Burning 2

A young, struggling writer named Jong-su encounters a mysterious woman, Hae-mi, who he knew from his childhood. She reappears in his life and introduces him to Ben, a wealthy and charismatic man she met while traveling. As Jong-su gets to know Ben, he becomes increasingly unsettled by Ben's nonchalant talk of burning down greenhouses, leading him to suspect a dark secret lurking beneath Ben's polished exterior.

Burning received widespread critical acclaim for its masterful direction, haunting atmosphere, and compelling performances, particularly from Yoo Ah-in and Steven Yeun. It was lauded as a nuanced exploration of class, alienation, and rage, though some found its ambiguity frustrating.

• Praised for its slow-burn tension and unsettling psychological depth.
• Yoo Ah-in's performance as the conflicted protagonist was a standout.
• The film's ambiguous ending left a lasting, thought-provoking impression.

Google audience: Audience reviews highlight the film's captivating mystery and the intense performances of the main cast. Many found the slow build-up and unresolved questions to be a source of intrigue, though a portion of viewers expressed frustration with the lack of clear answers.

Won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and was South Korea's submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

The film is loosely based on the short story 'Barn Burning' from Haruki Murakami's collection 'The Elephant Vanishes'.