Dir: Lee Chang-Dong
Cast: Yoo Ah-in, Jeon Jong-seo, Steven Yeun
2h 28m · 2018 · Cert 15 · Subtitled
An isolated young man, Jong-soo, is living in Seoul and dreaming of becoming a writer when he’s accosted by Hae-mi, who says she remembers him from their childhood in a small village close to the North Korean border. They become close, but after she returns from a trip, she’s accompanied by the wealthy, urbane Ben – with whom she is apparently in a relationship, and who eventually confides in Jong-soo about his very strange hobby.
Chang-Dong fleshes out Murakami’s slender short story to create a mysterious world of immense power. Beautifully crafted, _Burning_ immerses the viewer in the lives and desires of its characters whilst exploring male rage, class conflict and unrequited love.
Henry Jordan says: "An unconventional adaptation of a Haruki Murakami story even in a medium full of unconventional adaptions, _Burning_ is a conundrum committed to its sense of mystery over any true resolution. It is mesmeric, and a perfectly cinematic take on a tale from one of literatures most enigmatic authors."
