easternKicks.com - The Best in Asian Film!

Interview

Dong Yue interview: “Although he treats himself as a hero, the absurdity and cruelty of reality is very different”

We talk to the director about his debut The Looming Storm…

Review

Blank 13

A family drama turned comedy explores a tormented father-son relationship…

Review

Woman is the Future of Man, Tale of Cinema: Two Films by Hong Sangsoo

Out on UK Blu-ray for the first time, Hong Sang-soo’s fifth and sixth films provide a double dose of relationship missteps and woe…

Review

BuyBust

One squad. One notorious criminal. One mission gone terribly wrong. One film that will leave you completely breathless…

Review

River’s Edge

Successfully evoking the complexity of adolescence in a crude, unflattering and straightforward way…

Review
Asura

A first look at the 750m yuan blockbuster now famously withdrawn from Chinese cinemas…
Feature
A Guide to the Asian Films at the 2018 New Zealand International...

We take a look at the Asian films screening at this year’s NZIFF…
1987: When the Day Comes interview: Kim Yoon-seok and Jang Joon-hwan

We talk to the star and director of the political drama based on true events…
Interview
Stephy Tang interview: “I was boxing 2-3 times a week, training my...

We talk to the Hong Kong actress about her role in Chapman To’s The Empty Hands…
Review
Respeto

Boyz n the Slums… of the Philippines…
Review
Sad Beauty

The beauty and the drama…

COMING SOON...

Wrath of Silence Interview: Xi Yukun and Jiang Wu
Review: Girls Always Happy
Review: Abnormal Family: Older Brother’s Bride

Latest news

All the latest news from Asian cinema...

News
London Korean Film Festival 2018: Documentary Fortnight

The London Korean Film Festival 2018 (LKFF) organizes series of free screenings and events focusing on independent documentaries from Korea…
News
Eureka Classics to release Jackie Chan’s CITY HUNTER on 2K Blu-Ray

Coming to Blu-Ray on September 17th, Eureka Entertainment are releasing acclaimed film CITY HUNTER as part of their Eureka Classics range…
News
‘Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings’ is coming to the UK!

Tsui Hark’s epic martial art film will be out in the UK cinemas on 27 July…
News
This July Cine Asia joins “HMV Loves…” selection…

The much-loved label gets recognition at HMV…
Feature
Asian Films revealed at the 22nd Fantasia International Film Festival

The acclaimed Canadian film festival returns for its 22nd edition with 69 Asian films…
News
12th Five Flavours Asian Film Festival is coming in November

Its first part of the programme has been revealed…

17th New York Asian Film Festival

The NYAFF returns for the 17th time, featuring four world premieres, three international premieres in the rich programme showcasing up to 60 titles from all around East Asia…

Interview
Dong Yue interview: “Although he treats himself as a hero, the absurdity...

We talk to the director about his debut The Looming Storm…
Review
BuyBust

One squad. One notorious criminal. One mission gone terribly wrong. One film that will leave you completely breathless…
Review
River’s Edge

Successfully evoking the complexity of adolescence in a crude, unflattering and straightforward way…
1987: When the Day Comes interview: Kim Yoon-seok and Jang Joon-hwan

We talk to the star and director of the political drama based on true events…
Interview
Stephy Tang interview: “I was boxing 2-3 times a week, training my...

We talk to the Hong Kong actress about her role in Chapman To’s The Empty Hands…
Review
Respeto

Boyz n the Slums… of the Philippines…
Review
Sad Beauty

The beauty and the drama…
Interview
Harata Masado interview: “Sekigahara, I have been dreaming about making it for...

The director talks about his work…
Review
I Can Speak

Get ready to drown in your own tears with the latest Kim Hyun-seok’s dramedy…
Feature
Dante Lam and Candy Leung interview: “Suddenly I see Dante with two...

We talk to the well-known filmmaker and his producer…

Japan Cuts 2018

Celebrating this year its 12th edition, Japan Cuts will screen 28 feature-length films and 9 shorts, with titles spacing from blockbusters to independent productions and new restorations…

Review
Blank 13

A family drama turned comedy explores a tormented father-son relationship…
News
Japan Society reveals the full line-up for its upcoming JAPAN CUTS Film...

