As the seasons change and the years pass, the carefree child
apprentice becomes a young man filled with desire. Despite the
continuing wisdom that his master imparts, the young man finds he is
emotionally unprepared for the arrival of a young woman. Dealing with
feelings of guilt and jealously, he is forced to confront a darker side
of his nature, and resolving to cleanse himself, he serves a penance in
the form of a religious mantra. Later, as winter comes and death makes
way for new life, the man prepares to take on the role of teacher...
Breath-taking and visually arresting, director Kim Ki-Duk’s unique
and exquisite exploration of human condition and its infinite
complexities is one of the most captivating and thought-provoking films
ever made.