Burning Plain
	Rating
	Type	Video On Demand
	Audience Rating	R (Restricted)
	Release Date	2010-01-12
	Actor	Charlize Theron; Kim Basinger; Jennifer Lawrence; Jose Maria Yazpik; Joaquim de Almeida;
	Director	Guillermo Arriaga;
	Length	107 minutes
	Special Price
	Lowest New Price	$2.99
Categories
Drama  Romance  Love & Romance  International
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Description
From writer/director Guillermo Arriaga comes THE BURNING PLAIN, a romantic mystery concerning a woman on the edge who takes an emotional journey back to the defining moment of her life. Oscar-winner Charlize Theron plays Sylvia, a stunning restaurant manager whose cool, professional demeanor masks the sexually charged storm inside. When a stranger from Mexico confronts her together with her mysterious past, Sylvia is launched into a journey throughout space and time this inextricably connects her to these disparate characters, all of whom are grappling together with their own romantic destinies. In Mexico, a young motherless girl, Maria (Tessa Ia), lives happily together with her father and his excellent friend until a tragic accident changes it all. In the New Mexico border town of Las Cruces, two teenagers, Mariana (Jennifer Lawrence) and Santiago (JD Pardo), locate love in the aftermath of their parents' sudden deaths. In an abandoned trailer, a housewife, Gina (Oscar-winner Kim Basinger), embarks on a passionate affair this will put Sylvia and the others on a collision course together with the explosive power of forbidden love.
Customer Reviews
Diverse strands weave together to tell a compelling story of pain and healing   2010-02-19
By z hayes (plano,texas)
"The Burning Plain" simmers slowly, transcending time and space, weaving back and forth chronologically to tell a tale of such pain and grief that it is truly heartbreaking to watch. The incredibly talented Charlize Theron plays Sylvia, a restaurant hostess somewhere in Oregon, who walks dazedly through life, exorcising her inner demons through casual, indiscriminate sex. There's a strange guy (Jose Maria Yazpik) who seems to be stalking her. Then in another strand, there's a discontented housewife (Kim Basinger) who is having an affair with a married man (Joaquim de Almeida). A tragedy ensues, lives are thrown off balance and viewers are left to put the pieces of the puzzle together. I love this method of storytelling (from the same guy who gave us Babel and Amores Perros) and putting things together step by step, though I did manage to 'solve' the dark mystery harbored by Charlize Theron early on in the story. The talented cast, including young actors J.D. Pardo and Jennifer Lawrence who play teenage lovers brought together as a result of the tragedy, deliver finely nuanced performances that elicit viewer's empathy. Nothing is black and white - what initially appear to be flawed and immoral characters are revealed to have surprising depth. This is a movie that slowly engages the viewer's attention and once it does, it takes full grip and never lets go till the final scene.
a masterpiece   2010-02-15
By Nafiz Karadere (istanbul/turkey)
The Burning Plain is an outstanding crime-drama film ...it is well directed and acted also..the performances of two important casts, Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger are really outstanding.. slow going but extremely striking...must see..
Almost Too Perfect   2010-02-12
By Peter Baklava (Charles City, Iowa)
Here is a movie that seems clearly indebted to John Sayles' "Lone Star". It shares the same kind of elliptical story line, and generation-spanning themes of forbidden love, racial and sexual taboos, tragedy, guilt and redemption . It even has a musical score featuring heavily reverbed alt-country guitar. It's such a beautifully shot and constructed film that it is hard to isolate the things that undermine it. Maybe it comes down to this: too many motifs weaving in and out, too many empty symbols. It's like a symphony by a composer who hits all the right notes, but doesn't succeed in creating a living work that truly breathes. I still recommend watching it... if for nothing more in that it's one of Charlize Theron's best "turns" as an actress, and for the wonderful cinematography.
Brooding, evocative & redemptive.   2010-01-28
By J. K. Hinton (TX USA)
I have enjoyed the work of Guillermo Arriage, including Babel and 21 Grams. However, Arriage uses the same technique with 'The Burning Plain, as he did in 'Babel,' which for me can be confusing, at times, and not a preferred methodology for most viewers. Here again, we are faced with current time, running parallel with a significant amount of back-story, and a multitude of characters that initially seem disconnected. It took me a while to realize what was going on. I should have had a clue, from Babel. Finally the stories began to converge---rather flawlessly, so it was well worth the patience required. In fact, in some respects, I think it was better constructed than Babel, in tying up loose ends. Be warned, this (107 min) R-rated, romantic, mystery/drama, will not be for everyone. It is not action driven, aside from some self-mutilating behaviors, sensual scenes with nudity, and a trailer blowing up. It is not filled with gratuitous violence, awesome CGI, or other big-box-office, draw themes, although the filming is lovely. Instead, it is a slow paced, deep character study involving three wounded female leads, Theron being the primary protagonist. It is about an illicit love affair(Basinger) and the dark web surrounding omissions of truth---the escalating lies. It is about the irrevocable psychic damage that can be done, when youth is the witness to adults breaking the rules and threatening their security. It is about an ego destroyed and on the path of self destruction. It is about stopping cutting, just to feel alive, and opening up for love and forgiveness. It is about redemption. I loved the psychological dynamics of this movie and thought they were well developed. Having personally worked with 'cutters' for many years, I felt Theron did justice to the self-destructive, emotionally sterile angst of those who must cut, to feel momentarily alive; how they are driven to match their internal scars with external ones. And, Basinger was so well suited to the role of the lonely, timid wife, struggling with an altered body image, who could easily be seen driven into the arms of another man, at whatever cost. The premise is not very original; these are issues that have, and do, happen every day, but, even so, they will evoke many thoughts and feelings within the sensitive viewer. In a word, it is 'powerful!' This was a rental for me. I don't think I would like to own this movie. Seeing it once was painful enough, but I wouldn't have wanted to miss it. Without reservation, I recommend this film to all serious movie devotees, who enjoy deep, dark, psychologically oriented films, with stellar performances.
Confused for your Enjoyment   2010-01-17
By A Customer (L.A.)
Guillermo Arriaga's rotating perspective narrative works best in this tidy drama concerning family, relationships, regrets and two generations of risky sex. The acting, writing and directing are a sensual feast that looks good, sounds good and feels very good after some intrigue. With a lot to see and hear in less that two hours; the out of sequence details weave their way into crystal clarity. Han Zimmer and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez score hypnotic scenes from the desert to the ocean. The writer has earth, wind, fire and water in mind for the characters, actions and settings; but you can take it as heady soaper. Like Cubism or string theory; this movie challenges and rewards. Most critics didn't like it in comparison to Arriaga's Babel. Enjoy it and the edge on them. Maybe it has too many notes. Beautifully filmed; Great BD A/V