‘Burning’ Is A Social Thriller About the Meaning of Life
by Tito W. James
After housesitting for his childhood crush, Jong-su (Ah-In Yoo) is surprised to see her return from her trip with another man. Burning is quite unlike any other Korean film I’ve ever seen. It’s best described as a social thriller about the meaning of life. The normal genre conventions of a thriller involving killers and corpses are so subdued that they may not even be real. The sense of unease that permeates the film, comes from the romantic faux pas and classist cultural clashes.
Steven Yeun plays the perfect male rival — all his words and actions ooze with a sickening amount of charm. Jong-seo Jeon‘s leading lady also does a superior job at being empathetic and unnerving. Korean films have a history of exploring social inequality within the thriller genre. In Burning, we explore selfish desires birthed from insecurity. A bold iconoclastic film that must be seen to be believed.
Burning is now streaming on Netflix.
