Enthralling, haunting, and raw. South Korean director Lee Chang-Dong's first film in almost a decade has impressed critics and film lovers alike with a hypnotic tale set at an agonizingly real-time pace. After receiving the FIPRESCI award as well as the Vulcain prize for art direction at the 71st Cannes Film Festival, word on the street is Lee might be the one to get his home country their first Oscar nomination.
The film follows Jong-Su (portrayed by Yoo Ah-In), a college graduate and uninspired writer who works odd jobs while residing at his father’s farmhouse in rural Paju. On the job one day, he runs into an old neighbor Haemi (Jeon Jong-Seo), who he falls in love with before she leaves on a spontaneous trip to Africa. Upon her return, she introduces Jong-Su to Ben (Steven Yeun), a fellow Korean she met during her travels who is visibly wealthy and half-bored throughout the time they spend together. Ben confides in Jong-Su that he has a habit of burning greenhouses once every two months, and has already located his next target. Haemi soon disappears and Jong-Su spirals into obsession.
Lee’s inspiration for the film was a roughly 10-page short story written by best-selling Japanese author Haruki Murakami titled “Barn Burning” from his book The Elephant Vanishes. Being a novelist himself, Lee instead of looking for the gaps the original story may have had, he instead took his own interpretation of it, incorporated his directorial style, and expanded on it to create a haunting 2.5 hour script.
As a former politician, Lee brings forth thematic elements that ring true for a lot of working class individuals. There are issues of class rampant in his works and has now paired that with what he has found to be the anger of youth. In an interview with Los Angeles Times, Lee states, “What I pay attention to is the anger of young people. Youngsters don’t understand why they don’t have a future or hope. They don’t have a specific target for this anger.” (Chang, Justin. “Director Lee Chang-Dong and Actor Steven Yeun on the Profound Mysteries of 'Burning'.” Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2018) Jong-Su’s character in the film may strike a chord with young audiences especially resonating with that type of anger present in today’s society.
Murakami’s story was originally published in The New Yorker back in 1992, so it’s no surprise the film would also find a place in New York Film Festival’s line-up with a special appearance by Korean-American actor Steven Yeun who plays Ben in the movie. During a brief Q&A, Yeun discussed Lee Chang-Dong’s immense patience and trust in his actors’ own abilities to develop their characters. Yeun also went on to talk about how even with Hollywood’s emerging diversity, he would’ve never had the opportunity to play a role like this if it were an American film due to the stereotypes and “boxes” actors of color are still struggling to crawl out of.
Burning hit $4.2 million at the box-office in Korea upon its initial release in May and premieres in North America later this fall which may have ticket sales helmed by its now present Oscar-nom buzz. With no prior South Korean nomination to date, the patriotic pressure is on for Lee Chang-Dong.
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