Of course there are many great South Korean movies, but none have left such a unique impression on me as Burning.
It's the first Korean movie I think of when recommending one.
The inviting yet unsettling directorial style, captivating cinematography, second-to-none subtle acting specifically by Yoo Ah-in, and the chilling semi-ambiguous creepiness of certain situations, particularly the party scene(s) with Ben's friends who give off a hint of almost a secret club of... kidnappers/traffickers?
"Burning" as a title, also fits this movie in multiple ways. Burning desire, love, loss, longing, regret, frustration, dull yet sharp pain, anger, unanswered questions, lostness, and rage/retribution.
It's a very well crafted movie which brings the main character from a glazed-over state of meandering placidity, to awakened feeling, then ultimately to the final act of... well, as the title suggests. His attempts at careful tiptoeing to find the answers all get tossed asunder, and pure raw fire erupts unabated, cleansing the evil he encountered, as well as purging himself of his placidity and failure to act when it was necessary.
9 or even 10 out of 10 for this great movie.
It's the first Korean movie I think of when recommending one.
The inviting yet unsettling directorial style, captivating cinematography, second-to-none subtle acting specifically by Yoo Ah-in, and the chilling semi-ambiguous creepiness of certain situations, particularly the party scene(s) with Ben's friends who give off a hint of almost a secret club of... kidnappers/traffickers?
"Burning" as a title, also fits this movie in multiple ways. Burning desire, love, loss, longing, regret, frustration, dull yet sharp pain, anger, unanswered questions, lostness, and rage/retribution.
It's a very well crafted movie which brings the main character from a glazed-over state of meandering placidity, to awakened feeling, then ultimately to the final act of... well, as the title suggests. His attempts at careful tiptoeing to find the answers all get tossed asunder, and pure raw fire erupts unabated, cleansing the evil he encountered, as well as purging himself of his placidity and failure to act when it was necessary.
9 or even 10 out of 10 for this great movie.