Burning

Composite Score: 83.67

Starring: Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun, Jeon Jong-seo, Kim Soo-Kyung, Choi Seung-ho, Moon Sung-Keun, Min Bok-gi, and Ban Hye-ra

Director: Lee Chang-dong

Writers: Jungmi Oh and Lee Chang-dong

Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

MPAA Rating: NR

Box Office: $7.58 million worldwide

Why should you Watch This Film?

                Burning is Lee Chang-dong’s adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s short story “Barn Burning” with elements of William Faulkner’s short story of the same name also included. The film stars Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun, and Jeon Jong-seo as its three central figures – Jong-su, Ben, and Hae-mi. It follows the three young adults as they struggle to find meaning in life and with each other, featuring themes of class inequality and the listlessness of young adulthood. The film also happens to be a mystery thriller, following Yoo’s Jong-su as he begins to suspect Yeun’s Ben of having sinister designs even as he grows jealous of Ben’s wealth and his relationship with Jeon’s Hae-mi. The film’s successful blend of discomfort, social commentary, and suspense made it the first Korean film to make the Oscars short-list for Best International Feature, paving the way for the following year’s Best Picture winner Parasite. Burning has blazed a path into the annals of film history and deserves its place among the greats.

Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?

                Like the short stories from which it draws inspiration, Burning is frustratingly ambiguous with its details. If you want clear answers, this is not the film to give it to you. Unresolved mysteries and cathartic conclusions are all that this film has to offer at the end of its run-time. It lags a bit in the middle, losing some of its momentum before building to a thrilling conclusion again, but that conclusion might not leave every viewer satisfied and could lead to a little bit more criticism if you did find the film’s second act a bit overdrawn.

So wait, why should you Watch This Film?

                I first want to praise the performances of the three leads. Jeon Jong-seo seems to take inspiration from some of Wong Kar-wai’s more memorable heroines in her portrayal of Hae-mi, flitting from interest to interest with excellent characterization – carrying more weight than a manic pixie dream girl while still appearing as an unattainable dream for the protagonist. She captures the character’s inconsistent nature so well, leading the audience to begin to question reality right alongside Jong-su. Likewise, Yoo Ah-in bodies his role as the introverted and suspicious Jong-su – allowing the audience to latch onto his perspective and become engrossed in his every pursuit. His understated performance serves as the perfect contrast to both Jeon and Yeun, feeling more grounded but also more lost than anyone. Finally, Steven Yeun shines as the mysterious and wealthy Ben. His sinister indications of sociopathic tendencies and a god complex are delivered with such surety that the audience almost dismisses them as asides. His ability to connect with every character in the film without ever becoming attached to any of them makes his performance all the more chilling and ultimately ambiguous. He’s the perfect pseudo-villain for the film, hinting at deeper issues without ever needing to bring them out into the light.

                Writer/director Lee Chang-dong should also be commended for his work on the film, combining the depth and themes of an arthouse drama with the atmosphere and suspense of a David Fincher thriller. Burning succeeds in walking the fine line between high art and low entertainment thanks to its creator’s excellent crafting. It engages deeply with its issues of social class and the disillusionment of young people in modern society and even touches further on issues of generational trauma and global politics while also engaging its audience with a compelling love triangle that morphs into a thrilling missing persons case along the lines of Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners. This balance is what makes the film so great. Like South Korea’s more successful 2019 submission for the Oscars, Burning engages audiences at all levels with relatable and compelling stories and themes, making it hard to leave unaffected.

                Burning is a testament to the craft of Lee Chang-dong, successfully straddling the fence of thematic drama and mystery thriller thanks to his direction and the excellent performances of his three leads, cementing the film in film history and among the greats. Its occasionally dragging second act and ambiguous ending might frustrate some of its less engaged viewers, but you’d be hard-pressed to find such a group of people because of how excellently the film delivers its story. It is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video if you’d like to give it a watch.