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

Recently, I had the good fortune of watching a film that flooded my living room with much needed serenity. For those whose movie pallates require incessant zing or adrenaline highs, let me begin by saying this movie is not for you. There are pondersome moods that we all experience when we question the very essence of life and the reasons why we go through some of the most disturbing upheavals. This Korean film titled 'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring' (Bom Yeoreum Gaeul Gyeoul Geurigo Bom) is a simple Buddhist fable, elegantly wrapped in the picturesque folds of cinematography that brings us some profound messages. Director Kim Ki-Duk has used nature to simplify life's lessons.

In the midst of a magnificent landscape is a tiny Buddhist monastry owned by a reclusive monk. His little protege is fast learning the lessons of life by experiencing all that defines human emotion and pysche. He is at the Spring of his life when foliage lends its untouched face to season. Here begins the journey of man, a series of novel experiences that brings him face to face with desires, hope, despair and ultimately salvation. Like the best of teachers, the old monk only nudges his pupil in the right direction, never tripping his stride or skewing his direction. And as this charming little boy learns his way, we learn too. What truly touched me was the helplessness of an older generation when they watch us repeating their mistakes and sinking blindly into the very pitfalls that taught them their lessons. But these lessons have to be experienced to be owned and all the old monk can do is watch, pick up the pieces of a crushed spirit and salvage what he can. It depicts the inner struggle of being a parent or a dedicated mentor.

Seasons have always brought us full circle and reminded us that our journeys are concentric. Among the many lessons that life teaches us, the one that makes most sense to me is that of Karma. Scientifically, energy does not cease to exist but only changes form and hence it is only concievable that negative energies will make their way back to the source, altered in form perhaps yet dangerously similar in magnitude.

This film has very few dialogues and most of the drama is restrained by the flow. Only those who can appreciate the art of a visually illustrated message should take the trouble of watching this movie since this film is not remarkable for its pace but for the lucidity of expression. As the film's tag line says "Life brings us lessons, one season at a time." And seasons cannot be rushed, can they?