3 Asian Movies At SIFF.
My S.O loves the SIFF (Seattle International Film Fest). I just go along for the ride and usually enjoy it tremendously.
We're leaving for Europe just as the SIFF starts, so we got in four movies in before we left - just so that she can satisfy her SIFF needs.
All the movies were Asian. Well one was Indian which for some reason I don't consider Asian. The movies were Vanaja, Exile, Paprika and Battle of Wits. Exile and Battle of Wits were Chinese, Exile from HongKong and Battle of the Wits from the North.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0832971/ dir. Domalpali
Vanaja. The film was the director's MFA submission. It's a story inspired by Sophie's Choice. The actors were all amateurs in rural Andhra Pradesh. The movie was well shot and well structured, the director did a great job with these amateurs, there were some parts that were not 100% but that makes up for parts where a professional actor would have gone over the top. I think having non pro actors saved the movie from being a maudlin tear fest - it added some reality to it. Stuff happens to people, bad things, and they move on.
Stories from two Chinas.
Johnny To's Exiled (Fong Juk)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796212/
I've talked about tropes in movies and this one has them in spades. but it doesn't take them to seriously.
The language. The lighting. Fun gun fights. There is something to be said of making a good genre film. This was very enjoyable.
Battle of Wits
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0485863/
When I walked out of this movie I thought I just watched a Commie propaganda movie. The movie felt like it was going in a good direction and then it just fell back hard on its genre.
This movie made me mad like every other north Chinese movie makes me. Because the fundamental moral of the movie runs counter to what I want to see. Every time I go to these movies I expect something different. Light hearted House of Flying Daggers had an interminably miserable ending. This movie had the same ending. I don't think I've seen one Chinese movie that ends with the girl and the boy happily hand in hand as the credits roll. You'll say "but it's a refreshing change from the relentless optimistic endings of American movies!". And I would agree if it wasn't so predictable : Chinese movie = everybody dies in tears.
What's interesting about this movie is that it is based on a Japanese Manga which is based on a Japanese novel which is based on Chinese history. There is some cross culturalism going on here. A double mix of Chinese and Japanese Obligation ritual.
Paprika I've already talked about.
We're leaving for Europe just as the SIFF starts, so we got in four movies in before we left - just so that she can satisfy her SIFF needs.
All the movies were Asian. Well one was Indian which for some reason I don't consider Asian. The movies were Vanaja, Exile, Paprika and Battle of Wits. Exile and Battle of Wits were Chinese, Exile from HongKong and Battle of the Wits from the North.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0832971/ dir. Domalpali
Vanaja. The film was the director's MFA submission. It's a story inspired by Sophie's Choice. The actors were all amateurs in rural Andhra Pradesh. The movie was well shot and well structured, the director did a great job with these amateurs, there were some parts that were not 100% but that makes up for parts where a professional actor would have gone over the top. I think having non pro actors saved the movie from being a maudlin tear fest - it added some reality to it. Stuff happens to people, bad things, and they move on.
Stories from two Chinas.
Johnny To's Exiled (Fong Juk)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796212/
I've talked about tropes in movies and this one has them in spades. but it doesn't take them to seriously.
The language. The lighting. Fun gun fights. There is something to be said of making a good genre film. This was very enjoyable.
Battle of Wits
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0485863/
When I walked out of this movie I thought I just watched a Commie propaganda movie. The movie felt like it was going in a good direction and then it just fell back hard on its genre.
This movie made me mad like every other north Chinese movie makes me. Because the fundamental moral of the movie runs counter to what I want to see. Every time I go to these movies I expect something different. Light hearted House of Flying Daggers had an interminably miserable ending. This movie had the same ending. I don't think I've seen one Chinese movie that ends with the girl and the boy happily hand in hand as the credits roll. You'll say "but it's a refreshing change from the relentless optimistic endings of American movies!". And I would agree if it wasn't so predictable : Chinese movie = everybody dies in tears.
What's interesting about this movie is that it is based on a Japanese Manga which is based on a Japanese novel which is based on Chinese history. There is some cross culturalism going on here. A double mix of Chinese and Japanese Obligation ritual.
Paprika I've already talked about.
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