The Burning

This Argentinian ‘Eco Western’ stars Gael Garcia Bernal as the mysterious Kai, a young man in tune with nature (and with a mighty jaguar) who comes to the aid of a small group of farmers under the threat from ruthless mercenaries.

The burning of the film’s title refers to a bunch of truly nasty mercenaries who burn down the properties of poor farmers and labourers in order to take possession of their land. As if this isn’t bad enough, they also take pleasure in killing the poor bastards in the process, but not before forcing them to sign a contract giving the land over to them. Now then, who is going to put a stop to this evil-doers? Enter our all-wise hero Kai (Bernal), a man who possesses near shamanic properties. You hear about those people but you don’t meet many of them…

The bad guys, led by two particularly unscrupulous brothers (played by Claudio Tolcachir and Jorge Sésan) have already destroyed Kai’s property and family. After wandering about in a stupor Kai ends up at the property of an old tobacco farmer (Chico Diaz) and his daughter Vania (Alice Braga). A third man called Jara (Lautaro Vila) also lives on the farm and, as we find out later, initially had his own reasons for being there. The now homeless Kai warns the family at what is occurring and overs his services as an employee. Shortly afterwards, as they sit around the campfire, the peace is shattered and Jara is shot. The baddies have arrived! While Kai and Vania hide in one of the barns, gang leader Tarquinho makes the old farmer sign a contract to give over his land, all the while threatening him at gunpoint. The impassioned Vania, losing control, shouts at her father not to sign and thus draws attention to herself. When one of the gang enter the barn she jumps at him with a knife but is overcome and dragged outside. Now they intimate the old man even further, claiming they would chop off Vania’s head with a machete. Of course, grudgingly he signs the contract but guess what: no sooner has he signed than the bastardos turn the machete on him. Making off with Vania we can only guess what lays in store for her – indeed, on of the gang members, Vando (Julián Tello) is presented with her as a ‘present’.

Don’t get too downhearted, our crafty Kai is on the case and on a mission! Meanwhile, after a botched escape attempt where Vania found herself face to face with the magnificent jaguar, the incensed Vando attempts to rape her. Cue Kai who appears as if by magic and saves our damsel in distress from the evil clutches of her assailant. Now the stage is set for a cat and mouse game in which the hunted will now hunt the hunters… culminating in a climax worthy of a Sergio Leone western.

Strong on ambience and stunning visuals (in particular shots of the magnificent jaguar), The Burning (aka El Ardor) is occasionally let down by an almost painfully slow pace – before we are suddenly jolted by the next action sequence. This is very much Gael Garcia Bernal’s film and he is indeed very well cast in the lead!

SPECIAL FEATURE of this Blu-ray release is ‘The Making Of…’