Director Lee Chang-dong’s “Burning” garnered a record high score in the Cannes Film Festival’s daily newsletter upon its jury screening.

With a 3.8 average, the film has nabbed the highest score in the history of Screen’s Cannes jury grid, surpassing the previous record of 3.7 set by Maren Ade’s “Tony Erdmann” in 2016.

All but two critics awarded the film the full four stars, with two giving three stars.

Screen’s review described the film as “quietly devastating…a film of wondrous complexity and inscrutability.” 


“Burning,” a mystery-drama based on Japanese novelist Murakami Haruki’s “Barn Burning,” stars Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun and Jeon Jong-seo.

The film, vying this year for the Palme d’Or prize, marks director Lee’s fourth invitation to the film fest and third to the competition section. 


Director Lee previously won Best Screenplay at Cannes with his 2010 drama film “Poetry.”

(doo@heraldcorp.com)