Burning (2018 film)
| Burning | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Lee Chang-dong |
| Screenplay by | Oh Jung-mi Lee Chang-dong |
| Produced by | Ok Gwang-hee |
| Starring | Yoo Ah-in Steven Yeun Jeon Jong-seo |
| Cinematography | Hong Kyung-pyo |
| Edited by | Kim Hyeon Kim Da-won |
| Music by | Mowg |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | CGV Arthouse[1] |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 148 minutes |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
| Box office | US$4.3 million[2] |
Burning is a 2018 South Korean mystery drama film directed by Lee Chang-dong. The film stars Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun, and Jeon Jong-seo. The film is based on the short story "Barn Burning" by Haruki Murakami.[3] It was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.[4][5]
Plot
 | This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (May 2018) |
Jong-su (Yoo Ah-in) is living from odd jobs in Paju, a suburban city near the Korean DMZ. One day, he comes across Hae-mi (Jeon Jong-seo), a childhood neighbor and classmate whom he doesn't remember at first. She proposes to have a drink the very same night. In the restaurant, Hae-mi confesses that she liked Jong-su while she was younger, but that he always ignored her. She tells him about her plan to travel to Africa and asks him to feed her cat while she's away.
She asks him to come to her place the next day to show him how to feed the cat. At her place, Hae-mi mentions that the sun comes into her room only once a day. They have sex. While having sex, Jong-su stares at the sunray Hae-mi mentioned.
Jong-su goes to the courthouse where his father is being judged for violent behavior. We learn that he has anger disorder. Once the session over, Jong-su meets with his dad's lawyer (Moon Sung-keun) who asks him what he does for a living. He says that he's a literature graduate who wants to write novels. The lawyer condescendingly suggests him to write about his father, who had a stormy life.
Jong-su arrives at his father place, that he has to care for during his absence. The place is shabby, adjacent to a barn where Jong-su has to feed a unique cow.
The following days, Jong-su goes to Hae-mi's place to feed the cat, who still doesn't show up but whose presence is attested by feces in its litter. Looking at the sunray and remembering his moment with Hae-mi, Jong-su pleasures himself.
A few weeks later, Jong-su gets a call from Hae-mi, who was stuck for three days in the Nairobi airport, Kenya, following a terror warning. She asks him to come get her at the airport the next day.
At the airport, Hae-mi shows up with Ben (Steven Yeun), whom she met in Kenya during the crisis and bound with. In Jong-su father's dirty and old truck, they go to have dinner. Hae-mi remembers a sunset she witnessed while traveling in Africa. Very moved by her memory, she cries and confesses she wanted to disappear when she witnessed it. Ben mentions that he doesn't really understand people who cry and that he never really cried himself. He also tells Jong-su that he doesn't have a job, that his job is just having fun. Ben's friend comes to the restaurant to give him the keys to his Porsche. Outside, Hae-mi chooses to go in Ben's Porsche rather than Jong-su dirty truck.
Ben invites Jong-su and Hae-mi to his place for some pasta. While using the bathroom, Jong-su finds a vanity case full of make-up, casting doubt on the nature of Hae-mi and Ben's relationship. While smoking outside, Jong-su expresses to Hae-mi his doubt about Ben's activities, being rich as such a young age.
Jong-su and Hae-mi join Ben and his friend in a social meeting in a posh area of Seoul. While Jong-su is obviously ill at ease with people from a different social background, Hae-mi doesn't seem to care and tells the group about a dance she learned in Africa. The group seems amused, somewhat at her expense. While Hae-mi re-enacts the dance, Jong-su looks at Ben, who yawns.
Some time after, while cleaning the barn, Jong-su gets a call from Hae-mi, who is on his way to his place with Ben. Upon arrival, Hae-mi remembers a childhood memory where Jong-su rescued her after she fell into a well near her place. The three of them then engage in a pot-smoking session where Hae-mi starts a dance on Miles Davis' "Ascenseur pour l'Echafaud". While dancing in front of the sunset, Hae-mi starts to cry. She passes out on Jong-su's couch. Ben and Jong-su pursue the discussion outside. Ben confesses a strange hobby to Jong-su. Every two months, he burns a greenhouse. Jong-su's rural neighborhood is full of greenhouses. When asked when will be his next burning, Ben mentions that the next one will be very soon and very close to Jong-su's place. When Jong-su confesses his love for Hae-mi, Ben laughs. Hae-mi wakes up, likely to have heard Jong-su's confession. Ben and Hae-mi leaves Jong-su's farm.
