Overview
The truth is all in your head.
Deliveryman Jongsu is out on a job when he runs into Hae-mi, 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…
Review
Burning is an intriguing character study. It’s beautifully shot and acted. It demands patience as it’s a long movie with really little action or suspense. It is a Korean film, taking place in South Korea, close to the North Korean border. This review will be brief because quite frankly I don’t believe it will appeal to diehard horror fans. It’s definitely got a dark streak, but nothing that would appease a true horror fan. But if you’re a fan of really mesmerizing slow burn movies, this might just be your masterpiece.
What I liked most about this story is the stark contrast of social-economical tiers clashing. There are many metaphors showcased in this movie, so it’s really an amazing movie for discussion and thinking about the deeper layers that exist here.
Personally, I’m not as connected to this movie as other reviewers. The movie creates more questions than it answers and deep-diving into its symbolism for 148 minutes just didn’t provide me with enough payoff to anoint is as a superb or masterful work of cinema. But it is a beautiful one-time experience.
Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)
