The story takes place in the 1950s during the Korean War. The story is set in a village that is situated on a mountain, and which has mostly women as the men are fighting on the front lines. This means that they have to look after their parents, sons, daughters and also live off whatever food is left after soldiers come by and take away all else. Jum-rye or Ju-Jeong-ryu has had a rough life with her father who’s bedridden and sick, not to mention having an insane daughter of his own. One day while she was passing through a nearby forest, she encounters Kyu-bok (Shin Young-kyun), who happens to be a North Korean soldier seeking for hiding till he finally goes back home.
The widow does what she can to assist the young man through offering him food and other things in exchange for some talk time or sex as well. She meets Sawol (Do Kum-bong) after one of their intimate meetings, who makes it clear that she wants to share him with her otherwise he will be reported to police force. At the same time, there was an ongoing operation which would ensure that all North Korean soldiers were wiped out from this region immediately.
There are so many stories about the Korean War between South and North Korea, but “Burning Mountain” touches on an issue that’s not often talked about. Like Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s “The Marriage of Maria Baun”, women are central to the story or rather their attempts to earn a living in a time of war, being a mother, an attentive daughter and a useful member of society. To add insult to injury, soldiers sometimes take away what little they have or share it with them leaving the fate of their husbands and sons unknown; this makes them feel as if their lives are nothing but suffering and pain.
Hong Dong-hyuk’s cinematography is spectacular. The woods and fields are desolate and symbolize the character’s longing. But for Hum-rye and Sawol it turns into a haven for their dissimilar desires, while Kyu-bok sees it more as a prison since he is not only very far from home but also he depends on strangers there. By shifting from black-and-white to colored scenes, we can see how he fondly remembers his own home and this is nothing but propaganda video that shows where this concept of home comes from. What brings them all together, however, especially when coupled with the outstanding performances by Do Kum-bong, is the thrilling sequence making “Burning Forest” full of unforgettable moments that mercifully avoids any hint of melodrama.
“Burning Mountain” is a beautifully shot film in which the acting is good; it explores survival during war and love affairs. A movie that sometimes captures your attention thanks to director Kim Soo-young’s wonderful directing skills.
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