Burn Baby Burn!

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By Tom Pacak

“Do you know Bushmen in the Kalahari Desert, Africa it is said that Bushmen have two types of hungry people, little hungry and great hungry. Little hungry people are physically hungry and the great hungry is a person hungry for survival.”

The quote above is said by Shin Hae-mi (Jeon Jong-seo) a young woman searching for a purpose in life. Hunger is an energy in Lee Chang-dong’s “Burning,” a true calling card that proves Lee Chang-dong is one of the master’s of South Korean cinema. It’s everything great about foreign language films, its weird, suspenseful, and wouldn’t get made in the US.  In this mind-bender, Lee Chang-dong’s three main leads Hae-mi, Lee Jong-su (Yoo Ah-in), and Ben (the great Steven Yeun) are hungry for a meaning in life. Lee Jong-su is a lonely man trying to get by and Hae-mi wants a unique life experience that will define her. Ben’s source of hunger is too dangerous for the film’s protagonists.

Lee Jong-su lives by himself off a farm and is an aspiring writer. He has no contact with his mother and his father is in prison for an anger disorder. One day working a job, he bumps into Lee Jong-su, a young woman who claims she’s an old friend from his childhood. He doesn’t seem to remember her at all. The two go out for drinks and reminisce about old childhood memories. Despite not remembering her, Lee immediately falls for Hae-mi and the two have sex.

Hae-mi tells Lee she has plans to visit Africa in order to get a full experience on life. Once gone, Lee decides to feed her cat while she’s gone. The film gets mysterious once Hae-mi returns from her trip with Ben (Steven Yeun) a super rich bachelor who she met on her trip. Ben is no ordinary guy; he’s super loaded and extremely good looking. He drives a Porsche, lives in an expensive apartment with expensive art throughout it. Lee describes Ben as a “Great Gatsby” type billionaire, which is too far off from his actual personality. Gatsby had feelings for Daisy and became rich to impress her. Here, Ben is just a rich guy who doesn’t seem too interested in Hae-mi. When Hae-mi does the “hunger dance” she learned in Africa, Lee is amazed by her beauty and knowledge, Ben just yawns and looks unfazed. Steven Yeun’s Ben is so empty inside he may even be a sociopath. It’s rare for a foreign film to have Oscar chances when it comes to acting but I feel like Steven Yeun should be in Best Supporting Actor territory. His role proves that this Asian American actor has the talent to be a true movie star.   

Lee Chang-dong makes movies about characters that feel empty inside. In the great “Secret Sunshine,” a mother is forced to examine her faith after tragedy repeatedly knocks on her door. The mother has people in her life who care about her but the tragedies are too powerful for her to be happy. In “Burning,” Lee Chang-dong explores emptiness through these characters. Lee lives near the border of North Korea where propaganda is always coming off the speakers. He should live in constant fear but doesn't do to being fully adjusted to his isolation. Ben lives in a big apartment with nice stuff, even though he’s an empty person. One key scene that further explores Ben’s emptiness is when Lee has them over for dinner. During this scene, the three get stoned and watch the sunset. Feeling edgy, Hae-mi dances shirtless to Miles Davis (probably the film’s best scene). Again, Lee is amazed by her beauty and Ben is not.

Mystery is shown in every frame of this film. Watching this story unfold, we really never get to know what these character’s passions for life are. Lee Chang-dong keeps us at the edge of our seat questioning what the true motives of this three-person relationship is. Is it a love triangle? Is Lee being used for a more sinister plan? The curious score by Mowg, helps keep the tension rising. During the sunset, Ben tells Lee in confidence that he’s an arsonist who likes to burn greenhouses and he’ll burn one soon. Ben promises to burn one with Lee when he does.

“Burning” is a mystery that blurs the line between “what’s real” and “not real.” Hae-mi’s cat never shows up when it’s time to eat. Making the audience question if the cat even exists. The food always goes missing but where’s the cat. The same goes for Ben’s passion for burning greenhouses. Lee looks around tirelessly for the burned greenhouse but doesn’t find one. Does Ben really burn greenhouses or is it a cover up for a far more sinister crime? And to say the ending works in more than one way is an understatement. I was very intrigued.

Note: Now Playing in Theaters


Rating: 4 Stars Out of 4 Stars

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