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The 53rd London Film festival runs from 14 to 29 October, with plenty of Asian premieres on offer…

One definite highlight of the festival must be Lu Chuan’s film remarkable film on the ‘rape of Nanking’, City of Life and Death. Almost exactly three years ago the director talked enthusiastically about the project to easternKicks whilst promoting his fantastic Kekexili: Mountain Patrol, and it’s great to see this project has come to fruition.

Bong Joon-Ho’s Mother debuts at the festival too, about a herbalist and acupuncturist turns ‘detective’ to prove her son’s innocence when he’s charged with murder. With such great films as The Host and Memories Of Murder under his belt, one can only look forward to what he has in store for us this time.

Other films to arouse our curiosity are Hirokazu Kore-eda’s live-action adaptation of Yoshie Gouda’s avant-garde manga The Pneumatic Figure of a Girl, Air Doll – starring Korean star Bae Doo-Na, it tells of an inflatable sex-doll suddenly finds herself with a soul; and Kamui from Korean-Japanese director Yoichi Sai – again another live-action adaption from a manga – which BFI critic Tony Ryans declares is ‘probably the best ninja movie ever made’.

Also watch out for include Pan Jianlin’s Feast of Villians, Joko Anwar’s Forbidden Door and Ho Yuhang’s multinational production At the End of Daybreak. We’ll probably do another round-up soon, once we’ve had a chance to digest the programme fully – but is it just me or is there a lack of real Asian, if you’ll pardon the phrase, ‘crowd pleasers’ this year?

» Find out more on the official LFF website

Asia House, the UK’s leading pan-Asian cultural organisation, presents a compelling selection of the best new cinema from
across Asia. From the latest work by Oscar-nominated director Zhang Yimou (House of the Flying Daggers, Hero), Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles, to films by award-winning film-makers and emerging talent from China, Japan, Taiwan, Iran, Bhutan and the Philippines.

Other screenings include Miki Satoshi’s follow-up to Adrift in Tokyo, Instant Swamp starring Kumiko Aso, Yu-Chieh Cheng’s Yang Yang and Filipino screen writer and documentary maker Ralston Jover’s Bakal Boys. The festival runs from 27 November to 11 December.

The full line up is as follows:

Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles

Dir. Zhang Yimou, 12A, 107mins
Friday 27 November, 7.30pm

Academy Award nominated Chinese Director Zhang Yimou casts veteran Japanese star Takakura Ken in this majestic road movie following a father’s quest for reconciliation with his dying son. Gou-ichi Takata (Takakura Ken) journeys across epic landscapes to the heart of China in search of Li Jaimin, the singer whose voice may reconcile father and son.

Bakal Boys

Dir. Ralston Jover, Cert. TBC, 125 mins
Thursday 3 December, 7.30pm

In his feature debut, acclaimed Filipino screen writer and documentary maker Ralston Jover uses a gritty yet poetic verité approach in this drama about the boys who dive for scrap metal in the harbour slums of Manila. Followed by post screening discussion with critic Tony Rayns.

Moving Screens

Future Shorts Asian Selection
Friday 4 December, 7.30pm

Future Shorts, the world’s leading short film label, presents a selection of award-winning films from Japan, Singapore and Thailand including a work by celebrated music video maker Nagi Noda and humorous masterpieces by Royston Tan and Kosai Sekine. Followed by Q&A with Future Shorts.

Instant Swamp

Dir. Miki Satoshi, 15, 120mins
Saturday 5 December, 8pm

Miki Satoshi’s follow-up to film festival hit the road movie ‘Adrift in Tokyo’ stars the beautiful Kumiko Aso as Haname. Instant
Swamp is also about a journey – but more one of self discovery. Haname, editor at a trendy fashion magazine on the brink of
bankruptcy, disposes of her possessions and travels across Japan to discover an antiques dealer (Morio Kazama) who may or may not be her lost father. Miki’s unique brand of dry, quirky and surreal comedy is still much in evidence as is his affection for Japan’s odder corners and personalities.
Courtesy of Third Window Films

Those Three

Dir. Naghi Nemati, Cert TBC, 80mins
Wednesday 9 December, 8pm

This beautiful atmospheric debut feature by award-winning Iranian short film maker Naghi Nemati tracks three conscripts who desert their unit and become lost in the frozen wilderness of Iran’s mountainous north. As their lives unravel in the barren snowscapes the film shifts language, becoming an intense and surreal meditation on human existence.