The following days, Jong-su wakes up early every morning and runs methodically around his neighborhood to see if Ben burned a greenhouse. However, and despite what Ben said, nothing seems to be out of the ordinary. Jong-su also asks around about Hae-mi's well story, but nobody seems to remember any well.
Jong-su gets a call from Hae-mi's phone. Some struggling and running can be heard over the phone. Jong-su becomes worried as Hae-mi doesn't answer any of his subsequent calls.
Jong-su starts to follow Ben in and around Seoul. He confronts him in a cafe. He asks Ben if he really burned a greenhouse like he said he will. Ben tells Jong-su that he burned one a day or two after his visit to Jong-su's farm. Ben new girlfriend joins the two men. As they exit the cafe, Ben mentions that Hae-mi once confessed that she really liked Jong-su. When asked about her whereabouts, Ben answers that she does not answer his call either and that she disappeared, like smoke and that giving that she has no contact with her relatives nor friends, it will be hard to find her.
Jong-su meets his mom after she called him for the first time in 16 years, having left the family after one of the rage outbursts of her husband. In debt, she tries to sound him out for money. Jong-su asks her about the well. She remembers that there was indeed a well near Hae-mi's place.
As Jong-su camps in front of Ben's place during a following session, Ben catches him and invites him in for a home party with his friends. Once inside, Ben searches the bathroom and find Hae-mi's watch. In the house, Jong-su also notices a cat that was not here during his first visit. When Ben's new girlfriend enters the house, the cat runs out. The three looks for the cat in the parking lot. When Jong-su calls him by the name of Hae-mi's cat, the cat runs right away in his arms.
At the party, Jong-su's new girlfriend tells anecdotes about her low profile job at a duty-free shop in Incheon Airport. Like earlier with Hae-mi, Ben yawns, which Jong-su notices. Jong-su leaves the place, now convinced that Ben killed Hae-mi.
The next morning, Ben waits for Jong-su in the countryside. Jong-su seems to have told him that he will bring Hae-mi. Jong-su arrives on the site and stabs Ben several times, killing him. He puts him back in his car, strips naked, throws his clothes in the car and sets it on fire before leaving in his truck.
Cast
- Yoo Ah-in as Jong-su
- Steven Yeun as Ben
- Jeon Jong-seo as Hae-mi
Production
Pre-production
Developed as the work of the international project which was based on the novels of Haruki Murakami. It had been set to begin in November 2016, but was held up by a dispute between Murakami and NHK, which owns the rights to many Murakami works.[6][7][8]
Writing
Based on the short story Barn Burning written by Haruki Murakami. In October 2016, however, Lee said, "it is a story about young people in today’s world. When they think of their lives and the world, it must feel like a mystery", at the Busan International Film Festival.[6][8] In September 2017, the studio said that it has only brought the original motif.[9]
Casting
In 2016, it was known that Gang Dong-won and Yoo Ah-in will feature in the film, but an official announcement was not made.[7]
On September 05, 2017, it was announced that Yoo Ah-in has been confirmed for the role of Jong-su, a pure and sensitive young man who tries to solve a mystery surrounding the love of his life.[10][11] Three days later, newcomer Jun Jong-seo is cast for the role of Hae-mi who is the hometown friend of Jong-su and the girl he loves. Jun was plucked from auditions which began in August.[12][13][14] On September 20, Steven Yeun joined the film, where he will play the role of Ben.[15][16]
Filming
Principal photography began on September 11, 2017.[17] Filming wrapped on January 30, 2018 in Paju.[18]
Release
The first film directed by Lee Chang-dong in eight years,[6] Burning was widely tipped by film critics and insiders to be an in competition entry at the upcoming 2018 Cannes Film Festival. Lee's 2007 film Secret Sunshine and 2010 film Poetry both premiered as in competition entries at the Cannes Film Festival.[19][20] In April 2018, Burning was among the lineup of in competition entries announced for the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.[4]
The film was sold to more than 100 countries and territories at the Marché du Film in Cannes Film Festival. This includes Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Greece, Poland and Turkey.[21]
In South Korea, Burning premiered in theaters on May 17, 2018.[22]
Reception
On its opening day in South Korea, Burning attracted 52,324 viewers in total, ranking second at the box office behind Deadpool 2 (248,904 viewers).[23]
During the first weekend of its release, Burning received 220,717 admissions, placing third at the local box office.[24]
As of June 29th, 2018, the film totalized 527,907 admissions, ahead of Poetry (218,898 admissions), Peppermint Candy (290,352 admissions) and Green Fish (163,655 admissions) but behind Secret Sunshine (1,604,439 admissions) and Oasis (537,068 admissions).
