Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? $29.95
The physical and spiritual struggles of a Zen Buddhist master, his disciple and an orphaned boy are transformed into poetry through recurring motifs of fire, wind and water.DVD Details: South Korea, 1989, 145 minutes, Color, Region 1, NTSC, Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 or Dolby Digital 5.1 DTS, Improved subtitles in English and Korean; other Special Features: 10 minutes of previously unseen footage; newly remastered for better picture and sound quality by the director; enhanced for 16x9 widescreen.
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Last updated: November 25, 2009, 3:20 am
Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? Customer reviews:
Average Rating: 5.0 Total Reviews: 6
(Bill Moor, 2009-05-25) Visually stunning, scene after scene, with the meaning not in action, but perception and how different concepts of the Self, even being a zen monk, are entrapments. Like Sartre said, the moment you become, you no loner are, i.e., "man is a futile passion." Or as Mr. B. said, one can be held by golden chains as well as by iron ones. A challenging film (with no victor).
(P. Belfiglio, 2009-04-30) A while back I wrote a review about this movie as it pertained to the older, previously released DVD. When this newer version came out, I was hesitant to purchase it because, of course, I already owned a copy. However I am glad I did. The enhanced audio and visual quality of this release made the purchase worthwhile. I even enjoy the added scenes that are not in the earlier version. For what it's worth here is my previous review: "I was thinking (first mistake!) of saying, "Top Five." Then I realized that this is more than even "Top Three (or Two)" of all the movies I have in my collection, or have ever viewed, for that matter. The real perplexity is that I don't know why, exactly, except for the fact that it is the only movie that I think about and view more than any other DVD that I have. And so that is why it stands foremost (Doctor Zhivago has now been relegated to the silver podium, at least for these reasons) above of all the other DVD's in my assorted collection. True, as some have commented here, it is not astutely a portrayal of Zen Buddhism as it might be explicated in the truest sense of its dogmas. How would you depict and encapsulate the essence of Zen through the modality of a visual, i.e., movie experience anyway? Pretty tall order, even for The Buddha, I would imagine. This movie for me, however, is a catalyst for SOME things that are related to Zen Buddhism. But overall it leaves that stage and affords me with a visual, meditative experience, be it akin to Zen Buddhism or something other (even Christianity -- for me). Needless to say, this is not a film for everyone; it is not of the "Saturday Night at the Movies" genre; it just touches me in a deep, esoteric psychological and spiritual way. Perhaps this movie is something as to what Paul Valery stated: "To see is to forget the name of the thing one sees."
(stevenhorr, 2009-04-04) I agree with one poster that this is one of the best movies ever made, period. It is meditation. I would like to better understand all of the embedded symbolism, for there seems to be much. It is easily the best Buddhist movie of all time. From an artistic point of view, the compositions, transitions and dark, brooding music are brilliantly effective. This is a movie that is about direct experience. Experience it.
(LUPESCU SILVIU, 2008-01-07) It is just one of the best movie ever made. Mr Bae Young seems to be the Tarkowski of the Est. All is beautifull: music, photography, in a very high philosophical concpet. When I saw "Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left the Est" I didn't ask what the cinema must be, but what cinema IS. The film of Bae Young is a very possible answer.
(Ikkyu Jones, 2007-12-16) Slow, deliberate, meditative. Not for fidgety viewers. Good acting, direction, photography. Bravo for the new edition. Don't be fooled by the ox...