BURNING. 28/07/2023

 

The second screening took us to South Korea where we explored desire through the lens of Lee Chang-dong. The film is based on the short story "Barn Burning" from the Elephant Vanishes by Haruki Murakami.

Burning explores class, alienation, obsession, and violence in contemporary Korean society. The film follows Jong Su, a young aspiring writer who becomes entangled in a mysterious and dangerous triangle with Hae Mi, his childhood friend, and Ben, a wealthy and enigmatic stranger.

The Aftersunettes (as coined by Kerry) explored the concepts of Little and Great Hunger and how these manifest in the characters' lives and desires. The contrast between the desire for immediate surges of dopamine and the yearning for the purpose of existence and how we go about seeking them.

The discussion weaved through the many layers of the film, how Lee Chang-dong captures ambiguity and metaphor; challenges how reliable how memories can be or how long it will take for someone's desire to ultimately burn. The conversation moved towards the morality of a hedonistic lifestyle and the question of How much of our desires we prioritise and to what extent before it begins to consume everything around and within us.

But in the end, the consensus was that maybe we are all just burning through life trying to satiate our hunger, however little or great. Some of the members praised the film for its complexity, subtlety, and realism, while others criticized it for its ambiguity, length, and that damn ending! The members of the film club discussed their personal experiences and viewpoints regarding the themes presented in the movie, which added a much-appreciated cultural layer to the film.

Until next time!

P.S. Don't forget to drink water and hug someone!

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