New York’s annual highlight for Japanese cinema to screen over 30 titles for its 12^th edition
Review
Tremble All You Want

An intelligent romantic comedy with a ‘twisted’ central character…
Interview
Akiko Ooku interview: “I’m trying to give these people a push to...

We talk to the director of Tremble All You Want…
Review
Tourism

Two friends travel to Singapore and explore the delights of tourism after a big lottery win…
Interview
Masaaki Yuasa interview: “I thought great, I don’t have to stop watching...

We chat to the popular animation director about The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl and Lu Over the Wall…

22nd Fantasia International Film Festival

North America’s largest genre festival returns with over 130 films from across the globe, including 69 from Asia…

Review
Microhabitat

A young Seoul-ite engages in some forcible downsizing as prices for all her basic luxuries rise…
Review
Tremble All You Want

An intelligent romantic comedy with a ‘twisted’ central character…
Review
Satan’s Slaves

Tales from the Muslim graveyard…
Interview
Akiko Ooku interview: “I’m trying to give these people a push to...

We talk to the director of Tremble All You Want…
Review
One Cut of the Dead

A low budget Japanese comedy horror that’s bloody good farcical fun…
Review
Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum

Does South Korea have a found-footage film that gives The Blair Witch Project ample competition?…
Review
The Brink

Shawn Yue and Zhang Jin battle for gold on the stormy seas in Jonathan Li’s debut thriller…
Review
Neomanila

A retro-futuristic Manila is the background of a nightmarish society come true…
Review
The Oily Maniac

Classic exploitation howler where a man transforms to enact revenge upon those who have unwisely wronged him…
Review
The Outlaws

Ma Dong-seok takes on Chinese-Korean gangsters in a true-life crime story…

20th Far East Film Festival 2018

Udine’s Far East Film Festival celebrates its 20th edition with European and World premieres, events and superstar visits including Brigitte Lin…

Review
Sad Beauty

The beauty and the drama…
Review
Little Forest

A feel-good foodie flick about the simple pleasures in life…
Review
The Scythian Lamb

A weird dark comedy mixing different genres while tackling rural depopulation in an unusual fashion…
Review
The Portrait

Drama and nostalgia dominate the scene in front of the portrait of the artist as Filipino…
Interview
Akihiro Toda interview: “I really liked mixing these unknown characters together to...

We talk to the director of The Name…
Review
Tremble All You Want

An intelligent romantic comedy with a ‘twisted’ central character…
Review
The Tailor

Ao dai designs and multiple modernities…
Interview
Moon So-ri interview: “I wasn’t relaxed enough for us to improvise!”

We talk to the Korean actress about her feature film debut…
Review
Transcendent

Over-ambitious and overstuffed with borrowed ideas, Zhang Linzi’s film is unlikely to bring new fans to Chinese sci-fi…
Review
Satan’s Slaves

Tales from the Muslim graveyard…

Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia: A True Celluloid Icon

We celebrate the career of perhaps the most iconic actress of the 80s and 90s, ahead of a special strand as part of HKIFF and an appearance at Udine Far East Film Festival…

Feature
Brigitte Lin: stardom, queering gender and iconicity

Colette Balmain discusses one of Hong Kong’s most enduring icons through her most famousnon-conforming gender roles…
Review
The Bride With White Hair

Love and loss on a battlefield…
Review
The Peach Blossom Land

Two theatre troupes at loggerheads when they are forced to share the same rehearsal space…
Review
Outside The Window

An engaging story of teacher-student romance made special by the mesmerising performance of a young Brigitte Lin…
Feature
Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia – A True Celluloid Icon

We celebrate the career of the 80s and 90s most iconic HK actress, the subject of a Filmmaker in Focus strand at this years HKIFF…
News
Brigitte Lin to receive Lifetime Achievement Award at 20th Udine FEFF

The Golden Mulberry Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at the 20th FEFF
News
HKIFF to showcase 14 classic Brigitte Lin films

Including Outside the Window and Ashes of Time, these classic films feature Brigitte Lin’s unforgettable performance…
Review
Operation Condor

Jackie Chan on fine form as adventuring treasure hunter, erm, Jackie, on his way to uncover lost Nazi gold…
Review
The Eagle Shooting Heroes

Shot back-to-back with Ashes Of Time and sharing much of the same cast, the stars get to let their hair down in a very different take on the same Louis Cha novel…
Feature
Jet Li versus…

To celebrate the release of Jet Li latest action yarn, War, we pick out five of our favourite fights from 25 years of his movies. And offer you the chance to submit your own to our list…

Fresh Wave Wednesdays

Our weekly celebration of work from the Fresh Wave Short Film Competition that supports up and coming young talent.

