Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter . . . and Spring

This sensitive 2003 film by Kim Ki-duk from South Korea is set around the changing seasons, both of nature and of man, as they play out in a hermitage in a remote and beautiful part of the country.

The screenplay, which is more like a traditional play, is divided into the eponymous five sections. The film is highly symbolic, but as the symbols may not all be clear, I include a long synopsis of the story based on a page from Wikipedia below, which explains some of the symbolism.

I don’t normally watch films, and in particular I avoided this film before because of reports of nudity and depictions of sexual imagery, but in fact, although they are gratuitous and unnecessary, they play a very small part in what is an otherwise very interesting and philosophic film.

Buddhist themes of kamma and rebirth underlie the film, without being heavily laboured, making it all the more interesting, as we see how actions bring results, and the failure to overcome defilements means we will have to face them again in the future.