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In 1986, a virtually unknown film with a tight budget became a blockbuster and broke box office records in Hong Kong and Asia. The film, “A Better Tomorrow” also made its star Chow Yun Fat an overnight success and launched him into the big league of the Asian film industry. Furthermore it also gave co-star, a Shaw Brothers veteran, Ti Lung‘s career a much welcoming boost.

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After the huge success of its predecessor, a sequel with the same cast returning soon hit the big screens. The filmmakers had to bring Chow back due to his popularity. The problem was, they killed off Mark, the character he played in the previous film, so he returns as Ken, Mark’s long lost twin brother. John Woo was also back as director but it was a troubled shoot since producer Tsui Hark was...

Dive into the vibrant and chaotic world of Nomad (1982), a film now screening at Five Flavours, where Patrick Tam blends absurdity, charm, and a kaleidoscope of ideas into one unforgettable ride. This review unpacks the eclectic narrative following four intertwined youths, played by the iconic Leslie Cheung, Pat Ha, Kent Tong, and Cecilia Yip.

From a shy bourgeois listening to tapes of his late mother to femme fatale dynamics and a surprising b-movie slasher twist, Nomad defies convention at every turn. Tam’s audacious direction delivers sensuality, humor, cheeky political jabs, and moments of raw cinematic fun.

Highlights:

Leslie Cheung’s unforgettable charm as Louis.

Pat Ha’s striking performance as the bold and beautiful Kathy.

A genre-blending style that evolves from youthful drama to explosive absurdity.

Nostalgic aesthetics and a pace crafted to perfection by Cheung Kwok-Kuen’s editing.

A provocative portrayal of 80s Hong Kong youth culture, brimming with unfiltered energy.

A return to the big screen by Hong Kong screenwriter and director Lo Chi Leung since directed probably his best films “The Vanished Murderer” (2015) and “The Bullet Vanishes” (2012) starring Lau Ching Wan. Before that, he also directed Leslie Cheung in “Inner Senses” (2002) and “Double Tap” (2000). Unfortunately, “Come Back Home” (2022), a search-and-rescue drama funded by Mainland China and starring Donnie Yen, was a big flop at the box office. Otherwise it would have been a nice return for Lo and Yen in a purely dramatic non-action role.

Where to watch

Set in a snowy ski resort in Chang Bai Shan, northeast China, the story concerns a family of four, father De (Donnie Yen), his wife Min Xuan (Han Xue) and their two young children. They are on their way to Lake Tianchi to see the “lake monster” which according to their son, Lele (Yuen Jin Hui), really existed. However, due to...

Celebrate the cinematic genius of Stephen Chow with a selection of his most iconic films, showcasing his unique blend of humor, creativity, and cultural impact in Heart of the Richmond: Stephen Chow Film Festival. This three-day festival in Richmond district is a tribute to one of Hong Kong's most beloved filmmakers, offering audiences the chance to experience his timeless classics on the big screen. Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Stephen Chow and enjoy an unforgettable film experience! Heart of the Richmond: Stephen Chow Film Festival is is a partnership of the Balboa Theater, The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco, the Office of Supervisor Connie Chan, and Another Planet Entertainment.

Friday July 12

Opening Reception: 6:30-7:30

Featuring traditional Chinese dancing, hors d'oeuvres, and Cantonese calligraphy

Shaolin Soccer (2001): 8pm

The film revolves around a former Shaolin monk who reunites his five brothers,...

With Wong Kar-wai being one of the names that are always mentioned when people all around the world refer to Asian cinema, we thought it would be interesting to do another ranking, and having his movies, a number of which are definitely masterpieces. As such, we asked Amp writers who have seen at least 8 of his features to rank them from worst to best. Notably, the two first titles got the same amount of votes and the third had just one vote less. In case you are wondering, the number one was the one who got most first places in the vote. Here is what the votes of Adriana Rosati, Rhythm Zaveri, Rouven Linnarz, Panos Kotzathanasis, Andrew Thayne and Jean Claude resulted in.

11. My Blueberry Nights (2007)

A young lonely woman takes a soul-searching journey across America to resolve her questions about love while encountering a series of off-beat characters along the way.

Despite the efforts of festivals around the world, releasing and distribution companies, and streaming channels, which have gotten rather more intense during the last few years, the majority of titles produced in Japan, S. Korea and Hong Kong, which number hundreds every year remain unknown, particularly to the Western audience. As such, we decided to focus on this type of films exactly for our April-May tribute. And to be totally sincere, not all will be great just definitely worth watching. Here is the first batch

1. Three Resurrected Drunkards (1969) by Nagisa Oshima (Japan)

“Three Resurrected Drunkards” is an excellent sample of the cinematic tendencies of both Oshima and a whole group that tried to renovate cinema during the end of the 60s and the 70s, by combining new cinematic approaches with pointed sociopolitical commentary. The result definitely demands some knowledge of the climate of the era and the overall mentality of the Japanese towards foreigners,...

When it comes to China, the discourse surrounding queer identities – like many other issues – can be placed in a gray area, on the fragile border with taboo. However, cinema is perhaps the most powerful visual medium for better understanding certain dynamics that are too often subject to useless labels and dichotomous discussions. For this reason, I have selected 12 works – including narrative feature films and documentaries – that explore and reflect on intimate queer representation. The list is presented in chronological order and includes titles from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan

1. Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan (1972) Chor Yuan

“Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan” is a 1972 Hong Kong wuxia film directed by Chor Yuen, known for its blend of elements from martial arts and erotica. The protagonist, Ai Nu (Lily Ho), is sold to a brothel at the young age of 18. She quickly becomes the favorite of the brothel's owner,...

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

The Beekeeper (David Ayer)

It’s the time of year for smooth-brained relaxation. Moviegoers can recover from the holidays with the comfort of knowing Gerard Butler, Liam Neeson, or Jason Statham will be here to satisfy their mid-budget, action-programmer needs. Is it really the new year if one of those cherished Kings of January doesn’t appear on the release slate? There’s no Gerry or Liam, but the ever-reliable Statham dons a trucker hat and blue jeans to grit his way through David Ayer’s The Beekeeper, an overall valiant, occasionally fun attempt to take us out of Q1 doldrums. – Conor O. (full review)

Where to Stream: VOD

Brawl in Cell Block 99 (S. Craig Zahler)

S. Craig Zahler is the...

After a career as producer and few short films, independent director Kim Cho-hee brings to light her debut feature, “Lucky Chan-sil”, a charming story of, well … a film producer, dealing with the challenges that life throws at her. Like many of this year's movies, her work was caught in the COVID19 storm, just in between Festival runs and (cancelled) theatrical releases; therefore, after gaining a rich palmarès in Festivals (Kbs Independent Film Award and the Cgv Arthouse Award at Biff and the Audience Award at the Seoul Independent Film Festival), got stalled abruptly. Hopefully not for long.

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Offbeat sweet ‘n' sour comedy “Lucky Chan-sil” follows the titular character, an indie film producer in her forties played by Gang Mal-geum, going through a moment of intense crisis. She has dedicated her work-life and career to the same director, a well-known auteur,...

Back in 1999, producers from Hong Kong and Japan had an idea of bringing together Leslie Cheung, then at the apogee of his career, and Takako Tokiwa, widely known as ‘Queen of Serial Drama' for her roles and awards on TV, in order to present a movie that moves between the romantic drama and the crime film, probably in an effort to capitalize in terms of commercial success. The result was not exactly masterful, but there are definitely enough elements here to make the movie worth watching. Let us take things from the beginning though.

Hitomi is a Japanese girl who is about to get married to her fiance Tetsuya and move to Hong Kong with him. However, a tragic car accident ends up with him dead and her in Hong Kong trying to find some sort of solace from her ongoing grief. Kar-bo is an undercover policeman, who has put...

Winner of a special mention from the Sonje Award jury in Busan, “Everybody’s Gotta Love Sometimes” is a rather courageous short regarding a refugee from Myanmar who tries to navigate his current life, his sexuality and his past in France.

Everybody’s Gotta Love Sometimes is screening at Busan International Film Festival

The movie begins with Phyo, a young man lying in bed in his underwear, trying to learn French from his smartphone. The initial phrases are the typical ones, about one’s name and location, but soon his questions change to more intimate ones, such as ’embrace me’, ‘kiss me’ and ‘I want sex’, quite eloquently mirroring the sentiments of the protagonist. An expected masturbation soon gives its stead to a visit to a sex shop, but a phone call about the papers needed for Phyo’s stay in France bring the protagonist back to reality, to a point at least.

Leslie Cheung, a luminary of Hong Kong's golden era of the 80s and 90s, stands out as one of its most gifted representatives. Revered globally as both an actor and a singer, he holds a position as one of the forefathers of Cantopop, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.

Cheung's brilliance transcended geographical boundaries, captivating admirers in Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea. Notably, his pivotal role in John Woo's “A Better Tomorrow” marked a turning point, propelling his acting career to new heights. Subsequent collaborations with esteemed directors such as Chen Kaige and Wong Kar Wai propelled him to international stardom.

Eventually, his name figured in the first place on the list of the most favorite actors in the 100 years of Chinese cinema, in the third of the Most Iconic Musicians of All Time, and CNN considered him the Most Beautiful Man from Hong Kong...

Premiering 30 years ago this year, Chen Kaige’s enchanting, Palme d’Or-winning, and Oscar-nominated drama Farewell My Concubine is finally returning in its original cut, stunningly restored in 4K. Starring Leslie Cheung, Fengyi Zhang, and Gong Li, the drama was cut by 20 minutes after Harvey Scissorhands had his way with it. Now restored to its original glory and set for a September 22 release beginning at Film Forum from Film Movement Classics, the new trailer has arrived.

