Burn!

Burn!

Year: 2022

Runtime: 73 mins

Language: Spanish

Director: Paco Campano

A mysterious girl appears, seemingly born from the confluence of two people and the powerful Iguazú Falls, with no memory of her origins. She must navigate a disturbing and perilous world, driven by an insatiable desire that threatens to consume everything in its path.

Dark
Bleak ending
Emotionally heavy
High intensity
Steady pacing
Moderate complexity

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Burn! (2022)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Burn! (2022). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1844–1854

The events unfold in the mid-19th century Caribbean during a period of colonial expansion and abolitionist tensions. The timeline follows the initial uprising in 1844 and a protracted revolt that lasts until 1854, showing the cycles of rebellion and suppression. The era's geopolitics frame slavery, plantation wealth, and corporate interference in local governance.

Location

Queimada, Lesser Antilles, Plymouth, England, Indochina

Queimada is a Caribbean island under Portuguese rule, central to the island's sugar economy and slave labor system. The harbor and estates anchor a web of colonial exploitation that outsiders seek to control for profit. The narrative stages power plays across Queimada's plantations, while occasionally moving to Plymouth, England, and hinting at Walker's next assignment in Indochina to show the global reach of empire.

🏝️ Caribbean island 🏛️ Colonial power 🔎 Imperial interests

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:00

Main Characters – Burn! (2022)

Meet the key characters of Burn! (2022), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Sir William Walker

A British agent provocateur who arrives on Queimada to incite rebellion and install a regime favorable to the Antilles Company. He engineers the uprising by convincing Dolores to lead the revolt and later orchestrates the assassination of the Portuguese governor. He then installs a puppet government, extracts concessions from the rebels, and uses his influence to suppress subsequent resistance.

🧭 Manipulator 🗡️ Strategist

José Dolores

Charismatic enslaved leader who becomes the figurehead of the initial rebellion that ousts the Portuguese regime. He is persuaded by Walker to surrender arms in exchange for abolition, but becomes disillusioned as the puppet government serves corporate interests. He leads a second uprising in 1848-1854 in rejection of British influence and colonial manipulation. Ultimately he is captured and executed, embodying the tragedy of a freedom fighter exploited by outsiders.

🔥 Charismatic rebel 🕊️ Freedom seeker

Teddy Sanchez

Idealistic but ineffectual revolutionary who heads the early revolutionary government installed by Walker's scheme. He embodies the hope of a better future but lacks power to resist external economic interests and the puppet regime's control. His leadership is overshadowed by Walker's strategic manipulation and the company's demands. His fate underscores the gap between noble ideals and hard political realities.

🎯 Idealist 🧭 Pragmatist

Portuguese Governor

Portuguese colonial administrator overseeing Queimada's governance. He is assassinated in a nighttime coup orchestrated by Walker, triggering the shift in power that favors the Antilles Company. His death marks the island's transition from direct colonial rule to corporate-dominated government. The event demonstrates how political violence can redefine sovereignty in a colonial context.

👑 Colonial authority 🔒 Security

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:00

Major Themes – Burn! (2022)

Explore the central themes of Burn! (2022), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕊️ Freedom

Freedom is presented as a hard-won ideal rather than an immediate promise. Dolores is drawn into leadership by Walker's manipulation, but the promise of abolition is used as leverage to secure surrender of arms. The film explores the tension between liberation and political control, showing how freedom can be co-opted by those with power. The fate of the enslaved on Queimada reveals the costs of resistance and the complexities of emancipation.

⚖️ Power

Power is shown as something that can be manufactured through coercion, intrigue, and external economic interests. The Antilles Company uses political instability to extract resources while shaping a puppet government. Walker's ascent is framed as a balancing act between imperial ambition and public order. The island's rulers are reduced to instruments of a larger economic machine.

🎭 Manipulation

Deception threads through every major decision: Walker's recruitment of Dolores, the subversion of the governor, and the later betrayal of the new regime. The plot demonstrates how narratives are crafted to justify exploitation and control. The characters' loyalties shift as survival and profit override ideals. The film suggests that influence can determine life or death on the island.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 10:00

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Political Dramas of Betrayal and Revolution like Burn!

Stories where idealism is crushed by the grim mechanics of power and betrayal.If you liked the cynical political landscape and fatalistic ending of Burn!, explore more movies like it. This collection features intense historical and political dramas centered on revolution, moral compromise, and the heavy personal toll of ideological struggles.

politicaltensegrimfatalisticaccusatoryoppressive

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a character, often an outsider or agent, who becomes entangled in a political struggle or revolution. Their initial intentions, whether noble or self-serving, are eroded by the brutal realities of power, leading to betrayal, violence, and a bleak conclusion that underscores the cyclical nature of oppression.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the dark side of political ambition, the futility of certain revolutions, and the heavy emotional weight of witnessing moral corruption unfold. They share a tense, oppressive mood and a steady, deliberate pacing that allows the tragic consequences to resonate fully.

Bleak Historical Epics with Heavy Themes like Burn!

Intense period pieces where characters are broken by the weight of their environment.For viewers who appreciated the oppressive atmosphere and themes of imperialism in Burn!, this list suggests similar movies. Discover other heavy dramas with a steady pace that explore dark chapters of history, moral corruption, and the high personal cost of resistance within a brutal world.

oppressivemelancholicgrimfatalistictenseheavy

Narrative Summary

Stories unfold within a powerfully oppressive setting that acts as a primary antagonist. Characters navigate this world, their personal desires and morals clashing violently with the systemic injustices around them. The journey is typically one of gradual disillusionment or destruction, rather than triumph, emphasizing the overwhelming power of the corrupt world.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their immersive, grim atmospheres and their unflinching exploration of heavy themes like slavery, colonialism, and guilt. They share a high intensity, a dark tone, and a melancholic, fatalistic mood that makes the viewing experience emotionally taxing yet intellectually compelling.

Unlock the Full Story of Burn!

Don't stop at just watching — explore Burn! in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Burn! is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Burn! Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Burn!, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Burn! Summary

Burn! Timeline

Track the full timeline of Burn! with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Burn! Timeline

Burn! Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Burn! that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Burn! Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Burn!

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Burn!: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Burn!

Explore More About Movie Burn!

Burn! (2022) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Burn! (2022) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Burn! (2022) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow