fashioned entertainment value. Written, directed and edited by Kim Ki-duk, it’s divided into five sections (hence the title). The seasonal references reflect the age of our protagonist as he grows from child monk (spring) to old master (winter). Kim’s story never goes where you think it’s headed, and he manages to build quite a bit of suspense (or at least anticipation) as we wait to see what changes each season will bring to his unhappy hero. It’s a harsh story told against a lush backdrop, sad without being sentimental and instructive without being preachy.
This article appears in Jun 2-8, 2004.