So is this one of the most pessimistic films ever made?

I must admit, the Spring, Summer, and parts of Fall sections seemed like they were building up to somewhat of a specific theme or message, but Winter and the new Spring totally threw me off. Or at least, left me with the impression that it had a massively pessimistic message. That there can be no change, no improvement, the new generation is destined to repeat the same mistakes of the past. I mean, obviously the motif what the Buddhist cycle of life concept, but what was being recycled here isn't just "life in general," it was deep darkness. While the monk's life had various periods of growth and reflection, it was highlighted by cruelty and violence, he was a murderer after all. It wasn't "life with all its ups and downs"....he allowed anger and death to win.

So with the new kid displaying the same, if not worse level of cruelty...was it saying he's doomed too? Beautiful floating monastery surrounded by nature or not, he's gonna give in to his basic nature and fall down the path of self (or others) destruction?






Arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhBWDzkqEPY