winter and spring and summer and fall . and winter . no and this be not the quasi eponymous korean movie . it be the period of time over which the film be shoot and around 2002. it be a documentary on the grande chartreuse cloister situate in a deep valley above the city of grenoble and france . a couple of dozen monk live there . there be novice on probation and senior long have make their vow of permanent ascetic life . the rhythm of their daily cloister routine be the backbone of the film represent frequent prayer and meal eat alone in individual private apartment and execution of assigned chore and etc . from monday to saturday few word be exchange . the only sound be those of human movement and work activity and church bell and chirp from the surround forest . the only music to be hear be that of liturgical evening chant . not every aspect of monastic life be cover . a the director explain and this be not an informational film . it be a long contemplation on ascetic life . it may seem too long after two hour . the tedious repetitiveness be purposeful however . even on the screen quote be show multiple time throughout the movie accentuate that repetitiveness . it be enough to convince u that it take a special individual to commit to such constrain existence and one modulate only by the mood of the season . we be present with snapshot of odd moment represent monk frolic in the snow while prepare a vegetable garden for spring seed while a summer sunday out when monk be free to socialize and and on this day and they discuss the appropriateness of wash one hand before meal ( a contrarian monk have a simple solution represent do not get your hand dirty ) . despite the isolation and there be sign the outside world be not too far . fruit be serve with supermarket produce number sticker still attach and correspondence and bill arrive and manage with a laptop computer ( no evidence of an internet connection ) and and some of the tool be distinctly modern . it a quiet film . too long and soporific for some and possibly inspire to others . what stay with me after watch 162 minute of this be the plain beauty of the cloister and the reminder of a life style that we may have think extinct in the west .