Review on Burning

    The movie adaptation of burning was very interesting because it continues the story from where Murakami left off in his short story. Had the movie been a one-to-one adaptation, the story should've ended after Haemi disappeared. However, it continues on and depicts the impact Haemi's disappearance had on the main character. After Haemi disappears, the main character begins stalking Ben, because he suspects that he is involved with the disappearance of Haemi. I think both the main character and I were shocked at Ben living a normal life with a new girl and seems unaffected by the disappearance. To the main character, Haemi was basically everything to him in his empty life, and someone he could relate to in a way, as Haemi suffers from the same emptiness. The MC seeing how Ben casually mention Haemi has no money and is probably having a hard time, and how Ben replicates his toying behavior to the new girl as he did to Haemi made the MC realize that someone like Haemi, who is everything to him is just a replaceable toy in Ben's eyes. I think this along with finding Haemi's pink watch in Ben's bathroom made the MC determined to murder Ben. The movie in itself is open-ended in rather or not Ben murdered Haemi, as it doesn't specifically state if Ben did it or not. I think one thing that may support Ben's innocence is the fact that he agreed to meet the MC and Haemi at a remote place in the final scene. If Ben had killed Haemi, he would've been suspicious by the fact the MC offered him to join him and Haemi. However, I interpreted this scene as an overconfidence of Ben. Ben if not earlier, most likely realized the MC had figured out his crime when he sent the invitation. However, Ben believes that his influence and wealth will make the MC not be able to do anything to him, as the MC was submissive to Ben's offers in the past (Smoking Marijuana, joining dinner part and joining him at the cafe with Haemi, letting Ben visit his house etc). However, in Ben's miscalculation, he is stabbed and burned by the MC. I felt that the ending was similar to the ending to Parasite by Bong Joon ho as they both highlight the final retaliation/perceived victory of the lower class that will ultimately amount to nothing. In Burning, the MC will be arrested shortly, as a passing truck has witnessed his crime and will be remembered as a criminal like his father. In Parasite, the movie ends with the delusion of the son who believes that he can climb up the social class and ultimately buy the house his father is hiding at after murdering the rich family. I think the movie Burning left a bitter taste in my mouth because it highlights how powerless we are to social hierarchy.

Zion