Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by vacuous (Z) on December 01, 2023 at 12:15:01

If you don't like foreign films with subtitles, duck out now. Burning is a slow paced 2018 film about a triangle of romance that ends with a spectacular and disturbing finish. The lead character is an introverted country boy who finds love with a poor city girl. Could be the love of his life. Then steps in a charming and wealthy playboy who more or less steals the girl from poor young country boy. This rich guy has a Porsche, a luxury apartment, no career or job, and endless idle time for diversion. Rich guy has some kinks too. Says he likes to burn down derelict green houses just for kicks. Plot thickens when the girl vanishes without a trace. Country boy suspects rich playboy of foul play, because he finds some of the girl's possessions in playboy's apartment. So country boy starts stalking the playboy. Does this detective work in a beat-up old truck following rich guy's Porsche throughout big city Seoul. Plenty of social commentary in this film, but it's all done seamlessly with camera work. No spoiler from me about the ending. But do pay attention to the cat in this film and its name. That becomes an important piece of the plot.

Well reviewed by many print and online publications, and was up for academy award as best foreign film.