Burning

Burning is a psychological thriller film released in South Korea in 2018. The film is based on Haruki Murakami's short story "Barn Burning" from The Elephant Vanishes, with elements inspired by William Faulkner's story of the same name. The plot revolves around a young delivery man named Jong-su (Yoo) who runs into his childhood friend Hae-mi (Jeon). They soon meet an enigmatic young man named Ben (Yeun), whom Jong-su suspects and suspects Hae-mi is in danger.

The film had its world premiere on May 16, 2018, at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d'Or and won the FIPRESCI International Critics' Prize. It received almost universal critical acclaim, owing to its unsettling atmosphere, ambiguous narrative, and performances. It was chosen as South Korea's entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards, and while it was not nominated, it was the first Korean film to make it to the final nine-film shortlist. Some critics consider it to be one of the best films of the twenty-first century.

Detailed information:

Directed by: Lee Chang-dong

Starring: Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun, Jeon Jong-seo

Release dates: May 16, 2018

Running time: 148 minutes