Here’s the synopsis: “In Chen Kaige’s adaptation of the Lilian Lee novel, Cheng Dieyi (Leslie Cheung) and Duan Xiaolou (Zhang Fengyi) grow up enduring the harsh training of the Peking Opera Academy, where instructors regularly beat the students to instill in them the discipline needed to master the complex physical and vocal techniques of this ancient art. As the two boys mature, they develop complementary talents: Dieyi, with his fine, delicate features,...

Fifth-generation Chinese filmmaker Chen Kaige’s “Farewell My Concubine” wowed the Cannes jury under president Louis Malle in 1993 — all the way to a Palme d’Or win. But by the time the three-hour epic set in the world of the Peking Opera reached U.S. theaters that year, Miramax’s Harvey Weinstein had cut 20 minutes from the movie that left even Malle puzzled. According to Peter Biskind‘s influential “Down and Dirty Pictures,” Malle said the new version seemed “longer because it doesn’t make any sense. It was better before those guys made cuts.”

At last, “Farewell My Concubine,” the only Chinese-language film ever to win the Palme, is now being returned to theaters in its full 171-minute glory, courtesy of Film Movement Classics. IndieWire exclusively announces that the distributor will release a newly restored 4K version in North American theaters beginning September 22 at Film Forum in New York City.

Despite being nominated for a staggering nine awards at the 1983 Hong Kong Film Awards, “Nomad” ultimately went home empty-handed. The major nominations included “Best Picture,” “Best Director,” “Best Screenplay,” “Best Cinematography,” and “Best Actor” (Leslie Cheung). “Nomad” is one of the pioneering works that kickstarted the “Hong Kong New Wave,” which began around 1979 and reached its peak in the beginning of the 1980s.

Nomad is screening on Focus Hong Kong

The film follows the tumultuous lives of four Hong Kong youths. Leslie Cheung plays Louis, a shy bourgeois who spends his days listening to recordings of his deceased mother, accompanied by his cousin Kathy (Pat Ha). Their fates intertwine with that of Pong (Kent Tong), whom Kathy ends up falling in love with, and Tomato (Cecilia Yip), Louis' future girlfriend. The film's Chinese title, literally translated as “youth in flames” or “flaming youth,” encapsulates the essence of the work. Patrick Tam...

Supported by the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office, London, Focus Hong Kong brings the very best in new and classic Hong Kong cinema to London in July, with a diverse programme of screenings at the presBgious BFI Southbank. Films include three of the most acclaimed and popular Hong Kong films of the year, with the UK Premieres of all-star crime epic Where the Wind Blows from award-winning director Philip Yung and horror anthology and international festival favourite Let it Ghost, and a special screening of social justice courtroom thriller A Guilty Conscience, one of Hong Kong's biggest box office hits of 2023 so far. Also included is the UK Premiere of a new 4K version of the Hong Kong New Wave classic Nomad, re-edited by director Patrick Tam after being heavily censored on its original release, starring the immortal Leslie Cheung in an early breakthrough role, screening to mark the 20th...

On July 14, 2023, the New York Asian Film Foundation and Film at Lincoln Center will kick off the 22nd edition of the New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff), with 60+ new and classic titles, a greatly expanded selection of short films, and an exciting slate of celebrated guests from Asia and the diaspora. The festival runs from July 14–30, 2023 at Film at Lincoln Center (Flc), with a special weekend of screenings (July 21–23) at a new venue, the historic Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, New Jersey, the birthplace of the motion picture industry in America.

“As filmmakers from Asia continue to earn the lion's share of top awards (and attention) on the international film festival circuit, this year's selection shows that those are still trees hiding a forest of talent,” said Samuel Jamier, executive director of Nyaff and president of the New York Asian Film Foundation. “We are thrilled to offer a platform...

Veteran Chinese director Peter Chan Ho-sun is busy as ever these days. Behind the scenes, Chan is laying the foundations of the new production company, Changin’ Pictures, which he formally announced towards the end of last year. In public, the director is one of the most prominent cheerleaders of Chinese cinema, a role he played at the Shanghai International Film Festival this week.

The focus of a MasterClass at the festival, Chan talked expansively about Chinese film and its place in the world. “China has a lot of great stories, and many of them can resonate with people worldwide,” he said. “So why not make these stories that everyone can empathize with? I believe we should aim to make the whole world want to watch Chinese stories. We shouldn’t make films that are intended to please them or enhance a stereotypical image of China. That won’t lead to progress.

Hong Kong On Screen (Hkos) is proud to present the first ever Hong Kong On Screen Film Festival (Hkosff). Running April 28-30, 2023 at the Starlight Whittier Village Cinemas, it will showcase 8 feature films, 2 documentaries, 8 shorts curated from a global open call for submissions, and a 20th anniversary tribute of the passing of Hk icons Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui.

Founded in 2022 in response to the ongoing political upheaval in Hong Kong and China’s encroaching presence in the international city-state, Hkos is a collective of academics, artists, students, and concerned global citizens dedicated to preserving the voice of freedom from Hong Kong and to promote its local culture through cinema, cultural exchange, and dialogue.

