The Little Monk-
This sad movie is about a little boy who is abandoned by
his mother at a quiet mountain monastery and is forced to
become a monk. Throughout the movie, he waits desperately
for his mom to come back for him. The little monk longs
for a normal childhood but the things he wants are not in
line with Buddhist monk philosophy. He wants to play, eat
chicken and chase rabbits, but most of all, he yearns for
the love of his absent mother. The boy gets a glimmer of
hope when a beautiful ajuma wants to adopt him. Unfortunately,
it’s not in his karma. In fact, it seems like everyone
he encounters in the movie is destined to leave him.
By far, the most redeeming quality of this movie is the
stunning scenery and cinematography. The residence of the
monks is the Bongjeongsa Temple, located in Andong, at the
foot of Cheondeungsan Mountain.This temple is the oldest
surviving wood building in Korea. It was chosen to reflect
the simple quiet lives of the monks. Some scenes were also
filmed at Woljeongsa Temple in Odaesan Mountain and Seonamsa
Temple in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do province. No doubt many
tourists came to visit these temples after the movie screened.
However, despite the eye candy, the true point of this movie
is vague.To me, is seems as if of the underlying themes
of this movie is to point out flaws in Buddhist philosophy.
One of the only people the little monk has contact with
in the movie is the old temple master. The strict old man
makes the little monk study zen precepts that are completely
nonsensical and, instead of allowing the little monk to
play with the neighborhood kids, he makes him do chores
all day long. He tells the boy that he’s a dimwit
because he can’t figure out if a rock exists only
in his mind or if it really exists. What little boy in the
world cares if a rock really exists or not? Instead of seeming
like a sage father figure, the old monk seems more like
a sadistic jail warden. He's always scolding the boy and
depriving him of the joys of being a kid. Why? Because one
of the teachings of Buddha is to eliminate desire so you
can be released from the cycle of birth and death. That
means you shouldn’t long for anything; not even the
love of your mother.
Another one of the characters is another monk who appears
to be in his 20’s. He eventually leaves the monastery
because he is consumed by his sexual desires for women.
Again, is the movie subliminally saying that the Buddhist
tenant of eliminating desire is impossible? What would the
human experience be without feelings and desires anyway?
Wouldn't we just be repressed, anesthetized zombies?
The end
of the movie leaves us wondering what the future holds for
the little monk. Just like a Buddhist question, you have
to reflect on the ending of this story and try to find your
own meaning in it.
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