Review: Burning (2018)

Directed by Lee Chang-dong

Starring Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun, Jeon Jong-seo

The plot follows Jong-su, a part-time worker, who bumps into a girl who used to live in the same neighborhood as him, who asks him to look after her cat while on a trip to Africa. When back, she introduces Ben, a mysterious guy she met there, who confesses his secret hobby.

If you've seen my Instagram posts, you would know this film is one of the foreign films I really wanted to see. I finally had the chance to see the film, and all I have to say is that it blew my mind. It was absolutely fantastic.

The plot is simple, yet engaging. Based on a short story by Haruki Murakami. Burning follows somewhat of a love triangle between these three characters, well that is halfway through the film, and then the tension rises, and then you realize the film is a thriller (and a well-done thriller at that). The acting was raw and genuine, and all three of them were fantastic. The pacing is slow, but effective and filled with really well-done tension and suspense. I have to say that I was quite surprised to see the high reviews from both critics and the audience. Usually these films would be hated by the general audience, however this isn't really the case. The film is filled with symbols and messages, and it's attention to detail is incredible, and will warrant the film a few re-watches. As well as it's noticeable messages and symbolism, the film has many theories to how the events panned out and the meaning behind each symbol/character.

The cinematography was done brilliantly by Hong Kyung-pyo, and I absolutely loved the beautiful foggy scenery in Paju. The music was haunting and effective, and will stay with you after the films over. All around, the films visually stunning and the framing is great.

It is a surprise how this film hasn't been nominated for Best Foreign Film in the Academy Awards. For me, it definitely deserves a nomination. I also want to reiterate how good foreign film are last year, like wow. I've still got a few foreign films left to watch (Shoplifters, Capernaum, Cold War), but so far, all the foreign films I've seen from last year are fantastic.

In conclusion, this film completely blew my mind, and it kept me thinking long after the film's credits rolled. One of the best foreign films I have seen and definitely one of the best films of 2018. A slow burn, but one that pays off extremely well.

My rating: 9.0/10

#FilmReview #2018 #CTRecommended #2019