"When it's near, you can't see it."

That right there is the entire heart of Murakami's story.

Yes, like every other pretentious snob I picked up a copy of Kafka On the Shore when I was a teenager and read it cover to cover by morning. And then I still remember using my measly allowance on buying whatever Murakami titles I could get my hands on because I still love paperbacks. The second purchase was the Hard Boiled Wonderland and The Elephant Vanishes. Both titles that will literally grab you and if you don't become a Murakami fan girl by then it's probably not for you.

I know I'm rambling because honestly there's a reason I used the phrase fan girl.

But while I love Murakamis works I never read him all the time. Like I love Black mirror but can't watch them without feeling all of my existential dread all at once. Give me gore I'll watch it read it no problem but when it's someone like Murakami who doesn't show a knife but you feel the cut deep down in your gut, he shows you a hole in the ground and you feel the claustrophia and choking sensation, what do you even call that?

Basically it's inscrutable horror of the worst kind.

So when I was finally able to get the courage to see Burning which btw I like Yoo Ah In obviously but ok Steven Yeun doing a Murakami interpretation-- my heart couldn't freaking handle it!!!

So many times I had to pause just to keep my heart from exploding. Fuck ok there's just something about watching THE GLENNspeak Korean asksdksds jeez he's so SEXY with that fucking charismatic look and the hypnotic voice jeeeeez and when the person you love so much does a fantastic job playing a Murakami character it's freaking Christmas and Birthday all at once.

So when I finally was able to stop fangirling long enough to watch the film it finally gutted me like I expected it to and what I loved about the film is it very much retained the main feel of Murakamis story.

I love the pantomime bit, when she peels the orange she was mesmerizing! I mean all three main leads NAILED their roles.

Jeon Jeong Seo played her earthy, bohemian, impulsive character Hae Mi in such an endearing way you couldn't help love her and even her sadness that seems to constantly plague her even though she's constantly laughing and talking, it's so heartbreaking to watch her fight those two sides of her.

YooAh In's Jong Su is a writer who is not sure about his own feelings and finds himself in an unlikely relationship with Hae Mi who's known to travel and is prone to leave for trips without telling anyone and he loves her even when she brings home Ben from her African trip.


Both Hae Mi and Jong Su are a little lost and traumatized by their pasts.

And then of course there's Ben, played by Steven Yeun who is the antithesis of everything Hae Mi is. She's bohemian, unpredictable, loud. He's practical, self-composed, hypnotic low but commanding voice.

When Hae Mi suddenly springs Ben on Jong Su he gets hurt but he also can't stop being a little fascinated by him. He even calls him Gatsby, because while filthy rich the source of Ben's fortune remains something of a mystery. The thing I loved was the way Yeun flawlessly and brilliantly played Ben's role in a nuanced, compelling way , bringing the complexity of his person so you couldn't stop falling for him (or maybe that was just me XD)

Omg I want to say soooo much but I'll stop now and please just watch this beautiful heartbreaking film.

And by the way this is one of those films that are entirely in metaphors just like Murakami especially Burning Barns (from The Elephant Vanishes if you're so inclined) so if you don't get metaphorical writing and visuals you probably won't get this film or the original story but let me know if you need some explanation feel free to pm me.