Since its inception, Hkos has proactively engaged in and/or supported a variety of cultural programming in order to serve the Hong Kong diaspora in the Greater LA area and beyond. This has included a special...

Wong Kar-wai isn't a filmmaker particularly known for his sense of humour. His work is many things: romantic, sumptuous, sensual, atmospheric. When he does attempt comedy, it's often tied to one character, an oddball outlier who provides a humorous foil to one of his stony-faced protagonists. The last thing you would expect his name attached to is a wacky parody wuxia movie less in line with King Hu and more on the same page as a Zucker Brothers production, and yet, from the spare change of the enormously expensive and troubled production behind his own “Ashes of Time”, “The Eagle Shooting Heroes” exists.

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Jet Tone Films was established after the release of Wong's first two sensitive tough guy movies (“As Tears Go By” and “Days of Being Wild”), and its initial efforts went towards adapting Jin Yong's classic wuxia novel,...

"Never meet your heroes" is one piece of advice Quentin Tarantino has never listened to. His first feature "Reservoir Dogs" starred Harvey Keitel, his "favorite actor in the world." "Jackie Brown" was a vehicle for Pam Grier, star of 1970s blaxploitation films like "Coffy" which Tarantino loves. "Kill Bill," a samurai film love letter, featured Japanese genre star Sonny Chiba as sword-smith Hattori Hanzō.

There's another collaboration between Tarantino and one of his personal acting icons, one we haven't gotten to see. Who's the icon in question? Hong Kong star Maggie Cheung, who played a character cut from "Inglourious Basterds."

The hero of said film is not one of the titular Nazi-killing squad. No, it's Shosanna Dreyfus (Melanie Laurent), a young Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied France. The sole survivor of her family's massacre, she now poses as a Gentile cinema owner named "Emmanuelle Mimieux." When "Emmanuelle" comes face-to-face with Nazi...

Five years on, it's easy to take for granted what an immediate tectonic shift "Call Me by Your Name" represented for queer, romantic, and contemporary cinema. It's one thing for a film to tell a love story between two men as sensitively and perceptively as it did, capturing every one of its microscopic inner movements and honoring their cumulative enormity, with both parties allowed to come alive so thoroughly as characters. To do so while also offering up one of the decade's most profound treatises on the mysteries of human connection, the nuances of identity, and the existential significance of giving oneself over to another is something else entirely.

In countless different ways, "Call Me by Your Name" is a wholly unique film, and — as its rabid fans know well — the most reliable way to recapture its magic is to watch it again and again. Existing as it does as...

The 20th anniversary Nyaff boasts a handful of this year’s most innovative and important films about the LGBTQ+ experience from all around Asia. Nyaff is proud to say that three of them have been selected for their Uncaged Competition for Best Film.

Angry Son by Kasho Iizuka, Japan, Uncaged Competition

7/28/2022 9:30pm

An intensely moving, gently comedic coming-of-age tale about overcoming otherness and oppression through unconditional compassion, this charming film by a transgender director focuses on a gay, biracial teen who was raised by a Filipina bar hostess mother in the countryside of Japan, and has endured a full spectrum of prejudices.

Big Night! by Jun Robles Lana, Philippines

7/27/2022 6:15pm

A biting satire about a gay hairdresser (a superlative Christian Bables) and model citizen who learns that he has been added to a government kill list, and sets out on a harrowing — and sometimes hilarious — odyssey to clear his name and stay alive.

Restored versions of Chinese language cinema classics Wong Kar-wai’s “Days of Being Wild” (1990) and Jia Zhangke’s first full-length feature “Pickpocket” (“Xiao Wu”) 1998) will lead the inaugural program of Hong Kong’s M+ Cinema, which will be opened to the public on June 8.

The opening program also features the Hong Kong premiere of one of the films from Russian director Ilya Khrzhanovskiy’s epic project series “Dau,” making the M+ Museum notable for not canceling Russian culture following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

The cinema, comprising three theaters with seating capacity of 180, 60, and 40 seats, is a core facility of the Moving Image Centre at M+, the visual culture museum that opened in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District in November last year. Moving images, including artist-made audio-visual works, artist films, and traditional feature films, are considered among one of the three key disciplines of the mega institution...

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSAbove: Sylvia Kristel in Emmanuelle (1974). Audrey Diwan, whose film Happening won last year's Golden Lion at Venice, will be directing an English-language adaptation of the erotic novel Emmanuelle. The film will star Léa Seydoux in the titular role, which was first played by the great Sylvia Kristel. Ahead of this new iteration of Emmanuelle, we also recommend reading Abbey Bender's reappraisal of the subversive softcore series.Lynne Ramsay has announced her next feature: an adaptation of Margaret Atwood's short story Stone Mattress, starring Julianne Moore and Sandra Oh. The story takes place on a cruise into the Arctic Passage, where protagonist Verna (to be played by Moore) encounters a man from her past.Recommended VIEWINGThe trailer for Three Thousand Years of Longing, George Miller's first film since 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road.

