BURNING

BURNING (BEONING), 2018
South Korea | DCP, Color, 148' | Korean, English
Director: Chang-dong Lee
Cast: Ah-in Yoo, Steven Yeun, Jong-seo Jun

Helmed by veteran South Korean director Chang-dong Lee, Burning is a screen adaptation of a short story by Haruki Murakami. Jong-su, an aspiring writer who works as a delivery boy, runs into his childhood friend Haemi whom he doesn’t recognize at first. Later, we learn that this attractive and energetic young woman has undergone plastic surgery. After being with Jong-su, she goes on a trip to Africa. The young man can’t take his mind off Haemi, who returns from Africa with her new boyfriend, the rich and handsome Ben. But there’s something suspicious about Ben that Jong-su can’t quite put his finger on. Although it seems like a simple love triangle, Burningis a riveting production underpinned by a variety of subtexts. The film had its world premiere at Cannes.