Aarcflick

 Although it enjoys privileged and extensive access to the Burning Man festival—to both its participants and its bureaucracy—Jehane Noujaim and Vikram Gandhi’s *The Man Will Burn* is a fascinating yet baffling work, hampered by indecision regarding its structure, themes, and purpose. Across its four-hour runtime—which feels rushed and fragmented—the HBO docuseries succeeds in conveying the essence of the community fostered by Burning Man, as well as its ever-evolving infrastructure and internal political conflicts. It also offers insight into the event's overwhelming whiteness and inherent privilege, sheds light on several turbulent years in its history, and addresses the challenges it faces moving forward. Yet, for the most part, the series is overwhelmed by an excess of material and a notable lack of clarity and rigor. Stars: Kimbal Musk, Lindsay Handren, Larry Harvey Ultimately, *The Man Will Burn* feels too much like an extended advertisement for an event that needs no promotio...