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[2] |
Release dates | |
Running time | 148 minutes |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
| Box office | US$4.3 million[3] |
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.[4] It was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.[5][6]
Plot
 | This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (May 2018) |
Jong-su performs odd jobs in Paju, a suburban city near the Korean DMZ. One day, he comes across Hae-mi, a childhood neighbor and classmate whom he doesn't remember at first. She proposes that the two go out for dinner that night. In a 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 imminently and asks him to feed her cat while she's away. Later that night, Hae-mi and Jong-su have sex. A few days after, Hae-mi leaves for Africa.
A few weeks later, Jong-su gets a call from Hae-mi, who was stuck for three days in the Nairobi airport in 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, whom she met in Kenya during the crisis and bonded with. The three then go out for dinner. At dinner, Hae-mi recalls a sunset she witnessed while traveling in Africa. Moved by her memory, she cries and confesses that she wanted to disappear when she witnessed it. Ben mentions that he doesn't really understand people who cry and that he has never cried himself.
Sometime thereafter, Jong-su joins Hae-mi and Ben in a social gathering in a posh area of Seoul. There, Hae-mi tells the group about a dance she learned in Africa. As she begins begins to re-enact the dance to the joy of most everyone, Jong-su notices Ben, unamused.
Hanging out at Jong-su’s farm subsequently, Hae-mi recalls a childhood memory wherein Jong-su rescued her after she fell into a well near her home. After Hae-mi has fallen asleep on Jong-su’s sofa, Ben confesses a strange hobby to Jong-su. Every two months, he burns a greenhouse and notes that Jong-su's rural neighborhood is full of greenhouses. When asked when his next burning will take place, Ben mentions that it will be very soon and very close to Jong-su's place. However, in the following days, no such burning occurs.
One day, Jong-su receives a call from Hae-mi's phone in which some struggling and running can be heard. Jong-su becomes worried as Hae-mi doesn't answer any of his subsequent calls. Jong-su confronts Ben in a cafe. Ben states that Hae-mi hasn’t answered any of his calls either and assesses that given the fact that Hae-mi has no contact with her relatives nor friends, it will be difficult to find her. Visiting Ben's place a while after, Jong-su meets Ben’s new girlfriend and finds Hae-mi's watch and cat. It is at this point that Jong-su deduces that Ben may have murdered Hae-mi, realizing that Ben likely doesn’t actually burn greenhouses - but people.
The next morning, Ben meets with Jong-su in the countryside. Jong-su then proceeds to stab Ben several times, killing him. Jong-su then burns Ben’s body within Ben’s car set aflame before leaving.
Cast
- Yoo Ah-in as Jong-su
- Steven Yeun as Ben
- Jeon Jong-seo as Hae-mi
Production
When Japanese broadcaster NHK asked Korean auteur Lee Chang-dong to choose and adapt into a film a short story by Haruki Murakami.[7]
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.[8][9][10]
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.[8][10] In September 2017, the studio said that it has only brought the original motif.[11]
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.[9]
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.[12][13] 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.[14][15][16] On September 20, Steven Yeun joined the film, where he will play the role of Ben.[17][18]
Filming
Principal photography began on September 11, 2017.[19] Filming wrapped on January 30, 2018 in Paju.[20]
Release
The first film directed by Lee Chang-dong in eight years,[8] 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.[21][22] In April 2018, Burning was among the lineup of in competition entries announced for the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.[5]
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.[23]
In South Korea, Burning premiered in theaters on May 17, 2018.[24]
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).[25]
During the first weekend of its release, Burning received 220,717 admissions, placing third at the local box office.[26]
As of June 29th, 2018, the film totalized 527,907 admissions in its home country, 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 | [27] |
| Vulcan Award | Shin Joom-hee | Won | ||
| Palme d'Or | Lee Chang-dong | Nominated | [5] |
References
- ^ https://variety.com/2018/film/festivals/cannes-winner-burning-well-go-usa-1202860765/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ 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.
- ^ "'Burning' director Lee Chang-dong on his "ambiguous" Cannes Competition title".
- ^ 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.