(Lee Chang-dong, 2018, South Korea, 148 min.)

By conservative estimates, South Korean master Lee Chang-dong has made his third masterpiece in a row with Burning, after 2007’s Secret Sunshine and 2010’s Poetry. Based on the short story “Barn Burning” by Haruki Murakami, here Lee extrapolates something of a lust triangle between the aspiring writer Jongsu (Ah-in Yoo), the enigmatic and ethereal Haemi (Jong-seo Jun), and Haemi’s casually misanthropic new boyfriend Ben (Steven Yeun, of The Walking Dead and Sorry to Bother You). Burning, South Korea’s submission to the Academy for Best Foreign-Language Film, has something for everyone—those who love simply being told a great story, those who like challenging arthouse fare, those drawn to strong characterization and acting, ans those with an eye for technical achievements.

In Korean with English subtitles.