13. Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... And Spring (2003)
The Movie: Far removed from civilization, two Buddhist monks live their lives on a floating monastery situated on a lake surrounded by a pristine forest. Spanning several decades, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter... And Spring depicts the inexorable unraveling of life and the passing of the seasons as the young monk studies under his teacher, himself moving from childhood towards old age. What Makes It Original: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter...And Spring unfolds as its title implies - the conventional three act structure, and conventional notions of conflict and resolution which so often determine movies are replaced with a cyclical unfolding of nature and mankind's place in it. While it can be read as a meditation on Buddhist philosophy (and in this respect it offers a marked contrast to the spiritual views of a Western audience) its broader philosophical themes and preoccupation with faith and the world around us have a universal impact, while the movie unfolds with the precision of a Robert Bresson classic.