Milarepa

Dir. Neten Chokling, 12A, 90 mins
Thursday 10 December, 8pm

This new feature by Bhutanese director Neten Chokling follows the life of the legendary 11th century Tibetan Bhuddist mystic and saint Jetsun Milarepa. With sumptuous cinematography, the film is an ancient tale of magic, murder and redemption, played out across
spectacular Himalayan landscapes.

Yang Yang

Dir. Yu-Chieh Cheng, Cert. TBC, 111mins
Friday 11 December, 7.30pm

The latest feature by award-winning director Yu-Chieh Cheng, mentored by Ang Lee and now emerging as Taiwan’s brightest new talent. Beautiful half-French, half-Taiwanese athlete Yang Yang (Sandrine Pinna – Best Actress Taipei Film Festival) pursues love and intimacy but is conflicted by Taiwan’s fetish for Western beauty in a search for her own identity.

All screenings take place at the Apollo Cinema, Piccadilly Circus, except Future Shorts

» Find out more about the events from Asia House

More good news for London-based film fans, as Asia House follows the success of their Pan-Asia Film Festival 2009 with a new monthly series at the Apollo Cinema, Piccadilly Circus. The series kicks off this Wednesday, 3 February, with Special Jury Prize Sundance Film Festival 2007 winner The Pool, followed by a director Q&A with Chris Smith. Shot in Goa and featuring incisive observations about the class divide and the mysteries of the human heart, this is a tale of a boy’s obsession with a glittering swimming pool and how it changes four lives in India.

23 March features what is described as a pre-release screening of God Man Dog (hey, isn’t that on DVD?) by acclaimed Taiwanese director Singing Chen. God Man Dog follows the emotional and literal journeys of a middle class Taipei couple, an alcoholic Taiwanese aborigine and his estranged daughter, and an amputee who drives on a truck glowing gods dispensing good fortune. Half road movie, half social-realist drama, this three-part narrative is interspersed with moments of beautiful comedy. Starring Jonathan Chang (A One and A Two).

On 27 April Asia House presents a special screening of 24 City, Jia Zhang-ke’s chronicle of the thunderous fall of a state-owned munitions factory and its conversion into a luxury high-rise apartment complex. Jia weaves the stories of three generations of factory workers into a fascinating history of post-revolutionary China. Blending documentary and fiction, interviews with workers are intercut with real and staged vignettes on life before and after 24 City.

Find out more on the screenings and book tickets »

It’s the Chinese New Year on February 14, year of the Tiger, and to celebrate the BFI are showing a short season of Chinese movies starting this Thursday. These include Xie Jin’s Two Stage Sisters from 1964, Chen Kaige’s groundbreaking Yellow Earth, featuring cinematography by Zhang Yimou, and Yimou’s own The Road Home. (Which is free, but only for seniors!)

Find out more and book tickets online from the BFI’s website »

The BFI to screen the entire filmography from one of the finest and most inventive filmmakers in the world – Bong Joon-ho – including a preview of his latest offering Mother, followed by a conversation with the man himself… (more…)

The BFI will screen the entire filmography of one of the finest and most inventive filmmakers in the world – Bong Joon-ho – including a preview of his latest offering Mother, followed by a conversation with the man himself… (more…)

Happy New Year everyone – it’s the year of the Rat!

Asia House, the UK’s leading pan-Asian cultural organisation, presents a compelling selection of the best new cinema from across Asia. From the latest work by Oscar-nominated director Zhang Yimou (House of the Flying Daggers, Hero), Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles, to films by award-winning film-makers and emerging talent from China, Japan, Taiwan, Iran, Bhutan and the Philippines.

