Details
Movie Description
An old master, nearing death, leads his two disciples away from their former lives and into a greater acceptance of Buddhist enlightenment. Beautiful cinematography and profound filmmaking make this truly a great film.
Synopsis
This unique Korean film explores the relationship between an elderly Zen master, an orphaned boy, and a young monk named Ki Bong.
With little time left before his impending death, Master Hyegok teaches his two students all he knows about Zen Buddhism, which he has devoted his life to.
In order to learn, both Ki Bong and the orphan Hae Jin must face and overcome their feelings of guilt for past deeds. Ki Bong left behind his blind mother and family when he came to the monastery; Hae Jin accidentally caused the death of a bird.
After the old man's death, the monk and the orphan attempt to use their master's teachings to achieve spiritual enlightenment.
Film Notes
DVD Features:
Region Encoding: All Regions
Scene Access
Keep Case
The title of the film is a Zen Buddhist koan (riddle). Bodhi-Dharma is the name of the fifth-century monk who introduced Zen Buddhism to east Asia.
The entire film took director Bae Yong-kyun seven years to plan, two years to shoot, and one year to edit. The film maker used non-actors.
Shown at the Cannes Film Festival in May of 1989.
The movie was awarded the Golden Leopard at the 1990 Locarno Film Festival.
Released theatrically in New York City on September 25, 1993.
This was the first Korean film to ever receive a theatrical release in the United States.
An ICA production.
Additional cast: Ko Su Yong (Superior) and Kim Hae Yong (Fellow Disciple).
The movie was chosen as "One of the Ten Best Films of All Time" by three international film critics in the 1993 "Sight & Sound" Critics' Poll.
Industry Reviews
"...[Gazes] into the physical world with a fixity, clarity and depth rarely found in the cinema..."
Holden
"...It's certainly easy to admire the movie's spare beauty, spirituality and remarkable control..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Lloyd Sachs (06/17/1994)
Quotations
"I am insubstantial in the universe, but in the universe there is nothing that is not me." -- Hye Gok (YI PAN-YONG)
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