Mandala (film)

Mandala
Theatrical poster
Hangul	만다라
RR	Mandara
MR	Mantara
Directed by	Im Kwon-taek
Produced by	Park Chong-chan
Written by	Kim Song-dong (novel) Lee Sang-hyon Song Kil-han
Starring	Ahn Seong-gi Jeon Mu-song Kim Jong-su
Music by	Kim Chong-gil
Cinematography	Jeong Il-seong
Editing by	Lee Do-won
Distributed by	Hwa Chun Trading Company
Release date(s)	September 12, 1981 (1981-09-12)
Running time	117 min.
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean

Mandala (Hangul: 만다라) is a 1981 South Korean film about Buddhist monks in Korea. This is considered by many critics to be director Im Kwon-taek's breakthrough film as a cinematic artist.

Plot

The film follows the differing lives of two Buddhist monks in Korea. By following their lives and their interaction throughout the film, Im creates a contemplation of the nature of individualism, religious belief and enlightenment.^[1]

Awards

• Best Director, 20th Grand Bell Awards (South Korea) ^[2]
• Grand Prix Hawaii Film Festival ^[3]

Notes

1. ^ IM KWON-TAEK: KOREAN VISIONS at www.facets.org
2. ^ Lee, Young-il (1988). The History of Korean Cinema. Motion Picture Promotion Corporation. ISBN 89-88095-12-X. , p.343.
3. ^ Hartzell, Adam. A Review of Im Kwon-Taek: The Making of a Korean National Cinema at www.koreanfilm.org

Sources

• "Im Kwon-taek's Retrospective". 5th Festival of Korean Cinema in Italy. 2007. http://www.koreafilmfest.com/index.php?p=retrospettiva&l=eng. Retrieved 2007-10-31. 
• James, David E. (2001). "Im Kwon-Taek - Korean National Cinema and Buddhism". Film Quarterly 54 (3 (April)): pp. 14–31. 
• Mandala at the Internet Movie Database
• "Mandala". Hollywood Reporter 277 (14): pp. 13.. 1983-06-09