tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158405762011-09-05T15:06:46.081+02:00News and short comments on Asian movies.Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.comBlogger1031100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-3206925297287059082008-02-19T19:28:00.000+01:002008-02-19T19:35:18.339+01:00

The 4th edition of Directors Lounge is now over.Sabrina Small and Jacob Birken were writing about Directors Lounge 08, on a daily base.Read here.Posts on China program can be read too : Jump they say, China is Tired, China is Naked.

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-44207051546276589932008-02-05T00:53:00.000+01:002008-02-08T23:07:52.879+01:00

The program is online!Directors Lounge 2008 7.-17. February 2008 BerlinThe fourth Directors Lounge Berlin will take place from 7. - 17. february, at the time of the 58th Berlin International Festival. Expect video art and experimental film from all flavors and parts of the world.More than 250 international artists, specials, accompanied by DJs and VJs ensure ten cosmopolitan days and nights..

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-3535147147310229992008-01-13T12:55:00.000+01:002008-01-18T01:24:34.379+01:00

• The fourth Directors Lounge Berlin will take place from 7. - 17. february, at the time of the 58th Berlin International Festival. Expect video art and experimental film from all flavors and parts of the world. Several curated programs, specials, accompanied by DJs and VJs ensure ten cosmopolitan days and nights..Once again we will offer a hideaway, a relaxed space for filmmakers, videoartists

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-19403170529981724632007-11-20T09:39:00.000+01:002007-12-01T13:34:36.586+01:00

Le Lieu Unique in Nantes welcomes Fragments for a special screening on Friday, November the 23rd at 8:30 pm in collaboration with Directors Lounge.Le Lieu Unique. Salon Musique. No admission fee.The evening is divided into two parts: a selection of international works compiled by Directors Lounge and a selection of Chinese videos proposed by Fragments.This double program offers a different vision

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-45365167232007657712007-06-03T12:39:00.000+02:002007-06-03T13:06:02.505+02:00

SIFF 2007.6.16-24websiteNominees of 10th SIFF Asian New Talent Awards are as follows :Bliss by Sheng Zhiming (China)Synopsis:This is a story about a family living beside the river. Like all the other families, every member of the family seems close to each other, but in fact they are miles apart, and everyone have a secret that they cannot share....Saigon Eclipse by Othello Khanh (Vietnam)

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-89521065229115429922007-05-30T21:29:00.000+02:002007-05-30T22:01:51.393+02:00

Summer Palace by Lou Ye, China, 2006.synopsis : China, 1989. Two young lovers play out their complex, erotic, love/hate relationship against a Chinese volatile backdrop of political unrest. Beautiful Yu Hong leaves her village, her family and her boyfriend to study in Beijing, where she discovers a world of intense sexual and emotional experimentation, and falls madly in love with fellow student

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-4928371995040278242007-05-27T20:34:00.000+02:002007-05-28T12:57:31.567+02:00

Naomi Kawase received the Grand Prize for her film, The Mourning forest (Mogari no mori, Japan) and Jeon Do-yeon received Best Actress Award for Secret Sunshine by Lee Chang-dong (South Korea).Secret Sunshine by Lee Chang-dong, with Jeon Do-Yeon, Song Kang-Ho. 2007. South Korea.synopsis : Sin-ae moves with her son Jun to Miryang, the town where her dead husband was born. As she tries to come to

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-58104481864993782442007-05-07T18:29:00.000+02:002007-05-07T18:35:20.509+02:00

Directors LoungeMemory in Motionart in the public space, Munich, end of July 07Directors Lounge website. Memory In Motion – new ways of commemorationMemory In Motion will present media art that seeks for new ways of remembrance by using the public space as a stage to challenge the neglecting of history with artistic means. The urban space, that makes history visible as architecture, offers the

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-90450693709312091422007-04-15T16:19:00.000+02:002007-04-15T16:33:02.092+02:00

- A review on Directors Lounge 2007 written by Klaus W. Eisenlohr can be read on Rich Film site (with pics too).- A review on the special programme of Chinese documentaries proposed by Fragments at The Festival of Asian Cinema of Tours can be found on the blog (in French, written by Delphine).- "Fragments" presents Outside a documentary by Wang Wo in Nantes (France) on Tuesday 17th. The film was