Move aside, Billie Eilish; it’s time for Anita to take back the stage. Lok Man Leung’s “Anita” delivers a loving tribute to Anita Mui — legendary Cantopop singer, actress, and activist. Much like Eilish, Mui too had a seamless start to her career. After years of performing on the streets, Mui underwent a fateful vocal cord surgery that lowered her pitch by an octave. Mui’s new voice charmed audiences though – and she skyrocketed to fame by winning the New Talent Singing Awards at the tender age of 19. She then polished her baritone pitch and outfits with Cantopop factory Capital Artists and fashion heavyweight Eddie Lau. She collaborated with movie icons too – like Stanley Kwan, Leslie Cheung, and Maggie Cheung, to name a few – in her first forays into the film industry. By the age of twenty-six, she already reaped the coveted markers of success in both music and...

In a 15+ film collection, Pacific Art Movement’s 11th San Diego Asian Film Festival (Sdaff) Spring Showcase returns to in-person programming at the Ultrastar Cinemas in Mission Valley, San Diego from April 21 through 28, 2022. This year’s showcase recognizes the impact of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islanders (Aapi) on popular culture. Audiences will enjoy eight days of films from China, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam including a four-film retrospective on director and actress Kinuyo Tanaka. The showcase opens with the biopic Anita on April 21 telling the captivating story of the “Madonna of Hong Kong”. Closing night features Free Chol Soo Lee which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this January. Other programming includes live Q&As from filmmakers and a panel discussion with the authors of Rise: A Pop History of Asian America From The Nineties To Now.

“Our 11th Spring Showcase marks more than just a return in-person for the Asian,...

While some folks might boil him down to dual-wielding handguns and doves, John Woo has had a long and varied directing career. His first full directorial debut was way back in 1974 on the kung fu action flick "The Young Dragons." After directing several action and comedy films, Woo finally found his calling with 1986's "A Better Tomorrow."

"A Better Tomorrow" was a very modern action film for its time. It stars Ti Lung and Leslie Cheung as brothers on two sides of the law, with the former being a Triad and the latter becoming a police trainee. It...

The post John Woo and Oliver Stone Had a Kung-Fu Project That Never Made It to Production appeared first on /Film.

Move aside, Billie Eilish; it’s time for Anita to take back the stage. Lok Man Leung’s “Anita” delivers a loving tribute to Anita Mui — legendary Cantopop singer, actress, and activist. Much like Eilish, Mui too had a seamless start to her career. After years of performing on the streets, Mui underwent a fateful vocal cord surgery that lowered her pitch by an octave. Mui’s new voice charmed audiences though – and she skyrocketed to fame by winning the New Talent Singing Awards at the tender age of 19. She then polished her baritone pitch and outfits with Cantopop factory Capital Artists and fashion heavyweight Eddie Lau. She collaborated with movie icons too – like Stanley Kwan, Leslie Cheung, and Maggie Cheung, to name a few – in her first forays into the film industry. By the age of twenty-six, she already reaped the coveted markers of success in both music and...

Twenty years ago, on July 1st 1997, the UK handed-over sovereignty of Hong Kong back to China, with a fifty years grace period, before Chinese laws would take effect. With this being the case, Shanghai-born Hong Kong resident Wong Kar-wai went to great lengths to ensure his latest work, “Happy Together”, was released before this date, although his reasons may not appear clear at face value.

“Happy Together” is screening at Five Flavours Asian Film Festival

Tony Leung Chui-wai and Leslie Cheung star as Lai and Ho respectively: a gay couple travelling across Argentina, somewhat lost of direction, winding up in Buenos Aires in low paid jobs. Their hope is to reach the Iguazu Falls in the north of the country, but the lack of funds and the constant bickering in their on-off relationship prevents them from ever reaching a happy ending. As their time in Buenos Aires continues, the pair...

The short life and brilliant career of Hong Kong singer, actress and social activist Anita Mui is celebrated in the middling biopic “Anita,” starring 31-year-old model Louise Wong in her film debut. This handsomely decorated and lushly filmed portrait nails the look and electric atmosphere in Hong Kong’s entertainment industry during its 1980s and ’90s heyday but only fitfully captures the sassy energy and fearless spirit that made Mui an adored figure who became known as the “Madonna of the East” and the “Daughter of Hong Kong.” Archival footage of Mui sprinkled throughout the film highlights the difference.

“Anita” joins a long list of productions about Mui (Miu Yim-fong), who died from cervical cancer in Dec. 2003 at the age of 40. Among these are the lengthy Chinese TV series “Anita Mui Fei” (2007) and “Dearest Anita” (2019), a fact-based drama inspired by members of the Mui Nation online fan club. This big-budget...