Review
Fresh Wave 2018: No Sleep Club

Can a cure for insomnia be the heart of a comedy? Wong Yee Mai’s short film says yes…
Review
Fresh Wave 2018: Jellyfish

A jellyfish, a dog and a cold sniper call for blood in Che Chun Hei’s short film…
Review
Fresh Wave 2018: Bright Spring Days

A bitter and tender embrace reunites a mother and her son in Yeh Ka-lun’s short film…
Review
Fresh Wave 2017: Affection

This excellent short film explores the fumbling, first forays into romance of Hong Kong high school students…
Review
Fresh Wave 2017: Hello

A quiet and slow reflection on unlikely friendship and the struggles of the homeless…
Interview
Wong Chun interview: “I’m the director and she writes – simply because...

We chat to the director of multiple award-winning Mad World…
Review
Fresh Wave 2017: Liu Yang He

An illuminating glimpse into the lives of sex workers in Hong Kong’s one room brothels…
Review
Fresh Wave 2017: Piled Cloud

A lone, old man and ambitious young student bond despite their age, outlook and life choices…
Review
Fresh Wave 2017: Bible of Kong Girls

Three quirky women battle life and its challenges using the bible of a powerful secretary…
Review
Fresh Wave 2014: The Glass City

Wong Hin Lik uses haunting imagery to ruminate on lost love…

Top Asian Films of 2017

The easternKicks team has voted for our favourite films of the year once again. Will your favourites be in there, and if so, what position will they make? All will be revealed…

Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 1. Mad World

Here it is, the easternKicks FILM OF THE YEAR… coming in at #1 on our Top 10 Films of 2017 is MAD WORLD
Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 2. Bad Genius

In the penultimate slot of the easternKicks Top 10 Films For 2017, BAD GENIUS is #2…
Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 3. Close Knit

CLOSE KNIT comes in at #3 on the easternKicks Top Ten of 2017
Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 4. A Silent Voice

A SILENT VOICE, a frank examination of bullying and the struggles faced by those with disabilities, comes in our Top 10 Films of 2017 at #4
Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 5. Okja

OKJA is an immersive family adventure with in depth social commentary, making #5 for our Top 10 Films of 2017
Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 6. A Taxi Driver

A TAXI DRIVER comes in at #6 on the easternKicks Top 10 Films of 2017
Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 7. Survival Family

Family comes first in our #7 slot, SURVIVAL FAMILY, for the Top 10 Films of 2017
Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 8. On the Beach at Night Alone

Beneath lies something much more surreal, in our #8 on the list of easternKicks’ Top Films of 2017
Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 9. Angels Wear White

Angels Wear White continues our easternKicks Top 10 films of 2017… coming in at #9!
Feature
Top 10 Films of 2017: 10. Love and Other Cults

Love and Other Cults starts off easternKicks’ Top 10 Film of 2017, coming in at #10 on the list…

Interviews

Our interviews with filmmakers, directors, actors, composers and much more besides from the world of Asian film…

Interview
Dong Yue interview: “Although he treats himself as a hero, the absurdity...

We talk to the director about his debut The Looming Storm…
Interview
Stephy Tang interview: “I was boxing 2-3 times a week, training my...

We talk to the Hong Kong actress about her role in Chapman To’s The Empty Hands…
Interview
Harata Masado interview: “Sekigahara, I have been dreaming about making it for...

The director talks about his work…
Interview
Akihiro Toda interview: “I really liked mixing these unknown characters together to...

We talk to the director of The Name…
Interview
Moon So-ri interview: “I wasn’t relaxed enough for us to improvise!”

We talk to the Korean actress about her feature film debut…
Interview
Akiko Ooku interview: “I’m trying to give these people a push to...

We talk to the director of Tremble All You Want…
Interview
Xiao Mei interview: “Acting is like jumping off a cliff, you cannot...