Other screenings include Miki Satoshi’s follow-up to Adrift in Tokyo, Instant Swamp starring Kumiko Aso, Yu-Chieh Cheng’s Yang Yang and Filipino screen writer and documentary maker Ralston Jover’s Bakal Boys. The festival runs from 27 November to 11 December. For more details on the line-up, click here.

» Find out more about the events from Asia House

From 7 July to 31 August the ICA in London celebrates the more offbeat in Asian cinema with a season of ‘classics new and nearly new, comic, horrific, pre-modern and sci-fi’. This includes a chance to see Fumihiko Sori’s revamp of blind swordsman Zatoichi, Ichi, starring Haruka Ayase, as well his earlier Ping Pong. Also included are several screenings of Tokyo Gore Police; Paul Schrader’s own cut of his true story of Japanese novelist and playwright, Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters; 20th Century Boys: Chapter 2; and Chanbara Beauty, an everyday tale of ‘A sword-wielding, bikini-clad samurai who wages war against an ever-increasing horde of unstoppable zombies’…

» Find out more about Cult Japan and book tickets

Following on from the recent Tsai Ming-liang season, BFI have another devoted to a respected but often overlooked Asian filmmaker, Jia Zhangke during February. The season includes Platform, The World and and extended run of Still Life.

You can find out more information and book tickets here.

From 7 July to 31 August the ICA in London celebrates the more offbeat in Asian cinema with a season of ‘classics new and nearly new, comic, horrific, pre-modern and sci-fi’. This includes a chance to see Fumihiko Sori’s revamp of blind swordsman Zatoichi, Ichi, starring Haruka Ayase, as well his earlier Ping Pong. Also included are several screenings of Tokyo Gore Police; Paul Schrader’s own cut of his true story of Japanese novelist and playwright, Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters; 20th Century Boys: Chapter 2; and Chanbara Beauty, an everyday tale of ‘A sword-wielding, bikini-clad samurai who wages war against an ever-increasing horde of unstoppable zombies’…

» Find out more about Cult Japan and book tickets

Happy New Year everyone – it’s the year of the Rat!!!

Yes, it’s rolled around to that time of year again. When the London Film Festival reveals the line-up for this years programme. And to be honest, I’m not quite sure what to make of the films on offer this year, for Asian film fans at least…

Oddly most of the films on offer seem rather earnest. Okay, okay, nothing wrong with that, but regular readers of the site will be quite aware we like the quirky, bizarre and just plain entertaining just as much!

One definite highlight of the festival must be Lu Chuan’s film remarkable film on the ‘rape of Nanking’, City of Life and Death. Almost exactly three years ago the director talked enthusiastically about the project to easternKicks whilst promoting his fantastic Kekexili: Mountain Patrol, and it’s great to see this project has come to fruition.

Bong Joon-Ho’s Mother debuts at the festival too, about a herbalist and acupuncturist turns ‘detective’ to prove her son’s innocence when he’s charged with murder. With such great films as The Host and Memories Of Murder under his belt, one can only look forward to what he has in store for us this time.

Other films to arouse our curiosity are Hirokazu Kore-eda’s live-action adaptation of Yoshie Gouda’s avant-garde manga The Pneumatic Figure of a Girl, Air Doll – starring Korean star Bae Doo-Na, it tells of an inflatable sex-doll suddenly finds herself with a soul; and Kamui from Korean-Japanese director Yoichi Sai – again another live-action adaption from a manga – which BFI critic Tony Ryans declares is ‘probably the best ninja movie ever made’.

Also watch out for include Pan Jianlin’s Feast of Villians, Joko Anwar’s Forbidden Door and Ho Yuhang’s multinational production At the End of Daybreak. We’ll probably do another round-up soon, once we’ve had a chance to digest the programme fully – but is it just me or is there a lack of real Asian, if you’ll pardon the phrase, ‘crowd pleasers’ this year?

» Find out more on the official LFF website

The annual festival is back for another feast of new features, events and animations, running for the third year at the Barbican, in partnership with the Korean Cultural Centre and the Korean Content and Culture Agency (KOCCA).