The extraordinary Jonathan Ross discusses his favorite movies with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Kick-Ass (2010)

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) – Dennis Cozzalio’s 2015 year-end list

The Woman in Black (2012)

Stardust (2007)

The Green Knight (2021) – Our podcast interview with director David Lowery, Dennis Cozzalio’s best-of-2021-so-far list

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

The Astro-Zombies (1968) – Dennis Cozzalio’s drive-in director list

The Corpse Grinders (1971) – Dennis Cozzalio’s drive-in director list

Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living And Became Zombies (1964) – Dennis Cozzalio’s drive-in director list

Blood Feast (1963) – Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review

The Wizard of Gore (1970)

Police Story (1985) – Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review

Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989)

Re-Animator (1985) – Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review

Society (1989)

Eraserhead (1977) – Karyn Kusama’s Blu-ray review

Faster Pussycat Kill Kill (1965) – Randy Fuller’s wine pairing

Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls (1970) – Michael Lehmann’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Randy...

by Dawna Fung

Swathes of dark hair fall over her narrow shoulders, as her friend snips with a pair of scissors in small quick strokes. The haircut is blunt without texturizing or thinning out, but that’s enough to make her look like a boy with that medium length comb-over. She puts on different boyish styling clothes, but feels like the brown checked shirt buttoned to the neck suits her the most. Now, she’s a man.

Starring Leslie Cheung, Anita Yuen and Carina Lau, the 1994 Hong Kong romantic comedy film ‘He’s a Woman, She’s a Man’ already explains much in the title itself. Co-written and directed by the high-profile filmmaker Peter Chan, the movie reveals the possibility of ambivalent sexuality and gender confusion. Awards including Best Actress at the 14th Hong Kong Film Awards for Anita Yuen and Best Original Song for ‘Chase’ by...

While we have to wait a little longer for the next new masterpiece from Wong Kar Wai, the director is taking a look back at his most beloved film, “In the Mood for Love.” The Hong Kong auteur is releasing a new short film as an Nft, as part of a Sotheby’s auction that includes various iconic memorabilia from his filmography, including the yellow leather jacket worn by Leslie Cheung in “Happy Together.”

“In the Mood for Love — Day One” is an Nft short film that features “rare footage starring Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung as characters utterly different from the iconic lovers in the original film. This unique artwork celebrates the critical and wondrous moment when a creative idea is first conceived, while marking the first Asian film Nft ever to be offered in international auction houses.”

The film is edited from never-before-seen footage shot on the first...

Wong Kar-Wai has created his first Nft out of never-before-seen footage from his iconic film “In the Mood for Love,” which he will auction off via Sotheby’s in early October.

The minute-and-a-half-long short called “In the Mood for Love – Day One” features unseen shots from the film’s first day of production, Sotheby’s said, hailing the piece as the first Asian film Nft ever offered by an international auction house. It will be sold on Oct. 9 in Hong Kong as part of the company’s Modern Art autumn sale alongside jewelry, watches, Chinese ceramics, paintings and wine.

In a statement about the piece, the director spoke of his first day of shooting “In the Mood for Love” on Feb. 13, 1999.

“The first day of every film production is like the first date with your dream lover — it is filled with fright and delight, like skating on thin ice. An...

While Wong Kar Wai’s long-in-development Blossoms Shanghai will finally see the light of day hopefully next year, the director has been revisiting his past works with a Coppola-like interest. There were the post-production changes he made for the new Criterion restorations of his work, the premiere of a new documentary on deleted scenes from his filmography, and now, the Hong Kong master is taking an unexpected route when it comes to unveiling never-before-seen footage from In the Mood for Love.

As part of a Sotheby’s auction this October, which also includes the Happy Together leather jacket worn by Leslie Cheung, Wong has created his first-ever Nft. Titled In the Mood for Love – Day One, it features never-before-seen footage shot on the first production day of his 2000 masterpiece. The Nft short film “contains rare footage starring Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung as characters utterly different from the iconic lovers in the original film,...

After the success of “As Tears Go By”, filmmaker Wong Kar-wai could have embarked on a very lucrative artistic journey, exploring the genre of action and crime even further, and while some of his later efforts contain traces of these genres, they are distinct departures from what Hong Kong cinema was known for at the beginning of the 1990s. Already with his second feature “Days of Being Wild”, he would create the brand of cinema international audiences have come to know from the director, a change emphasized by his collaboration with cinematographer Christopher Doyle, who would be integral in the genesis of the filmmaker’s unique style and approach to storytelling. In “Days of Being Wild”, Wong Kar-wai tells the stories of various characters, how their paths intertwine and relate to each other, defined by romance, love and dreams, and, above all, the urban landscape of Hong Kong.

In Hong Kong,...

Film fans will be able to immerse themselves in the ravishing, dreamlike World Of Wong Kar Wai on the big screen this July, with a complete retrospective of the Hong Kong master filmmakers presented by the BFI and the Institute of Contemporary Arts (Ica), in partnership with Janus Films. This complete retrospective will take place at BFI Southbank and the Ica from 7-31 July and will include 7 brand-new 4K restorations, 5 of which have been overseen by Wong Kar Wai himself. With his lush and sensual visuals, pitch-perfect soundtracks, and soulful romanticism, Wong Kar Wai has established himself as one of the defining auteurs of contemporary cinema. Titles screening will include offbeat love story Chungking Express (1994), breathtaking romance In The Mood For Love (2000), alluring period drama 2046 (2004), thrilling historical biopic The Grandmaster (2013) and many more. Whether tragically romantic, soaked in blood, or quirkily comedic, the films in this retrospective are an...

