Burning (2018)

[Akijama]

Product Description
Based on a story by international best-selling author Haruki Murakami, BURNING is the searing examination of an alienated young man, Jongsu (Ah-in YOO, The Throne), a frustrated introvert whose already difficult life is complicated by the appearance of two people into his orbit: first, Haemi (newcomer Jong-seoJUN), a spirited woman who offers romantic possibility, and then, Ben (Steven YEUN, The Walking Dead, Sorry to Bother You), a wealthy and sophisticated young man she returns from a trip with. When Jongsu learns of Bens secret fetish of burning down greenhouses and Haemi suddenly disappears, his confusion and obsessions begin to mount, culminating in a stunning finale.

Language: Korean (original)
Subtitles: English

Review
(A) masterful look at jealousy, class, and revenge --The Playlist

Emotionally gripping --The Village Voice

A fascinating psychological thriller --Indiewire

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HQ7HVQ8...1%7C2650305011

BURNING (2018) Official US Trailer | Steven Yeun Movie - YouTube

[willtopower]

Sure wish I could watch this before the end of the year, but I guess later is better than never...

[Cremildo]

It'll take a little longer than I expected. Still, as sure a blind-buy as any.

[nitin]

One of the great films of the year.

[ravenus]

According to the trailer, this guy burns down abandoned greenhouses. I may be a stupid philistine here, but how should that worry anyone?

[nitin]

Originally Posted by ravenus

According to the trailer, this guy burns down abandoned greenhouses. I may be a stupid philistine here, but how should that worry anyone?

Bit hard to discuss without giving away some of the key plot/character beats. But if you want to know a bit more, the film is based on the short story Barn Burning by Haruki Murakami (which itself is partly inspired by William Faulkner’s story of the same name).

[logboy]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

It'll take a little longer than I expected.

oscars.

[Namuhana]

I've not read "Barn Burning," though I do have the collection it's in (The Elephant Vanishes). I love Murakami, so I've been looking forward to seeing this film for some time. I doubt I'll get to see this in theaters, so this will be a day-one purchase for me.

[Abdrewes]

If this film is amazing as I'm being told, it's truly gonna be so weird seeing it for $2.99 at a Fry's Electronics in a couple years.

[kristoffer]

Any chance of this being region all? ��

[IXOYE1989]

I haven't seen this yet, but some people are comparing similarities to The Wailing which I absolutely loved. Can't wait to check this out!!!

[flyry]

This movie may stick with me forever. Incredible

[Akijama]

[cgpublic]

Blind buy one for the ages; a Top 10 film for my 2018 list.

[willtopower]

Best screenplay of 2018, in my opinion!

[MifuneFan]

Had Fandango credits, so I just rented it. Looking forward to finally checking it out.

[cakefactory]

I've been meaning to see this for a while, and was about to give up and VOD it off Amazon.

Glad to see it's getting a blu-ray release. Another on the same short list of "must see" foreign movies where I read about Burning, the Danish movie "Holiday," which also is frequently singled out as having beautiful photography, is DVD-only

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by Akijama

[Show spoiler]

Lol all the fire puns are getting painful to read...

[Show spoiler](I'm prob guilty of it too though... )

Originally Posted by cgpublic

Blind buy one for the ages; a Top 10 film for my 2018 list.

Yes! Can't wait to own this as well.

[Lepidopterous]

Originally Posted by IXOYE1989

I haven't seen this yet, but some people are comparing similarities to The Wailing which I absolutely loved. Can't wait to check this out!!!

Not really...? Maybe in that they're both great Korean thrillers

Otherwise pretty different films.

[IXOYE1989]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

Not really...? Maybe in that they're both great Korean thrillers

Otherwise pretty different films.

I got a chance to watch Burning, and one of the similarities I found with The Wailing that stood out was that the cinematography was phenomenal. And upon checking, the cinematography was done by the same person: Hong Kyung-pyo. Both are excellent thrillers for sure, but also different as well. Both films definitely have multiple layers of how people may interpret the film in their first viewing, but they're also both the type of movies that makes you keep wanting to think more about the film once it ends. I wonder if Burning will eventually get a Criterion release in a few years down the road.