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Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? (1989)

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All Critics
Top Critics

100

Average Rating: 7.6/10
Reviews Counted: 6
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 0

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Release Date: Sep 23, 1989 Wide

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Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 752

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Movie Info

The title refers to a Zen riddle for which there is no answer. Noted painter Bae Yong-kyun spent several years devoted to carefully and lovingly creating this challenging, meditative and exquisitely photographed film. A young man aspires to the priestly life and so travels to a remote mountain hermitage to study under an aged Zen Master whose corporeal days are numbered. The master lives alone there with a small orphan boy. As the days slowly pass, the master occasionally shares his wisdom with

Unrated, 2 hr. 17 min.

Art House & International, Drama

Directed By: Bae Yong-kyun

In Theaters: Sep 23, 1989 Wide

On DVD: Oct 16, 2007

Cast

Yi Pan-Yong
Hyegok
Sin Won-Sop
Kibong
Hae-Jin Huang
Haejin
Su-Myong Ko
Superior

Critic Reviews for Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?

All Critics (11) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (0) | DVD (5)

I occasionally found myself lost in thought and found the film an overall worthwhile experience.

January 10, 2008 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

... one of the most physically beautiful films ever made, sumptuous and sensuous, full of delicate and quiet imagery.

November 30, 2007 Full Review Source: MSN.com

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Sean Axmaker

MSN.com

a difficult movie of unorthodox pacing and presentation

November 6, 2007 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com

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Norm Schrager

Filmcritic.com

... amazingly beautiful, as every frame puts you in mind of a painting by Rousseau or Joseph Turner.

October 21, 2007 Full Review | Comment

Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Attempts to express what is inexpressible and does it better than any previous film of this type.

December 30, 2005 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Audience Reviews for Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?

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I dunno. I must be stupid because I could not get into this movie. I'd start it and watch like fifteen minutes, then turn it off, then start it again in a day or two. It's slow and kinda boring, and the scenes aren't shot in a particularly beautiful or moving way or anything.But so many people I love and whose

June 22, 2008