This year the spotlight will be taken by an exclusive screening of director-of-the-moment Yang Ik-june’s Breathless, followed by a Q&A with the director himself. There’s plenty from Korea’s master directors, including Park Chan-wook’s Thirst, Kim Ki-duk’s Dream and Yoo Ha’s A Frozen Flower. There’s also a celebration of one of Korea’s most-loved directors, the late Yoo Hyun Mak, best known for Aimless Bullet, and a focus on Korea’s burgeoning independent scene. Other events and screenings include sleeper hit Scandal Makers and a Korean Animation Day.

The season also includes the afore mentioned Bong Joon-Ho retrospective showing at the BFI Southbank.

» Visit www.koreanfilm.co.uk for more information

The annual festival is back for another feast of new features, events and animations, running for the third year at the Barbican, in partnership with the Korean Cultural Centre and the Korean Content and Culture Agency (KOCCA).

This year the spotlight will be taken by an exclusive screening of director-of-the-moment Yang Ik-june’s Breathless, followed by a Q&A with the director himself. There’s plenty from Korea’s master directors, including Park Chan-wook’s Thirst, Kim Ki-duk’s Dream and Yoo Ha’s A Frozen Flower. There’s also a celebration of one of Korea’s most-loved directors, the late Yoo Hyun Mak, best known for Aimless Bullet, and a focus on Korea’s burgeoning independent scene. Other events and screenings include sleeper hit Scandal Makers and a Korean Animation Day.

The season also includes the afore mentioned Bong Joon-Ho retrospective showing at the BFI Southbank.

» Visit www.koreanfilm.co.uk for more information

This week sees the start of the Barbican’s annual festival focusing on the best of Korean cinema by presenting a brand new batch of box office hits, independent features and animated films from the country. Highlights this year include an exclusive Opening Night Gala Screening of the Director’s Cut of Park Chan-wook’s vampire thriller Thirst (some 10 minutes longer than the theatrical release currently screening), which will be introduced by the director himself, plus a screening of Yang Ik-june’s impressive debut feature, Breathless, followed by a Q&A session with Yang. The London Korean Film Festival 2009 will be held at the Barbican from 5th to 12th November.

» For full details, visit the Barbican website.

For Korean film fans, particularly of Park Chan-wook’s back catalogue, then this week sees the release of several notable films from Palisades Tartan on Blu-ray for the first time, including Sympathy For Mr Vengeance and Lady Vengeance, alongside Kim Jee-woon’s A Tale Of Two Sisters, recently remade as The Uninvited. (Not to be confused with the Korean film of the same name, also recently re-released by Palisades… Oh, don’t get me started!)

There’s also the DVD and Blu-ray release of the live-action version of Blood: The Last Vampire – and don’t forget you can still win a copy of the DVD here! The original animation is also released by Manga on Blu-ray today.

And if you still can’t get enough of Samurai sword slinging gore, then there’s Samurai Princess, from the creators of Tokyo Gore Police. Set in an alternative version of feudal Japan, a pair of human-android hybrids is on the rampage raping, torturing and dismembering young women in the name of “art”. Directed by Kengo Kaji (co-writer of Tokyo Gore Police), featuring special effects produced by director and FX wizard Yoshihiro Mishimura (Tokyo Gore Police, Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl) and starring adult video star Aino Kishi.

(…phew! I think that’s it for this week’s releases?)

The annual London MCM Expo takes place at the Excel London this weekend, 24th to 25th October, celebrating sci-fi, manga, anime and comics. Major labels MVM, Manga and 4Digital Asia will be there with exclusive previews and promotions…

» For full details of the Expo click here

A special preview of Ang Lee’s latest film, Lust, Caution, followed by a conversation with the director himself… (more…)

Something of a reduced service here at easternKicks, while I move house and wait an eternity to get my broadband sorted out, but time to highlight the success of Breathless, the debut film by Korean actor turned director Yang Ik-June, at this years Tokyo Filmex, walking off with both the Grand Prize and Audience Award.

