In the South Korean psychological mystery, Burning (2018), director Lee Chang-dong presents a riveting psychological mystery that captures the audience as it slowly unfolds. The stellar screenplay, cinematography, and performances create an experience that leaves the viewers confused, disturbed and haunted. Lee (Yoo Ah-in), an aspiring writer, comes across an old friend, Shin (Jeon Jong-seo), who eventually introduces him to Ben (Steven Yeun), her handsome, rich friend. As the three of them converse, eat, dance and smoke, the movie takes an unexpected turn and from that point on, the audience is in the hands of Lee Chang-dong's brilliant storytelling.
Hong Kyung Pyo seasons this art house film with his transformative cinematography. Pyo-who has worked on films like Parasite, Snowpiercer, and The Wailing-translates Chang-dong’s masterful storytelling into a beautiful looking film with aesthetically pleasing shots that you won’t soon forget. The cinematography perfectly complements this twisted tale with its pretty yet hypnotizing composition.
The film opens up with a sequence taken in one long shot that immediately immerses the viewer into the world. The sequence starts with a tight shot on the end of an alley wall where smoke begins to appear. A man walks from behind the wall, revealing he was smoking, and starts to walk down the street in a crowded, urban town. From the opening shot alone, we already know that our protagonist shelters himself from society, smokes (hinting at an internal struggle), and is of low class, given his clothes and where he is. This is the cinematography that perfectly allows the viewer to identify certain aspects of the plot from a visual standpoint.
The introduction of Steven Yeun’s character is abrupt yet propelling. We quickly see the dynamic change between Lee and Shin’s characters as Ben enters the scene but this dynamic fluctuates throughout the film. Steven Yeun gives a brilliant performance by playing his character as subtle and slick at the same time. The first scene of all three of them together is at an airport where they meet up. As they walk toward the exit to leave, Ben’s character walks in between Lee and Shin’s characters, signifying an interruption between their relationship. The disconnect between Lee and Shin that Ben brings with him is where the movie’s conflict starts from. As the narrative develops throughout the film, we learn more about Ben’s power, morals, and habits.
While this film manages to be suspenseful and intense, it does so in a quiet manner. The small dialogue allows for most of the storytelling to be visual. It also allows for more intimacy between the audience and the characters as quietness brings our attention to characters as people, not as words. This is not a movie that spoon feeds the viewer information. Lee Chang-dong makes the audience work for the answers. Most of the third act is spent in quietness to allow the viewers to process what is unfolding before their eyes.
In a scene where the three of them smoke pot at Lee’s childhood farmhouse, Shin starts to strip and dance as she stares off into the sunset. The scene is a four minute long shot that again immerses the viewer into the scene. The camera follows Shin as she waves her hands in the air and dances in front of the beautiful blue, orange skyline that makes for one of the best shots in the movie. Jazz music comes in, contributing to the odd yet relaxing scene.
In his previous works, director Lee Chang-dong has tackled heavy topics such as oppression, the victimization of women, and the hopelessness that young people feel. His dark and heavy tones as an artists clearly show in Burning. This movie gives the audience a load of interpretative characters, plot, and meaning. What does this film say about class? What does it say about obsession? Is this film about toxic masculinity and the oppression of women?
Lee Chang-dong denies the viewer of a satisfying end. He leaves the audience with an interpretative story with no definitive answer or finish. After all, does love ever end? Does obsession ever end? Does conflict ever end or does it just keep burning?
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