Burning (Korean Movie)

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Movie: Burning
Revised romanization: Beoning
Hangul: 버닝
Director: Lee Chang-Dong
Writer: Haruki Murakami (original short story), Lee Chang-Dong, Oh Jung-Mi
Producer: Ok Kwang-Hee, Lee Joon-Dong, Lee Chang-Dong
Cinematographer: Hong Kyung-Pyo
World Premiere: May 16, 2018 (Cannes Film Festival)
Release Date: May 17, 2018
Runtime: 148 min.
Genre: Mystery
Distributor: CGV Arthouse
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea

Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©

Jong-Soo (Yoo Ah-In) wants to become a writer, but he currently works part-time as a delivery man for a distribution company. While on the job, he runs into his childhood friend Hae-Mi (Jeon Jong-Seo). They grew up in a small rural town. Later that night, they meet for drinks. Hae-Mi tells Jong-Soo that she will be traveling to Africa soon and asks if he can stop by her apartment and feed her cat while she is gone.

Later, Jong-Soo receives a phone call from Hae-Mi asking if he can pick her up at the airport the next day. At the airport, Hae-Mi introduces Ben (Steven Yeun) to Jong-Soo. Hae-Mi and Ben met while in Arica. Soon, Ben tells Jong-Soo about his hobby.

Notes

Based on short story “Naya wo Yaku” ("Barn Burning") from short story collection “Hotaru” by Haruki Murakami (published July, 1984 by Shinchosha).
Gang Dong-Won was first offered the second male lead role, but declined.
Filming began September 11, 2017 and finished January 30, 2018.
"Burning" screened at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival in the "In Competition" section.

Cast



Yoo Ah-In	Steven Yeun	Jun Jong-Seo
Jong-Soo	Ben	Hae-Mi

Additional Cast Members:

Kim Soo-Kyung - Yeon-Joo
Choi Seung-Ho - Yong-Suk
Moon Sung-Geun - Attorney
Min Bok-Gi - Judge
Hwang Eun-Hoo - Eun-Hoo (Ben's friend)
Ban Hye-Ra - Jong-Soo's mother
Lee Bong-Ryun - Hae-Mi's older sister
Lee Young-Suk - shop owner
Jang Won-Hyung - Won-Hyung
Ok Ja-Yeon - Ja-Yeon
Jeon Suk-Chan - Suk-Chan
Yoon Dae-Yul - Dae-Yul
Cha Mi-Kyeong - Hae-Mi's mom
Park Seung-Tae - grandmother building owner
Bae Min-Jung - temporary shop model/dancer
Yoo Jung-Ho - logistics center employee
Song Duk-Ho - logistics center part-time employee applicant
Lee Soon-Bok - Ben's gradnmother
Jo Yong-Joon - janitor at Ben's apartment
Lee Joong-Ok - patrolman
Lee Ye-Bit - little girl playing in airport
Kim Hyun-Woo - man in club with woman
Jeon Hyun-Soo - man in club with woman
Shin Ji-Yeon

Trailers

Awards

2019 (55th) BaekSang Arts Awards - May 1, 2019
- Art Award (Hong Kyung-Pyo)
2018 (55th) Daejong Film Awards - October 22, 2018
- Best Film

Comments

Barbara May 28 2023 5:09 pm Terrifying. In-freaking-credible. I’m not sure what people are not seeing here, but isn’t that the whole point?

Jen. Mar 05 2022 9:08 am Literally the kind of movies that people think it’s interesting and philosophical but it’s totally just a waist of time and sight.

keihr Feb 02 2022 4:34 am This one is just not for everyone, requires patience, and deep analysis for its open ending. Slow and long, but it's good cause the actors did great portraying their characters. If you're not into slow realistic movies with an open ending, this is not for you.

Anne Jul 29 2021 12:55 pm This is such a boring movie!! The acting was good but the story was so flat. What a waste of my 2 hours :'(

I love Haruhi Murakami but this one legit dragged too much in too many scenes...

Celine Sep 05 2020 8:27 am Like i wanted to something happen but nothing -__-

whynot Jul 07 2020 12:31 pm the more I watch this movie the more I understand why it made such a deep impression on western critics. it is deep, gorgeously acted and shoot, and has so many nuances .... this is truly a masterpiece. it is slow and slowly and subtly growing on you, drawing you to immerse in it in the most subtle and deep way. however, do not watch it if you like dramas like DOTS, Boys over Flowers, Secret Garden.

