Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? (1989): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1989, Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? is a drama film directed by Bae Yong-kyun, running about 144 minutes.

What it’s about. Three people live in a remote Buddhist monastery near Mount Chonan: Hyegok, the old master; Yong Nan, a young man who has left his extended family in the city to seek enlightenment - Hyegok calls him Kibong!; and, an orphan lad Haejin, whom Hyegok has brought to the monastery to raise as a monk. The story is mostly Yong Nan's, told in flashbacks: how he came to the monastery, his brief return to the city, his vacillation between the turbulence of the world and his hope to overcome passions and escape the idea of self. We also see Hyegok as a teacher, a protector, and a father figure, and we watch Haejin make his way as a curious and nearly self-sufficient child.

Who’s in it. Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? stars Lee Pan-yong as Hye-gok, Sin Won-sop as Ki-bong, Hwang Hae-jin as Hae-jin and Go Su-myeong as Abbot, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.3/10, Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on OVID. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? page.

If you liked it. Fans of Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.