Burning / Beoning - Chang-dong Lee (2018)

[Heinz-Klett]

Burning (Republic of Korea 2018)
directed by
Chang-dong Lee
written by
Haruki Murakami (short story)
and Chang-dong Lee & Jungmi Oh (screenplay)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7282468/?
https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/films/burning

Deliveryman Jongsu is out on a job when he runs into Haemi, a girl who once lived in his neighborhood. She asks if he'd mind looking after her cat while she's away on a trip to Africa. On her return she introduces to Jongsu an enigmatic young man named Ben, who she met during her trip. And one day Ben tells Jongsu about his most unusual hobby...

Director: Chang-dong Lee

Cast: Ah-In Yoo, Steven Yeun, Jong-seo Jeon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi6Kw7V8gXk

Cannes Reviews:
https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/...129452.article
https://www.theguardian.com/film/201...lee-chang-dong
https://variety.com/2018/film/review...ng-1202812196/
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/re...review-1112684

[Himmel]

보이는 재미있는 것은 그것을 체크아웃 합니다

[Cremildo]

Cannes Winner ‘Burning’ Bought by Well Go for October Release

[Mothravka]

Saw this recently. I would rate it 2 out of 5. It's not as good as it could be. I liked the first half much better than the rest of the film, especially when there's not too much happening. The thriller/mystery side of things later on didn't make a big impression on me, as it somehow felt flat and too easy, even if it was fun to see Steven Yeun. Now that I've seen all of Lee Chang-dong's films, I would probably rank this as number four. A reference that I caught was the soundtrack to Elevator to the Gallows (1958) by Miles Davis that makes a quick visit in the film.

[Cremildo]

Burning Trailer - YouTube

[GRD43L]

Very much looking forward to this release.

[Cinesimon]

Yes I'm a bit annoyed I know about it, given how long it looks like we're going to be waiting for an English-subbed blu-ray!
Can't wait, in other words.

[Cremildo]

[Hucksta G]

Such a great film.

[willtopower]

This film is great. It might be a masterpiece. Some films make you question the truth of the narrative like Memories of a Murder or Zodiac. Some films make you question the truth of reality like Last Year at Marienbad. And then there are films that make you question what is truth. That's this film.

[jacobsever]

Okay, I just got out of this, and I have SO much on my mind. Thoughts, questions, praise. It was absolutely amazing. South Korea might be my favorite film-making country outside the States. Everything I've seen is just so amazing.

First off, this movie is a sloooooow burn. For me personally, it was the perfect pace. It slowly unravels and keeps turning and taking directions I had no idea it would take. Not to say there were any twists or surprises, I just went into it blind and had zero idea what direction this film was going to take. And honesty, I feel like that's the best approach for this. With this movie shifting momentum and a constant change in focus, it kept me wondering what was coming next and held my attention the entire time. It's like one long mystery that you're not even aware is going to be a mystery.

This movie has all the time in the world to breathe. You're thrown into a world with limited characters, but you grow to know them all so intimately. You grow to know the locations and world so well. And it never spells anything out for you either. This movie doesn't hold the audiences' hand. There are aspects that are left unanswered, which will undoubtedly rub certain people the wrong way. For me, I enjoy coming up with my own theories and filling in the gaps with my own thoughts.

One example is A MAJOR SPOILER.

[Show spoiler]Shin Hae-mi is an attractive girl that ends up going missing after becoming close to a very handsome and rich man. We are never explicitly explained what happened to her. We get a phone call in which you hear running, and that's it. I'm not exactly sure what we are led to believe. The obvious answer would be the man killed her. But I read it a different way. I filled in the story in my mind by thinking he sold her into sex trafficking. That would explain how he has so much money. It shows him "grooming" more women, all the same age and very pretty.

There's a few random minor things that happen that somewhat confuse me, and I'm not sure if it's due to just odd characters, or social norms from a different country/culture. Like Shin Hae-mi talking to her childhood neighbor.

[Show spoiler]She says "The only thing you've ever said to me is telling me I'm ugly". Then they immediately proceed to have sex. Like...that's the most strange foreplay I've ever heard of. Unless it's her showing and inserting her dominance by basically saying "See, now I'm hot. You used to think I was ugly, and now you'll have sex with me without a second thought."

Overall, this movie is just a smart, witty, slow burn that keeps growing and creeping into your brain. Starts off simple and cute, and ends up on a very tense and nerve wracking moment. Gorgeous cinematography and a very appropriate score makes this thing one big wonderful package.

4.5/5

[Cremildo]

Steven Yeun won the Best Supporting Actor award from the Toronto Film Critics Association.

Edit: and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association!

[Lepidopterous]

'Burning' Exclusive Music: Stream The Entire Score For One Of 2018's Best Films - The Playlist

[BluBonnet]

I missed the chance to watch it when it was in theaters, so looking forward to blu-ray/digital release!!

[willtopower]

I watched this again last weekend. Easily the best screenplay of 2018 imo.

[GRD43L]

I watched 3/4 of it last night. Was starting to doze off so I'm going to pick it up tonight.

This has to be the most cryptic movie of LCD works I've yet seen. Only seen 2 others, Secret Sunshine & Poetry.

Audience is just left with all these baffling questions with no answers. And that may be the point because the feeling of desperation for answers, IMO, is the Burn.

Did it exist/not exist? Did it happen/not happen? Was she real/not real? Is Jong-Su really a writer or not? Is Hae-Mi a liar or not? Jong-Su has the same questions the audience does, perhaps more, and more desperate for answers. Running off to find the burning/burnt greenhouse is his response to his desperation, feeling of helplessness, unable to prevent what he think is sure to happen. Jong-Su seems constantly out of himself, gazing into the distance, unfocused. Responding to what is happening around him and to him.

When he does takes action at the end it is the audience who are stuck with the same desperation, helplessness, but with incredulous shock.

I'm just thinking aloud here; seeing if I can collect my thoughts into something more cohesive.