Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom (2003)

Director:

Ki-duk Kim

Writer:

Ki-duk Kim (writer)

Release Date:

19 September 2003 (South Korea)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

This film takes place in an isolated lake, where an old monk lives on a small floating temple. The wise master has also a young boy with him that teaches to become a monk. And we watch as seasons and years pass by.

Plot Keywords:

Lust | Monk | Catharsis | Love | Seasons

Awards:

11 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	....	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

Production Companies

• Korea Pictures
• LJ Film
• Pandora Filmproduktion
• Cineclick Asia

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)
• SPI International (Czech Republic)
• Slovenska Kinoteka (2004) (Slovenia)

Other Companies

• Konken Studios  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... and Spring (Australia) (UK)
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (International: English title) (USA)
Frühling, Sommer, Herbst, Winter... und Frühling (Germany)

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:

Hungary:16 | Japan:R-15 | Denmark:11 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | 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

Company:

Korea Pictures

Trivia:

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

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: After the cops take the young adult monk away and the old monk is standing on the monastery watching, a fine monofilament can be seen pulling the boat, which is ostensibly floating on the current, back to the monastery.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

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.