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-34494601689081468832007-04-05T18:07:00.000+02:002007-04-06T01:14:20.931+02:00

The awards... Concerning the Asian awards, it seems to be the same ones that got them !The 2nd Fresh Wave Short Film CompetitionGrand Prize, “Merry X’mas” / Directed by Jevons AuSignis AwardWinner, “The Italian” / Directed by Andrei Kravchuk from RussiaSpecial Mention, “Fresh Air” / Directed by Andrei Kravchuk from Hungaryand “The Island” / Directed by Pavel Lounguine from RussiaFIRPRESCI Winner“

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-40145621455584442022007-04-04T20:53:00.000+02:002007-04-04T21:38:28.063+02:00

Jia Zhangke has announced his next project - TWENTY FOUR CITY, at a press conference 1st April.It will focus on the stories three generations of women workers during the rise and fall of a state-run factory, to show how the life of many Chinese cities and city residents life have changed since the 1960s. Jia said he has the idea of making a movie about a factory for many years. The factory he

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-27508804600794927142007-03-20T17:46:00.000+01:002007-03-20T17:48:19.377+01:00

Asian Film AwardOn March 20, 2007, the Hong Kong International Film Festival will roll out the red carpet for the Asian Film Awards (AFA)....websiteThe Results :Best Film - The Host (South Korea)Other nominees: Curse of the Golden Flower (Chinese mainland / Hong Kong), Exiled (Hong Kong), Love and Honor (Japan), Opera Jawa (Indonesia / Austria), Still Life (Chinese mainland)Best Director - JIA

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-56484143363881244432007-03-19T09:26:00.000+01:002007-03-19T09:33:22.435+01:00

Cinéma du Réel (Paris)- Cinéma du Réel Grand Prize, with the support of Procirep : SANTIAGO by João Moreira Salles (Brazil)- Short film Prize : LE BRUIT DU CANON by Marie Voignier (France)- Joris Ivens Prize: EN LO ESCONDIDO (Ceux qui attendent dans l’obscurité) by Nicolas Rincón Gille (Belgium)- Scam International Prize : MAXI XUEXIAO (L’Ecole de cirque) by Guo Jing and Ke Dingding (China)et à

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-89620590173595421052007-03-18T18:05:00.000+01:002007-03-18T18:55:26.855+01:00

A new blog of Fragments is now online. The presentation published in the brochure for the special programme "Focus on China Doc" screened at Directors Lounge 2007 has been added.

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-38990707507775823452007-03-18T10:57:00.000+01:002007-03-18T10:58:59.788+01:00

March 21st - April 2nd 20078th edition of Asian Cinema festival of Tours (France). A selection of Chinese documentaries will be presented on Sunday, April the 1rst 2007.14:15 : People of the Yangtze River (chang jiang shang de ren), Wei Tie, 2005, 28 '.14:50 : Carriage (che xiang), Xu Xin, 2004, 18 '.15:45 : Outside (wai mian), Wang Wo, 2005, 86 '.More info here.

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-57140331284089834032007-03-17T13:29:00.000+01:002007-03-17T13:37:40.689+01:00

Here is another video that was screened at Directors Lounge 2007 in Berlin and can now be watched online via DL Television. The Fish and the Ring by Flotser !The Fish and the Ring by Belgian artist Flotser tells a story of love, hate and broken dreams. A fairy tale with all the ingredients that makes cinema a dream factory. Note that the Fish and the Ring is interwoven with several short

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-42421406039874888402007-03-06T00:10:00.000+01:002007-03-06T00:34:40.951+01:00

Cinéma du Réel, International Documentary Film Festival 9-18 March 2007, Paris. 29th editionSince its creation in 1978 by the Bibliothèque publique d’information, Cinéma du réel has developped into a major documentary film festival, a reference event in which the public as well as the professionals discover new films and new filmmakers, in which today’s documentary filmmaking confronts with the

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-76135257815218367562007-03-05T12:11:00.000+01:002007-03-05T16:00:33.194+01:00

