eFM News

[Anchor]

In this week's look at the local box office, Lee Chang-dong's "Burning" is now showing in local cinemas.

Our movie critic gives us more details in this report.

[Reporter]

Prior to "Burning" it had been eight years since Lee Chang-dong last made a film having directed "Poetry" back in 2010 that won Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival.

When compared to his contemporaries Lee Chang-dong is somewhat distinctive in his approach to cinema through his use of realism and hard-hitting themes, while he is the only director to have served in government in a senior position when he worked in the Roh Moo-hyun administration as Minister of Culture and Tourism between 2003 and 2004.

Lee Chang-dong's new film "Burning is well overdue and marks an emphatic comeback for the auteur given the very strong reviews it's been receiving in Cannes where it premiered in competition this week.

Released in Korea on Thursday, the film is based on Marakami Haruki's short story "Barn Burning" from the 1990s and follows a mysterious relationship between three young people.

Starring Yoo Ah-in, Jeon Jong-seo and Steven Yeon, it reflects a recent trend in Korean independent cinema with films focussing on the growing issues facing young people with a greater sense of urgency.

While the jury led by Cate Blanchett might not necessarily agree with the critics, "Burning" is now a leading contender to win the coveted Palm D'or on Saturday, or at least one of the other awards.

Jason Bechervaise, eFM News.■