Oliveoyl Apr 03 2020 4:22 am Agree with AMAW's comment below, yeah I enjoy this movie because of Yoo Ah In's acting skill. The story is flat even though there's some part which can be escalated to create some emotion spikes, but it let passed.

sera Oct 13 2019 5:28 pm Slow, thematic, and masterful filming.

caca Jul 16 2019 8:22 am i'm falling in love with jong soo.

whynot Jul 11 2019 6:49 am this movie is really good. slow indeed but not a dull moment. the acting is amazing. i wanted to see the movie for yoo ah in (i think he is an amazing actor) but was deeply impressed with both Jun Jong-Seo ans Steven Yeun. In fact I was so impressed with Steven Yeun acting that I watched The walking dead just to see him in another movie. So, this movie is wonderful but like most of YAI's films, not the usual korean drama.

Jinjoo Jul 04 2019 9:35 pm i always like Yoo ah in & his projects were quite outstanding like this one! it's kinda baffling though what happened to the girl hae-mi i believe we just hv to conclude it ourselves that she was killed by Ben? oh well still wonder why this made it to Cannes? i may be wrong but it's really not that great a story!

dhikris Feb 18 2019 11:05 am I'm glad this movie has different ending than the short's, less tragic

N.K Feb 09 2019 12:08 am @amaw It was like japanese style because it was base on the story of Japanese writer Haruki Murakami. It will ruin if it adapt into korean style. Not for normal k- movie fans.

amaw Jan 19 2019 5:10 pm This was like a Japanese movie. Unlikely for you to like it if you are accustomed to other Korean movies. It's too long and there's a lot of almost idle moments. It's like a simple story stretched for so long and made vague for the artistic thrust.

There's no roller coaster of emotions. There's even no climax, arguably. I'm not sure about the resolution. There's mystery but it's not the engaging kind. It's a movie created for the solid fans of the actors.

Xbylingo Jan 11 2019 4:32 pm does anyone know what track is playing when they visit the club?

Constanza Nov 24 2018 4:11 pm I went to the movies just to see another amazing Yoo Ah In performance, but then I was blown away by Steven Yeun acting. I think he deserve more recognition. Before this movie he was just the Walking Dead guy to me, now he is a great actor whose works I will make sure to follow

Something in the rain Oct 25 2018 12:44 am This movie will be in cinamas in Romania on 28 october and im going with a korean girl that i just meet at a kpop dance contest. Was she's so cute~~just like in dramas

anonimo Oct 17 2018 8:33 am well done...I don't get anything make me wonder with this movie, first, in beginning I think this really interesting, after that looks bored.. the story is good, creates a sense of mood and place and some scene made deep feel.. but in the end want to make audience ask what happened?!, this only waste time..

YoAhIn lovers Oct 03 2018 9:11 am I dont know but. This movie is quite weird. I'm still confused T.T

Chamufan Sep 15 2018 7:03 pm Just learnt that this is coming to UK (and likely also Irish) cinemas on 1 February 2019! ?

http://www.thunderbirdreleasing.com/burning

Migthy Thor Aug 27 2018 6:10 am Yoo Ah-In is one of the brilliant young Korean actor there is today. Most of his projects are tragic or sad in ending but very deep in essence. And I read from the comments of the site I watched from, is that most did not appreciate this film. Well, this movie is not the typical serial killer movie that is full of action and has a fast pacing. the writer of this movie took another route that is not common and typical of a serial killer movie. One has to have brain and patience and passion to be able to appreciate this movie. If you lack the ability to be creative and think and analyze then this film is not for you. This movie is deep and requires a certain level of IQ and EQ.

Aleksa Jun 06 2018 7:55 am Woaaa I need to watch this asap^^

gizibe May 17 2018 1:46 am 홍식!!! I can hardly wait!

nandar May 14 2018 11:21 am Yoo ah in and Steven yeun in Murakami's story? WOW

kira Apr 29 2018 2:56 pm yoo ah in i miss u soo much im so excited to this movie omg???????

Huan Apr 24 2018 5:34 am Wow is it from the short story by haruki murakami?

JP Apr 19 2018 11:45 am I'm happy that Steven Yeun is in this movie! Good for him! Looking forward to watching it.

Selvinaz Apr 05 2018 12:24 am Tell the trut!! Woow mysterious. Cant wait, his acting is so Good. Soundtrack will be Great. Oppa fighting.

Finally2 Sep 06 2017 10:06 am Oops, accidentally added "???" on that previous comment

Also, I actually just realized who Steven Yeun is. This movie is gonna be a big hit :D :D

Finally Sep 06 2017 10:01 am Can't wait to be able to see Yoo Ah In perform again. ???

amy Nov 14 2016 8:57 am I hope the female lead is Song hye kyo. This definetely for song hye kyo *Finger Cross*

Burning (Korean Movie)

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Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©

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