4:30 (Royston Tan, Singapore, 2005)After 15, 4:30 deals also with youth in contemporary Singapore, but focuses on the relationships between a boy, Xiao Wu and a depressed Korean man who occupy the same appartment even though they never utter a word at each other. The film depicts their loneliness, their incapacity of communicate, it's mainly taken from the boy's point of view and I must admit

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-33828282099104873582007-03-04T19:44:00.000+01:002007-03-08T08:07:58.557+01:00

The 31st HK International Film Festival 20.3-11.4.2007siteThe fetsival opens with Eye in the Sky by Yau Nai-hoi with Tony Leung Ka Fai, Simon Yam, Kate Tsui, Maggie Siu and Lam Suet and with I am a Cyborg, but that's Ok by Park Chan-wook on the 19th.The other Galas will present The Go Master by Tian Zhuangzhuang (Gala Awards) and Bubble Fiction : Doom or Bust by Baba Yasuo (Gala Premiere). A

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-89479598754993677662007-03-01T11:47:00.000+01:002007-03-01T12:04:36.944+01:00

Some of the video works screened at Directors Lounge in Berlin, this year are online at DL TV.• download program, poster and flyer here• videos (more to come) :Erik Urlings, NL Exit Exit 16 min 5s, DV, 2006Devis Venturelli, Italy, Io Sono Il Vento 14 min, DV, 2006• installations

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-59270445892567816502007-02-28T11:38:00.000+01:002007-02-28T12:00:40.652+01:00

Asia Film Financing ForumwebsiteThe Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) has announced its selection of 25 Asian film projects. With veteran and up-and-coming filmmakers from all across Asia participating, HAF is a co-production market that brings together filmmakers and financiers with a mission to facilitate co-productions and co-ventures.Organized by the Hong Kong International Film

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-43480640758730190522007-02-27T13:22:00.000+01:002007-02-27T23:35:48.034+01:00

Last batch as after a while a change is needed or boredom, lassitude will come....No Mercy for the Rude (Park Cheol-hie, 2006) with Shin Ha-kyun (Save the Green Planet...).Killer (he has no name) is a mute hitman, a killer, who masters knifes and decides to kill only rude people in order to have a surgery to recover his voice. Another crime/comedy movie which contains a certain dose of dark

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-45716283939507591402007-02-22T00:55:00.000+01:002007-03-05T12:04:06.140+01:00

After a week, full of craziness and sleepless nights, I guess I needed to charge up the batteries and just relax and watch easy, entertaining films. I found that Korean films, and precisely crime, thriller Korean films are rather suitable for such a mood.Although they seem to be rather alike and I will surely forget them in a couple of weeks - or perhaps even in a few days, there is still a

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-49929273567908744462007-02-18T23:25:00.000+01:002007-02-18T23:44:40.079+01:00

Chinese film Tuya's Marriage (Tu ya de hun shi ) by Wang Quan'an received the Golden Bear of Best Picture this year's Berlin Film Festival.From Berlinale's site :Living conditions are deteriorating for those who lead a rural existence in north-western Mongolia. China's industry is expanding - even into this inhospitable region - and the government is pressurising Monoglian shepherds to give up

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-9457288898834491822007-02-05T08:11:00.000+01:002008-12-10T14:42:10.581+01:00

Directors Lounge Directors Lounge tv DL 2007 magazine DL 2007 program Program, timetable and everything...

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-10483375121833020682007-02-05T07:50:00.000+01:002007-02-05T08:01:29.239+01:00

Love Conquers All by Tan Chui Mui (site) has been awarded at the Rotterdam Film Festival, the film received also a prize at Pusan 2006."The screenings have taken place, the discussions are over, and the awards are finally in. This year’s VPRO Tiger Awards jury, chaired by Toronto International Film Festival director Piers Handling, took an unusual decision to award the VPRO Tiger Awards to four

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-23867659761220539842007-02-02T01:27:00.000+01:002008-12-10T14:42:10.839+01:00

