I am not a fan of vague and abstract films so I was worried that this would be disappointing in spite of the great cast. The pace is super slow, and the story is vague in many ways, but it's also very interesting, and surprisingly suspenseful. I can definitely say I had no idea where the story was heading, and the ending definitely made me feel uncertain but satisfied. "Burning" is the kind of movie that will haunt you with questions, and performances that certainly are noteworthy.

I decided to watch this after seeing Jeon Jong Seo in "The Call" and as Hae Mi I can definitely see how this performance would get her noticed. Hae Mi is an awkward free-spirit, seductive, eccentric, and needy... and she is on a quest to find some meaning and inspiration in her life. Jeon Jong Seo nails all of that in her performance, and I can now confidently add her to my list of favorite actors already. Another favorite actor of mine is Yoo Ah In, who is brilliant as usual as Lee Jong Soo. Jong Soo is pretty similar to other roles he has played (a loner with pent-up aggression is what he does so well), but that doesn't make his performance less memorable. I love how he conveys so much without relying on dialogue. The chemistry these two have may not be what is normally meant by chemistry but it's what carries the intensity of this whole movie. The trio is completed by Steven Yeun as Ben, who is great at being mysterious and charming and rounds out the main cast well. Maybe it's because I haven't seen him in Korean movies or shows before, but he seemed a little more out of place... but that may have been on purpose. His performance was definitely great as well, along with his nuanced smile, and the dynamic of three of them together was enough to keep me interested alone. The third wheel energy is strong, but think less love triangle and more "what in the world is going on and why is it making me so uncomfortable?".

The story however is what I struggled with, and not just because of the slow-burning pace, but more because certain moments felt tedious. Visually it's beautiful, but not much "happens" in many of the early scenes. There are also some very graphic, almost gratuitously graphic sexual and nude scenes, that seemed too much for me when I couldn't figure out what the story actually was. It's about an hour and a half into the film when things finally start to come together, and the real suspense kicked in for me. That may seem too long for a lot of people, but I think the payoff is worth it.

Would I watch this again? Absolutely, and I already did! This is the type of film where knowing the end changes how you see the rest of it completely! It's also the type of story that will keep you wondering. During the first viewing I could feel how long the film was, but the second viewing dragged much less, and I wanted to analyze every moment. The end is still somewhat open to interpretation, but not in a lazy way that sacrifices storytelling for a cool shot, which I hate. I saw it more as us "knowing" the end without it having to be said, but there still is room for doubt or different perspectives, and that's what makes the story so haunting. What the story does best is play with the theme that some things can be believed in without being seen or confirmed, and also how perspectives can be totally different using everything from pantomime, a well, a greenhouse, to a random cat, and letting that prime us for a very suspenseful premise.

Overall, this movie has an arthouse feel, but it really is a thoughtprovoking mystery. I can't say too much more without spoilers, but if you're patient, the story unfolds in a captivating way. Now I am even interested in reading the story it's based on, although I'm sure this stands more on its own. I never read any Haruki Murakami before, but this definitely made me curious to see what the original story is like. I also may watch more Lee Chang Dong films if they are this interesting. This film took me on an intensely interesting journey that will stay with me for a while. Still, with the great direction, great performances, and an intensely suspenseful plot, I can see "Burning" being too extreme for mass appeal. I was really ready to hate this movie right before it sucked me in, and I'm glad I gave it a chance. The more time passes the more I like it... I changed my rating multiple times... this is a slow burning that stayed with me, and I feel like the longer the emotional fire burns the higher a rating it deserves. The film may not be exactly perfect but the title is.