It would be an overstatement to say this, but I don't remember the last time a director explores youthful anger and frustration within a particular socio-economic context with such mastery. Lee Chang-dong has a firm grasp on the intricacy of modern South Korea and the emotional depths of these fictitious characters, peeling away layer after layer of this complex mystery to reveal something truly bewildering at the core. Burning is a slow burn about class clash, the senseless existence of self, and many things, and - albeit running too long - it's pure cinematic perfection. It's crafted with a certain degree of ambiguity, and while it poses many questions, its answers aren't entirely elusive. This is the type of film that will leave a lot of people cold and requires multiple watches. I think it's a masterpiece.

2018 releases ranked