There was a time not so long ago when John Woo was action cinema. The prolific director was not only a revolutionary filmmaker in Hong Kong with his highly stylised and distinct movies, but he also had a major impact on the international scene. Countless contemporary directors have aped off Woo’s style over the better part of forty years, yet no one quite lives up to the master himself. Revisiting one of the director’s most beloved crime flicks, “A Better Tomorrow”, it’s easy to see why he is still so revered today.

Ho (Ti Lung) and Mark (Chow Yun-Fat) are members of the criminal underworld and run a scam producing fake dollar bills to exchange with international buyers. Ho decides his life of crime is over after his dear younger brother, Kit (Leslie Cheung), becomes an inspector in the police force. However, a double-cross...

Twenty years ago, on July 1st 1997, the UK handed-over sovereignty of Hong Kong back to China, with a fifty years grace period, before Chinese laws would take effect. With this being the case, Shanghai-born Hong Kong resident Wong Kar-wai went to great lengths to ensure his latest work, “Happy Together”, was released before this date, although his reasons may not appear clear at face value.

Tony Leung Chui-wai and Leslie Cheung star as Lai and Ho respectively: a gay couple travelling across Argentina, somewhat lost of direction, winding up in Buenos Aires in low paid jobs. Their hope is to reach the Iguazu Falls in the north of the country, but the lack of funds and the constant bickering in their on-off relationship prevents them from ever reaching a happy ending. As their time in Buenos Aires continues, the pair are in limbo; Lai in constant fear...

Having a movie that revolves around a tragic love story whose actual protagonists and Hong Kong cinema legends tragically died 15 years later have deemed “Rouge” a legendary film. Apart from its non-cinematic significance, “Rouge” was an international and local success, winning six awards in from Hong Kong festival and a plethora of others in festivals all over the world.

The script is based on the homonymous novel by Lilian Lee, and unfolds in two periods. The first one takes place during 1934, when we are introduced to Fleur, a high-class, extremely popular courtesan and Chan Chen-pang, a rich playboy who frequented the opium dens of Hong Kong at the time. The two meet and soon fall in love, but his family objects to the affair. In their desperation, the two lovers decide to commit suicide and meet again in the afterlife.

The second period takes place 50 years later, when a disgruntled Fleur,...

CAAMFest 2021, the spring festival showcase of the Center for Asian American Media (Caam), presents many Chinese and Chinese diaspora works. From the Opening Night drive-in screening of director Debbie Lum’s Try Harder! at Fort Mason Flix on Thursday, May 13 and the Hong Kong Cinema Showcase drive-in on Saturday, May 15 to virtual and on-demand events, the festival is proud to celebrate the dynamism of the Chinese and Chinese diaspora experience. Several films from CAAMFest 2021 include representation from Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Opening Night

Try Harder!, directed by Debbie Lum

Thursday, May 13, 6:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. at Fort Mason Flix

At San Francisco’s Lowell High School—where cool kids are nerds, nearly everyone has an amazing talent, and the majority of the student body is Asian American—the things that usually make a person stand out can feel not good enough, even commonplace.

Spotlight: Evan Jackson Leong

Centerpiece Presentation,...

CAAMFest, the largest showcase of Asian American stories from May 13-23, is announcing its opening weekend featuring drive-in screenings at Fort Mason Flix. Opening with two screenings of the timely Lowell High School documentary “Try Harder!” directed by Debbie Lum, the weekend also highlights the diverse Filipino American experience, with two Bay Area premieres: Dante Basco feature film directorial debut “The Fabulous Filipino Brothers” and “Lumpia with a Vengeance” directed by Patricio Ginelsa. The final drive-in program will present the Hong Kong films: a look back screening of Wong Kar-Wai’s “Happy Together” and “The Way We Keep Dancing” by Adam Wong.

Opening Night

Try Harder!, directed by Debbie Lum

Thursday, May 13, 6:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. at Fort Mason Flix

As they prepare for the emotionally draining college application process, students are keenly aware of the intense competition for the few open spots in their dream colleges in this feature-length documentary.

Venue: Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre

Date: 2021.04.16 – 2021.04.17

Price: Hk$80 / Hk$64*

In South Korea, women have been voicing out loud through activist movements such as #EscapeTheCorset, #MeToo, #MyLifeIsNotYourPorn, and 4B. The first feminist political party, the Women’s Party, has also been recently formed to fight for more influence in the development of the deeply patriarchal and conservative Korean society.

More prominent and realistic images of women have also appeared in Korean cinema. A growing number of women filmmakers are creating courageous and captivating works to make their views be seen and heard, and #SendingMySpirit also encourages people to buy tickets for films with greater female involvement. Proudly presented by the Hong Kong Arts Centre, the Dmz International Documentary Film Festival and the Seoul Independent Film Festival, the Women Direct. Korean Indies! – Korean Women Independent Film Series brings you on a journey to explore the recent wave of women independent cinema.

