A deaf wooded area somewhere in Asia. The lake. In its center many, many years ago (apparently) built a temple. In the temple - already an elderly monk and pupil of five years. Observe all Buddhist vows, live the gifts of nature. Everything is modest, ascetic. The triumph of the spirit and complete harmony!
The film shows us "Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter...and Spring Again" by a student who has experienced all the major human feelings, both high and vicious. Making mistakes along the way, even not always realizing it himself, he has a reliable support - a teacher. A strict, but kind mentor, will lend a shoulder of help and direct the true, even if deserved, kick. The pupil will have to go through all the trials and temptations, rise to the level of his teacher, so that when the turn comes, take his place.
I hadn't seen the movie yet, but I didn't hear a lot of things, and I didn't really know how a movie like this could be quite popular with all sorts of people. But everything fell into place. The director combined the techniques of the author's cinema - beautiful plans, fascinating slowness of the narrative, a good acting game, with a very not original at its core, but very beloved by the general public, the plot. What happens in five minutes, you already know. But the minus is not so much in predictability, but in the banal platitudes (sorry for the expression, but in cinema there are examples when the banalized platitudes did not make the film a masterpiece). And people, in a way, watch half the movie, paying attention only to what they like, not to the whole picture.
So, on the one hand, the director's apparent skill, the beautiful picture, the good play, and some strong scenes. On the other hand, there are banalities, as well as Eastern philosophy that does not always come to the place. The result was a kind of “high art” for the “poor”.
But nevertheless...
7 out of 10
Original