Accolades
| Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Cannes Film Festival | FIPRESCI Prize | Burning | Won | [25] |
| Vulcan Award | Shin Joom-hee | Won | ||
| Palme d'Or | Lee Chang-dong | Nominated | [4] |
References
- ^ Noh, Jean (May 23, 2018). "Cannes jury grid hit 'Burning' scores key deals including UK, Japan and Spain". Screen International. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- ^ "Beoning (2018)". The Numbers.
- ^ "A Korean twist to a Murakami tale". Korea JoongAng Daily. May 5, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Cannes Lineup Includes New Films From Spike Lee, Jean-Luc Godard". Variety. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
- ^ "LEE Chang-dong Returns to Cannes Competition with BURNING". Korean Film Biz Zone. April 23, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Lee Chang-dong Lights Up Haruki Murakami Adaptation 'Burning'". Variety. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ a b "LEE Chang-dong Announces New Project at BIFF". KOFIC. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ a b TongTongTv 통통영상 (10 October 2016). "이창동·허우 샤오시엔·고레에다 히로카즈 '아시아 영화 거장의 만남' (부산국제영화제, BIFF, 아시아영화의 연대를 말하다) [통통영상]" – via YouTube.
- ^ "유아인 '버닝', 하루키 원작 '헛간을 태우다'는 어떤 내용인가". Mydaily (in Korean). 22 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "이창동 신작 '버닝' 유아인 출연 확정…9월 크랭크인[공식]". The Daily Sports (in Korean). 5 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "Yoo Ah-in joins cast of Lee Chang-dong film". Korea Joongang Daily. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "Director Lee to release 'Burning' next year". Korea Joongang Daily. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "[공식] 신예 전종서, 이창동 신작 '버닝' 파격 캐스팅…유아인과 호흡". The Sports Chosun (in Korean). 6 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- ^ "Newcomer JEON Jong-seo Joins YOO Ah-in on LEE Chang-dong Project". KOFIC. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "Steven Yeun to Join Yoo Ah-in's 'Burning'". SBS Star. 21 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "'Burning' Star Steven Yeun Gets Role He's 'Been Waiting For'". Variety. May 16, 2018.
- ^ "스티븐 연, 유아인 이어 이창동 신작 '버닝' 합류". The Daily Sports Seoul (in Korean). 20 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "Beo-ning". KOBIZ. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
- ^ "Lee Chang-dong's latest film, 'Burning,' billed as possible Cannes lineup". Yonhap News Agency. 25 March 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ "'Burning' Teaser: Filmmaker Lee Chang-Dong Is Back With His First Film In 7 Years". The Playlist. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ "Lee Chang-dong's 'Burning' sold to over 100 countries at Cannes". Yonhap News Agency. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-05-29.
- ^ "Lee Chang-dong's 'Burning' to hit screens". koreatimes. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ "KoBiz - Korean film, news, actor, movie, cinema, location & Korean Film Archive". Korean Film Biz Zone.
- ^ Shim Sun-ah (May 21, 2018). "(LEAD) 'Deadpool 2' takes down 'Infinity War' at box office". Yonhap News Agency.
- ^ "Cannes: 'Burning' Wins Fipresci Top Prize". Variety. May 19, 2018.