After a career as producer and few short films, independent director Kim Cho-hee brings to light her debut feature, “Lucky Chan-sil”, a charming story of, well … a film producer, dealing with the challenges that life throws at her. Like many of this year’s movies, her work was caught in the COVID19 storm, just in between Festival runs and (cancelled) theatrical releases; therefore, after gaining a rich palmarès in Festivals (Kbs Independent Film Award and the Cgv Arthouse Award at Biff and the Audience Award at the Seoul Independent Film Festival), got stalled abruptly. Hopefully not for long.

“Lucky Chan-sil” is screening in Hong Kong Arts Centre on Saturday 17/4 at 7:30 pm

as part of Women Direct. Korean Indies! – Korean Women Independent Film series, under the signature programme of the Hong Kong Arts Centre, Independently Yours

Offbeat sweet ‘n’ sour comedy “Lucky Chan-sil” follows the titular character, an indie film...

In South Korea, women have been voicing out loud through activist movements such as #EscapeTheCorset, #MeToo, #MyLifeIsNotYourPorn, and 4B. The first feminist political party, the Women’s Party, has also been recently formed to fight for more influence in the development of the deeply patriarchal and conservative Korean society.

More prominent and realistic images of women have also appeared in Korean cinema. A growing number of women filmmakers are creating courageous and captivating works to make their views be seen and heard, and #SendingMySpirit also encourages people to buy tickets for films with greater female involvement. Proudly presented by the Hong Kong Arts Centre, the Dmz International Documentary Film Festival and the Seoul Independent Film Festival, the Women Direct. Korean Indies! – Korean Women Independent Film Series brings you on a journey to explore the recent wave of women independent cinema. Our selected works observe and delineate women’s places and...

Comedy is such a tricky thing to get right. Different languages and cultures mean that what plays well in one country may be incomprehensible to another. Slapstick is therefore more universal as visually it is easier to understand. With “They Came to Rob Hong Kong” we potentially have a classic example of what Hong Kong did so well in the golden era. That gelling together of fast paced action and knockabout humour that is unlike anything seen elsewhere. With a solid cast of both comedians and action stars, what could possibly go wrong?

Rick (Roy Cheung) barely escapes being captured by the police headed up by the Superintendent (Kara Hui). Plotting revenge, he hires a motley collection of misfits in China to use as a diversion from his actual intentions. Bringing them back to Hong Kong, he plans for them to rob a bank whilst he captures a politician and the superintendent.

The Hong Kong action movie has a distinctive love of guns since the evolution of the genre brought about by the “Heroic Bloodshed” genre from the mid to late 1980’s. Bullets would be fired in slow motion, with two handed gunplay exhibiting an almost fetishistic coolness by the leads as the screen would turn crimson. “Double Tap” would be the ultimate extension of this with its central characters obsessing over the speed and accuracy of their weaponry. The first of a loose trilogy featuring Alex Fong’s policeman Miu Chi-shun, it is the action movie as psychodrama.

Rick (Leslie Cheung) is a gun expert who spends his life modifying them to achieve a faster draw along with accuracy. Considered one of the best, he had recently retired from competition until policeman Miu Chi-Shun (Alex Fong) tempts him back. Before a winner can be declared, one of Miu...

“Love is all a matter of timing” – Wong Kar Wai

The BFI and the Institute of Contemporary Arts (Ica), in partnership with Janus Films, today announces the World Of Wong Kar Wai, screening on BFI Player and through the Ica’s newly launched online platform ‘Cinema 3’ during February 2021. With his lush and sensual visuals, pitch-perfect soundtracks, and soulful romanticism, Wong Kar-wai has established himself as one of the defining auteurs of contemporary cinema. This retrospective of the Hong Kong master filmmaker, including 7 brand-new 4K restorations, 5 of which have been overseen by Wong Kar Wai himself (full credits of which can be found in the notes to editors), will be available via the Ica’s digital programme platform Cinema 3 (from 1 February) and BFI Player (from 8 February). Titles will include offbeat love story Chungking Express (1994), breathtaking romance In The Mood For Love (2000), alluring period drama 2046 (2004), thrilling historical biopic The Grandmaster (2013) and many more.

The 45th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF45) will honour Stanley Kwan as this year’s Filmmaker-in-Focus.

Scheduled to take place from 1 to 12 April, HKIFF45 will celebrate Kwan’s remarkable career with a retrospective of 13 of his seminal works to coincide with a commemorative book’s publication. Kwan will also attend a Face-to-Face session on 5 April to share his insights on films, art, and life with the public.

“Stanley is an auteur, and we are proud to acknowledge his unique and indelible contributions towards Hong Kong cinema,” enthused Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Executive Director Albert Lee. “He has developed a highly personal aesthetic style in his portray of the female psyche while capturing the nuanced transformation of the city and the era. Stanley has set benchmarks for LGBTQ films in Chinese-language cinema with his exploration of gender and sexuality issues.”

In a distinguished career spanning more than 40 years,...