We talk in great depth to director Maren Hwang, actor-director Chen Yi-Wen, and up-and-coming actress Jao Cincin on Xiao Mei, the opening film of HKIFF 2018…
Interview
Huang Hsin-yao interview: “The way they watch dashcam is how I read...

We talk in great depth to the Taiwanese director on his narrative feature debut The Great Buddha +…
Interview
Ria Limjap interview: “It’s really about peeling back layers and seeing the...

The Filipino producer and co-writer dares viewers to look closer with Smaller and Smaller Circles…
Interview
Gordon Lam 林家棟 Interview: “The first time I saw Tony Jaa was...

We interview Gordon Lam about his role in Wilson Yip’s PARADOX, and working on-set with Louis Koo, Tony Jaa and Sammo Hung

Dong Yue interview: “Although he treats himself as a hero, the absurdity and cruelty of reality is very different”

Blank 13

Woman is the Future of Man, Tale of Cinema: Two Films by Hong Sangsoo

BuyBust

River’s Edge

Asura

A Guide to the Asian Films at the 2018 New Zealand International...

1987: When the Day Comes interview: Kim Yoon-seok and Jang Joon-hwan

Stephy Tang interview: “I was boxing 2-3 times a week, training my...

Respeto

Sad Beauty

London Korean Film Festival 2018: Documentary Fortnight

Eureka Classics to release Jackie Chan’s CITY HUNTER on 2K Blu-Ray

‘Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings’ is coming to the UK!

This July Cine Asia joins “HMV Loves…” selection…

Asian Films revealed at the 22nd Fantasia International Film Festival

12th Five Flavours Asian Film Festival is coming in November

Dong Yue interview: “Although he treats himself as a hero, the absurdity...

BuyBust

River’s Edge

1987: When the Day Comes interview: Kim Yoon-seok and Jang Joon-hwan

Stephy Tang interview: “I was boxing 2-3 times a week, training my...

Respeto

Sad Beauty

Harata Masado interview: “Sekigahara, I have been dreaming about making it for...

I Can Speak

Dante Lam and Candy Leung interview: “Suddenly I see Dante with two...

Blank 13

Japan Society reveals the full line-up for its upcoming JAPAN CUTS Film...

Tremble All You Want

Akiko Ooku interview: “I’m trying to give these people a push to...

Tourism

Masaaki Yuasa interview: “I thought great, I don’t have to stop watching...

Microhabitat

Tremble All You Want

Satan’s Slaves

Akiko Ooku interview: “I’m trying to give these people a push to...

One Cut of the Dead

Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum

The Brink

Neomanila

The Oily Maniac

The Outlaws

Sad Beauty

Little Forest

The Scythian Lamb

The Portrait

Akihiro Toda interview: “I really liked mixing these unknown characters together to...

Tremble All You Want

The Tailor

Moon So-ri interview: “I wasn’t relaxed enough for us to improvise!”

Transcendent

Satan’s Slaves

Brigitte Lin: stardom, queering gender and iconicity

The Bride With White Hair

The Peach Blossom Land

Outside The Window

Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia – A True Celluloid Icon

Brigitte Lin to receive Lifetime Achievement Award at 20th Udine FEFF

HKIFF to showcase 14 classic Brigitte Lin films

Operation Condor

The Eagle Shooting Heroes

Jet Li versus…

Fresh Wave 2018: No Sleep Club

Fresh Wave 2018: Jellyfish

Fresh Wave 2018: Bright Spring Days

Fresh Wave 2017: Affection

Fresh Wave 2017: Hello

Wong Chun interview: “I’m the director and she writes – simply because...

Fresh Wave 2017: Liu Yang He

Fresh Wave 2017: Piled Cloud

Fresh Wave 2017: Bible of Kong Girls

Fresh Wave 2014: The Glass City

Top 10 Films of 2017: 1. Mad World

Top 10 Films of 2017: 2. Bad Genius

Top 10 Films of 2017: 3. Close Knit

Top 10 Films of 2017: 4. A Silent Voice

Top 10 Films of 2017: 5. Okja

Top 10 Films of 2017: 6. A Taxi Driver

Top 10 Films of 2017: 7. Survival Family