During the Berlinale, and the craziness of the big festival, there is a place where we can chill out, see some rare, unknown works, watch some different films by video-artists, independent filmmakers, talk with anybody until the morning, or stay silent in the corner if the mood is such, just simply have some good time and watch some good works from different parts of the world.This year, there

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-54674943732096284772007-01-30T12:39:00.000+01:002007-01-30T13:59:30.317+01:00

Before posting my (little) contribution (also on Chinese documentary) on this blogathon organized by Harry on Unspoken Cinema, here is an extract of a text I wrote a few years ago and that I readjusted and which I thought would fit with the subject.Tiexi Qu is a surprising documentary as it lasts 9 hours and the question of time, the perception of time flowing, in the film and beyond the film,

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-48290081713477550122007-01-25T10:49:00.000+01:002008-12-10T14:42:11.008+01:00

Directors Lounge 2007 • february 8-18 • Berlin F´hain, Karl Marx Allee 133No Admission Fee. Daily from 6 pm open end....Our venue, the formerly Cafe Kosmos. In the back on the left the red enlighted Kosmos, once known as the famous Filmtheater Kosmos. Build in 1961, it was the state-of-the-art Cinema of the GDR with 1001 seats. A cinematic flagship near the landmarks of the monumental socialist

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-47261664651507166362007-01-25T10:39:00.000+01:002007-01-25T10:49:10.717+01:00

Berlin International Film FestivalwebsiteFrom the Press ReleasesCompetition Section 2007link- Hyazgar (Desert Dream) by Zhang Lu, Republic of Korea/France (World Premiere)- Ping guo (Lost In Beijing) by Li Yu, China (World Premiere)- Sai bo gu ji man gwen chan a (I’m A Cyborg, But That’s Ok) by Park Chan-wook, Republic of Korea (International Premiere)- Tu ya de hun shi (Tuya's Marriage) by Wang

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-58336575907180427092007-01-25T08:50:00.000+01:002007-01-25T10:28:45.849+01:00

International Film Festival of Rotterdam (24.01 - 04.02)websiteImpressive line-up, many Asian films and especially from Malaysia and Philippines, countries from which the films will be surely very noticeable and distinguished this year in film festivals. Two filmmakers in focus : Abderrahmane Sissako and Johnnie To.VPRO Tiger Awards Competition- How is your fish today? by Xiaolu Guo, China 2006,

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1168390628001539262007-01-10T01:56:00.000+01:002007-01-10T01:58:49.253+01:00

Some updates. More specials have been announced :Directors Lounge Specials• In Focus A I C Sao Paulo, Brazil AIC Films is a co-production of Academia Internacional de Cinema and Rattapallax, Inc. to showcase some of the best films produced at this fresh school. Academia Internacional de Cinema (International Academy of Film) is an innovative educational institution that uses key elements

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1167748522824302002007-01-02T15:29:00.000+01:002007-01-02T15:35:23.310+01:00

Golden Lion-winning Chinese director Jia Zhangke is considering defamation proceedings against film producer Zhang Weiping's over allegations that his Venice Film Festival award was fixed. 　　In an open letter to Zhang, director Zhang Yimou's long-time producer, who also produced the box office hit "Curse of the Golden Flower", Jia responded to Zhang's comment in a newspaper that Jia's film "Still

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1167739187539434612007-01-02T12:17:00.000+01:002007-03-04T22:13:31.501+01:00

Since I've done this by year of production, here is a temporary best of films made in 2006 (see post here for 2005 and 2004).Most are seen at film festivals or alike and many others will be seen in 2007. I must say that I probably haven't seen as many films this year as I have ever seen before, and quite funny hardly any US or European films (and actually not even a single one made this year).I

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1167486272833953492006-12-30T14:27:00.000+01:002007-03-05T12:09:57.890+01:00

This is a personal best Asian films (fiction and documentary) produced in 2005 (made in 2005 but not necessarily seen in 2005, many were actually seen in 2006). 2006 will come later. 2004 has been posted here : 2004Tsai's film is easily the best one, his latest one, I don't Want to Sleep Alone is also a great one, for a director who said to us that he would stop making films... His next project

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1167333732636865582006-12-28T20:21:00.000+01:002006-12-30T11:58:24.830+01:00

