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Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?

Play trailer Poster for Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? 1989 2h 15m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Kibong (Won-Sop Sin), a young Buddhist monk on a quest to achieve peace and enlightenment, ventures to a monastery in the mountains of South Korea to commune with the elderly and reclusive Hyegok (Pan-Yong Yi) in hopes of gaining the answers he craves. With the aid of Haejin (Hae-Jin Huang), the young orphan who lives with him, Hyegok attempts to impart his wisdom to Kibong. Yet, the young man still feels torn between his old life in the city and the path toward inner peace.

Critics Reviews

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Panos Kotzathanasis HanCinema Mar 4, 2019
Running at 175 minutes and filled with minimalism and implementing a very slow pace, this is a very difficult film to watch. However, if one can get past these notions, he will discover a true masterpiece, that signaled the progress of Korean cinema Go to Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid Jan 10, 2008
I occasionally found myself lost in thought and found the film an overall worthwhile experience. Go to Full Review Norm Schrager Filmcritic.com Nov 6, 2007
3.5/5
a difficult movie of unorthodox pacing and presentation Go to Full Review Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Oct 21, 2007
92/100
... amazingly beautiful, as every frame puts you in mind of a painting by Rousseau or Joseph Turner. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Dec 30, 2005
A+
Attempts to express what is inexpressible and does it better than any previous film of this type. Go to Full Review Thomas Delapa Boulder Weekly Sep 3, 2004
3/5
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Audience Reviews

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Jan 27, 2012 A mediation on Buddhist teachings of freedom from earthly desires, and the impermanence and cycling of life, by following the changes in an old man, a young boy and a young man as they each in their own way struggle to attain understanding. The beauty within reach is displayed throughout the film by stunning photography and natural metaphors See more Jul 24, 2011 2nd favorite film of all time. See more Apr 3, 2011 A beautiful movie that makes the difficult decision to attempt to express the challenges of a buddhist monk. This movie took it on much more directly than any I know, and did so honestly. I was and continue to be impressed See more Dec 26, 2010 What was my original face before I was born? Don't know. I don't understand this don't know. The monitor is bright, the light reflects off my eyes Wonderful! See more Aug 28, 2010 Meditative, unconventional, and somewhat confusing, but worth the effort. See more Aug 3, 2009 pretty filmograpphy, but sloow & boring plot See more Read all reviews
Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?

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Cast & Crew

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Bae Yong-kyun

Director

Pan-Yong Yi

Hye-gok

Won-Sop Sin

Ki-bong

Hae-Jin Huang

Hae-jin

Su-Myong Ko

Abbot

Hae-Yong Kim

The Other Disciple

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Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?

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Movie Info

Synopsis Kibong (Won-Sop Sin), a young Buddhist monk on a quest to achieve peace and enlightenment, ventures to a monastery in the mountains of South Korea to commune with the elderly and reclusive Hyegok (Pan-Yong Yi) in hopes of gaining the answers he craves. With the aid of Haejin (Hae-Jin Huang), the young orphan who lives with him, Hyegok attempts to impart his wisdom to Kibong. Yet, the young man still feels torn between his old life in the city and the path toward inner peace.
Director
Bae Yong-kyun
Producer
Bae Yong-kyun
Distributor
Criterion Collection, Milestone Film & Video
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Korean
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 12, 1989, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Sep 15, 2009
Runtime
2h 15m
Sound Mix
Mono
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