Review Burning (2018)

some studies
Review Author

Burning (2018):

Halfway through Burning, I kept thinking that its storytelling style and pacing strongly reminded me of Haruki Murakami’s work – probably my personal favorite fiction author. It often follows the protagonist in his seemingly mundane daily routine and very little information is revealed about the few characters involved. The plot about Lee Jong-su’s new girlfriend bringing home another “friend” from vacation is just plain weird and it is (almost) entirely told from his perspective only. There is an intriguing sense of an ominous mystery boiling under every line of dialogue and a deep melancholy seeping through most scenes. The story also incorporates some almost mythical elements which blur the borders between dream and reality at times. So it was not too surprising when I was told that the movie indeed is based on a Murakami short story. Of course, it is beautifully shot – especially the countryside sequences are stunning – and the performances are excellent as well. The suspenseful chemistry between Ah-in Yoo and Steven Yeun makes the mistrust and competitive energy between their characters almost physically tangible. Burning is a mostly slow and subtle film but when it hits it hits hard.

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