The Burning Season

My wife and I watched this last evening, wondering all the while why the story was being told with the chapters in reverse order. We needn't have wondered. It becomes clear that the story wouldn't work well in reverse, as the big reveal comes in chapter 1. The story is interesting, and the acting passable, but where the movie falls down is in the casting. It becomes clear at the end that Alena and JB are of approximately the same age, whereas in the other chapters, this does not appear to be so. The actors portraying them have 14 years difference. With all due regret, it is also difficult to imagine Tom and Alena as a couple. JB and Poppy have 19 years difference. Jonas Chernick is simply too old for his part. He ought to have stuck with writing the story, which was fairly well done.

Alena and husband Tom take an annual 2-week vacation in a adult / family camp in woods, arriving at season's end when they are the only guests. Alena has a childhood connection to the camp, and is having a once-a-year affair with the camp's owner / operator JB. Tom seems to like the solitude and is supportive of Alena. Despite Alena's question about open relationships, Tom is blind (or wilfully so) about Alena's activities.

The story is mostly told in reverse, with each year's actions being labelled with a chapter number. Hints of history are dropped, which are resolved when chapters of earlier events show what happened. It is like peeling off layers of an onion, until the core truth is revealed. The intrigue of this sequence of exposition is required for the story to have effect.

There are gorgeous sunset vistas, the heat between the lovers is undeniable, and the fire scene is stunning (the one seen in the posters). What I find tricky to accept is the end-of-season premise, with no fall foliage, and JB bringing on a new hire (which should be at the start of the season).

I saw this at the early evening show of opening weekend, and the writers, cast, producers, and crew were present for Q+A. (The director was in another city doing the same.)

A poll of the audience showed that the chapter numbers were very helpful in understanding the film. For an independent film, getting financing, etc. Was relatively easy, with a script-to-screen time of only 2 years. A live bat was actually involved. And the fire scene was shot in front of the fire, not green-screened, with firefighters adding fuel for each take.