Already the recipient of numerous international film awards, the film is an accomplished first work, brutal and uncompromising in its portrayal of the caise and effect of domestic violence, it’s also poetic, funny, and surprisingly uplifting. On paper, a strange mix, but on screen easily one of the best Asian films of the year. The film opens in selected cinemas around the UK on 29 January 2010, distributed by Terracotta Distribution, and is a must-see.

We’ll be bringing you an exclusive interview with Yang Ik-June, who also stars, wrote and edited Breathless, and happens to be a lot more affable in real life than you might expect from his role, as well as a review of the film itself.

The BFI kicks off the New Year with an exhaustingly comprehensive season celebrating the work of the acclaimed film director Yasujiro Ozu. Promising nearly every surviving work by Ozu (over 30 films!), the season runs throughout January and February – starting with a nationwide UK release for his masterpiece Tokyo Story.

Best known for tales of family tensions and troubles, such as Tokyo Story itself and other films like An Autumn Afternoon, Story of Floating Weeds, Late Autumn and Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family, the season also offers the chance to see lesser known comedies (like Days Of Youth) and gangster films (Dragnet Girl). The BFI are also running a special offer, buy tickets for four films, get a fifth free!

The retrospective will be accompanied by a season highlighting Ozu’s influence on filmmakers throughout the world, including Ang Lee’s Eat Drink Man Woman, Jim Jarmusch’s Mystery Train and Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Three Monkeys.

Read more about the Ozu season at the BFI »

The BFI kicks off the New Year with an exhaustingly comprehensive season celebrating the work of the acclaimed film director Yasujiro Ozu. Promising nearly every surviving work by Ozu (over 30 films!), the season runs throughout January and February – starting with a nationwide UK release for his masterpiece Tokyo Story.

Best known for tales of family tensions and troubles, such as Tokyo Story itself and other films like An Autumn Afternoon, Story of Floating Weeds, Late Autumn and Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family, the season also offers the chance to see lesser known comedies (like Days Of Youth) and gangster films (Dragnet Girl). The BFI are also running a special offer, buy tickets for four films, get a fifth free!

The retrospective will be accompanied by a season highlighting Ozu’s influence on filmmakers throughout the world, including Ang Lee’s Eat Drink Man Woman, Jim Jarmusch’s Mystery Train and Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Three Monkeys.

Read more about the Ozu season at the BFI »

The only surviving part of a thriteen episode serial, the BFI are offering another chance to see this rare and classic example of martial arts from the slient era – this time with a live accompaniment from the Devil Music Ensemble, an American three-piece excelling in live scores to silent films. We originally reviewed the film as part of the first Herioc Grace season (back in 2003?) but you may well ask how little has changed in 80 years!

You can find out more and book tickets directly from the BFI here »

Vengeance has dominated the work of director Park Chan-wook’s last three films, but it seems his obsession with the subject which has kept audiences on the edge of their seats – with their stomachs churning – is at an end… (more…)

From 6 November next week the Barbican Centre plays host to The London Korean Film Festival 08. As well as a preview showing of Kim Jee-woon’s The Good, The Bad, The Weird – with the director himself and lead Lee Byung-hun in attendance, their also be other new films like Seven Days – starring Lost’s Kim Yun-jin, May 18 and Forever The Moment, some classic movies from the 1960s, and a Lee Chang-dong Retrospective including Green Fish and his latest film Secret Sunshine.

For a full listing and information on how to book, click here.

Palisades Tartan, the reborn imprint of the Tartan Films label, are offering a chance for two to attend their UK premiere of Park Chan-wook’s Thirst and meet the director in person… (more…)

The BFI continues to support Asian cinema in the UK with a special preview of Xiaolu Gu’s She, a Chinese on Wednesday 10 February, which will feature a Q&A with the director and novelist himself whose previous work includes How is Your Fish Today and A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers. The film concerns an enigmatic young Chinese woman raised in a backwater, longing for a different life.

Find out more and book tickets »