BURNING
In this thriller from Lee Chang-dong, one of the modern giants of cinema, an alienated young man begins to suspect the sinister intentions of the wealthy stranger who’s won the affections of the woman he longs for.
When unassuming Jong-su (Yoo Ah-in) runs into Hae-mi (Jeon Jong-seo), a childhood friend he barely recognizes, he is lured into her apartment where she asks if he’ll take care of her cat while she is away on an upcoming trip. They promptly make love, sparking an obsession inside Jong-su that only festers while he watches over her empty home. But, when Hae-mi returns from abroad, she is accompanied by Ben (Steven Yeun), a confident man of taste who both compels and repels Jong-su with his eccentric fixations. Caught between the new pair, Jong-su finds himself a sudden and regular third wheel in a situation he doesn’t understand, until Ben reveals a tantalizing secret that sets Jong-su on a path of irreversible consequences. Inspired by a Haruki Murakami short story and winner of the Cannes Film Festival’s FIPRESCI prize, Lee Chang-Dong’s first film in over eight years earned the highest critical ratings in the festival’s history. An unparalleled expert in narrative craftsmanship, director Lee’s approach captures a careful dance between memory, silence, and mystery, weaving a narrative spell that is nothing short of masterful.
CAST: Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun, Jun Jong-seo
All sales are final. Admission is not guaranteed after scheduled start time.
CLICK HERE to return to the 27th Philadelphia Film Festival schedule.