Brief notes on the films seen at the 3 Continents film Festival : see post hereBefore making the "top" 10 of the best Asian films made in 2006, I'll soon post the ones of 2005 (which I didn't do).Also here are 4 films I have recently seen :Exiled (Johnnie To, HK, 2006)A loose sequel of The Mission (one of my favourite To's films), the film is set in Macao and uses most of the same cast than in

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1166638287199989172006-12-20T19:11:00.000+01:002007-03-18T11:00:24.755+01:00

Carriage, People of Yangtse River, Sars in Beijing, 3 Chinese short documentaries will be screened in Nantes (France) on December, Thursday 21st. presented by Fragments.Carriage and Sars in Beijing were presented at Berlin with Directors Lounge in the summer(see post related)more info on the website(site just online and still working on it)

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1165905984612343532006-12-12T07:33:00.000+01:002006-12-12T07:46:25.316+01:00

Directors Lounge Berlin (February 08-18)-• You would like to show your work at the Directors Lounge ?Submit now!---------------------------------------------Call for New Works on Urban ResearchUrban Research on Film is an ongoing film and video screening project selected by Klaus W. Eisenlohr for Directors Lounge in Berlin . Urban Research presents artists and filmmakers who address the progress

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1165529171663432502006-12-07T22:55:00.000+01:002006-12-07T23:09:13.106+01:00

Directors Lounge quite regularly updates its news and its announcements for the next edition in February 2007 in Berlin.The third Directors Lounge will take place from 8. - 18. february, at the time of the Berlin International Festival. Expect video art and experimental film from all flavors and parts of the world. Beside the works from the open call are several curated programs, cooperations

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1165528530633893342006-12-07T22:37:00.000+01:002006-12-07T22:55:31.506+01:00

The 8th edition of the festival Cinemas Differents of Paris, from Decembre 08-17 organised by the CJC.Many experimental films, different, underground films are to be screened. Several specials are proposed, including a focus on engaged or political (in a large sense) films. site4 shorts already presented at Directors Lounge and which can be seen at Directors Lounge TV are selected and sheduled on

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1165443990047835482006-12-06T21:56:00.000+01:002006-12-30T11:57:51.970+01:00

Time is short, I will be brief and to the point.This edition was to me very intense, impassioned and the most enjoyable. I may not have seen as much films (I still managed to attend 20 screenings) as I wanted to but not only I was pleased with the ones I saw in general and also I had a very great time, meeting and discussing with various people during this busy edition.This year, the selection of

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1164820535265749272006-11-29T18:10:00.000+01:002006-12-29T15:22:23.223+01:00

A new Chinese director to follow...Betelnut by Yang Heng - first feature film - won the New Currents Prize at the Festival 3 Continents and previously also the New Currents Award at the Pusan International Film Festival, it was also screened at the Vancouver International Film Festival.synopsis :Ali and Xiao Yu are two friends who try to keep the boredom of a small town at bay by stealing

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1164819895339295902006-11-29T18:04:00.000+01:002006-11-29T18:04:55.743+01:00

The 3 Continents Film Festival ended last night. I'll write a commentary later for now just the prizes.The Official Selection- Competition fiction :Fireworks Wednesday - Agshar Farhadi - IranA few kilo of dates for a funeral - Saman Salour - IranFalafel - Michel Kammoun - LebanonMientras Tanto - Diego Lerman - ArgentinaOpera Jawa - Garin Nugruho - IndonesiaKoorogi - Shinji Aoyama - JapanTime

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1163850125540825172006-11-18T11:44:00.000+01:002006-11-19T12:29:06.996+01:00

The Blessing Bell (Sabu, 2002) with Susumu Terajima.The Blessing Bell is a contemplative and urban tale which offers a slow pacing and a well structured narrative and sharply edited. The film opens with a static shot on some rails, like an invitation to a meditative journey... Then a man (Susumu Terajima) appears from the distant corner and walks pass by the camera and vanishes. This man

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1162726794024563602006-11-05T12:11:00.000+01:002006-11-05T13:01:15.900+01:00

