Ironically, "Burning" is... Cold. It's a cold depiction of a set of events. It could - and should - have been more emotional, more impactful. It should've pulled on some heartstrings, but it didn't. "Burning" is a slow-burner (yeah, again with the pun. I know it ain't even funny, but it's true, so don't judge me ...) and that in itself isn't a problem because it does use its time meaningfully. However, it's not meaningful in the way it should have been to make the way things played out worth your while. The movie starts off much like a simple drama, but delves into a picturesque character study sort of film. Still using the same methods of direction, the movie then morphs into a mystery-thriller. (The mystery happens because, as character study, the film simply shows us hints of what is on the mind of the character, but with too many hints it allows anything to be interpreted; therefore, creating mystery). The looking-from-afar style makes it impossible to connect emotionally when the thriller is at its full-blown sequence, especially when the motives for said tension to escalate were disregarded to begin with. It's actually more confusing than infuriating. When you realise: "Oh, so that happened..." you're left more than a little underwhelmed.
"Beoning" is beautifully shot and perfectly written. There's nothing I would change about that, neither would I'd want the acting to be any different. I just question the directors choices, as it could've allowed a emotionally devastating masterpiece to exist.
About all the social-economic-gender-politics nonsense some people see in this movie, I can't say for sure that it wasn't Chang-Dong Lee's exact thoughts on this whole movie. However, you'll see that exactly what I said earlier about the construction the plot being too impersonal is what allowed these people to see whatever they wanted in the cold-hard presented in the movie. Sure, Lee Jong-su's narrative can't be trusted. Sure, I considered it all to be a figment of his imagination. But let's be realistic here for a moment: how many movies have already done that kind of plot twist? It's, honestly, quite idiotic. It would have too many plot-holes. Sometimes simple is best, and otherwise wouldn't work anyways, so why consider all the other possibilities? The movie is what it is. Simple and straightforward. Whatever else you see there is just you doing what you thought the protagonist was doing; it's you projecting your own fantasies and beliefs into this movie. But then again, I don't know what Chang-Dong Lee was thinking when he made this movie. It could be that the ambiguity is there to have this exact kind of impact.
Nonetheless, I believe movies shouldn't be political statements. A film should be an art form, and art should be felt. Doesn't stop it from having social commentary of some sort, however "Beoning" failed to make me feel just about anything, so, despite having a cast of enormous talent and having hit all the right marks on the technical aspects, it failed to do what matters most; it failed to carry emotions with it.
"Beoning" is beautifully shot and perfectly written. There's nothing I would change about that, neither would I'd want the acting to be any different. I just question the directors choices, as it could've allowed a emotionally devastating masterpiece to exist.
About all the social-economic-gender-politics nonsense some people see in this movie, I can't say for sure that it wasn't Chang-Dong Lee's exact thoughts on this whole movie. However, you'll see that exactly what I said earlier about the construction the plot being too impersonal is what allowed these people to see whatever they wanted in the cold-hard presented in the movie. Sure, Lee Jong-su's narrative can't be trusted. Sure, I considered it all to be a figment of his imagination. But let's be realistic here for a moment: how many movies have already done that kind of plot twist? It's, honestly, quite idiotic. It would have too many plot-holes. Sometimes simple is best, and otherwise wouldn't work anyways, so why consider all the other possibilities? The movie is what it is. Simple and straightforward. Whatever else you see there is just you doing what you thought the protagonist was doing; it's you projecting your own fantasies and beliefs into this movie. But then again, I don't know what Chang-Dong Lee was thinking when he made this movie. It could be that the ambiguity is there to have this exact kind of impact.
Nonetheless, I believe movies shouldn't be political statements. A film should be an art form, and art should be felt. Doesn't stop it from having social commentary of some sort, however "Beoning" failed to make me feel just about anything, so, despite having a cast of enormous talent and having hit all the right marks on the technical aspects, it failed to do what matters most; it failed to carry emotions with it.