Soon-nyeo is a trainee Buddhist nun. Her father, out of guilt for the murders he committed during the Vietnam War, became a monk. As a high-school student, Soon-nyeo inspired a scandal with a teacher who had lost his wife during the Gwangju Democratization Movement. Soon-nyeo believes that True Path will be found by walking among the people, while venerable Jinseong argues that enlightenment must be achieved through inner practice. As Im’s keen inquiries about Buddhism are reflected in Mandala, the film is full of poetic and tragic beauty. Contemporary incidents and the spiritual wounds of the Korean people are dealt exceptionally as Im explores Koreans’ suffering and religious salvation in this masterpiece of his middle-period.