Deadly Duo (1971) and Magnificent Wanderers (1977) both by Chang Cheh and starring David Chiang, but Magnificent Wanderers is not very good (the characters are too "clownish" and stereotyped, especially the "bad" ones, the humour isn't great and the film isn't great acted and rather badly edited).Deadly Duo doesn't run for long (about 70 minutes) but goes straight to the action, in fact it seems

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1162644911323364132006-11-04T13:42:00.000+01:002006-11-04T13:57:29.156+01:00

Films I plan to see :most of the competition (fiction and documentary), but for sure : Falafel - Michel Kammoun - LebanonMientras Tanto - Diego Lerman - ArgentinaOpera Jawa - Garin Nugruho - IndonesiaNacido y criado - Pablo Trapero - ArgentinaZhoshy - Daniyar Salamat - KazakhstanBetelnut - Yang Heng - China (already won great prize at Pusan in New Currents section)Yellow Box – Ting Fu-huang -

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1162644080111601272006-11-04T13:14:00.000+01:002006-11-04T13:58:26.326+01:00

Soon, 21.28 November, the 3 Continent Film Festival will be held for its 28th edition. Plenty films from Asia, Africa and Latine America... a festival to not miss!!!websiteThe programme is finally online.1. Official SelectionFiction and documentary competition25 films, never shown in France before and marked by a high degree of audacity. The jury will award a new prize called Nouveaux Regards (

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1162305841308187232006-10-31T15:43:00.000+01:002006-11-11T18:30:18.443+01:00

Before I loose tracks, briefly :JapanThe Stairway to the Distant Past (Kaizo Hayashi, 1995) and The Trap (Kaizo Hayashi, 1996) with Masatoshi Nagase, two of the trilogy of the private detective Maiku Hama, The Most Terrible Time In My Life (Kaizo Hayashi,1994) being the first (saw a couple weeks ago). Contrary to the first, those two films are in colour, they still are done like a film noir in

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1161983176832854242006-10-27T23:03:00.000+02:002006-11-02T00:44:38.796+01:00

Directors Lounge (based in Berlin) has just announced its annual event, Directors Lounge 2007, which will take place on February 8-18. 2007 in Berlin.Directors Lounge shows video installations, live-events, collections of short, independent, rare or experimental works from many different genres and from different countries of the world and invites artists, curators, critics to specific

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1161778745420494552006-10-25T13:24:00.000+02:002006-10-26T13:21:53.906+02:00

Watching some early Nagisa Oshima films at the moment, this post will be edited and I will develop a bit more. Those films associate psycho-sexual study and sharp political,social commentary. Diary of a Shinjuku Thief (1968) shot in black and white but sometimes switched in colours, is a more experimental film. It uses several literary references and adds brief images of political events and

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1161609499050568572006-10-23T15:07:00.000+02:002006-10-23T15:19:09.123+02:00

Awards of the PIFFsee related postsee official websiteAndy Lau was awarded as Asian Filmmaker of the year.The 11th PIFF AWARD WINNERSNew Currents :This award serves to promote emerging film talent in Asia by selecting the best new film in New Currents section, the only featured competition at PIFF, by an Asian director. A cash award of USD 30,000 will presented.Betelut (Director: Heng Yang/China)

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1161591801539972482006-10-23T10:22:00.000+02:002006-10-23T10:23:27.766+02:00

Viennale. October 13-25, 2006.websiteAsian films selected :Taking Father Home (China, Ying Liang, 2005) A 17-year-old boy from a village in the province Sechuan leaves for the big city looking for his father, who left six years before and has not been heard of since... moreIce Games (China, Zhang Hui Lin, 2006)The initial idea of Ice Games goes back to 2004, when SARS was in the air in Beijing,

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1161071511494404522006-10-17T09:07:00.000+02:002006-10-17T18:56:49.533+02:00

Crazy Stone (Ning Hao, China/HK, 2006).Crazy Stone is part of the new project "Asian New Director Project" sponsored by Andy Lau. This project FOCUS: First Cuts involves new and upcoming directors from across China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. webpage view trailerThe film is screened at the closing of the PIFF this year. (see post related).This comedy is about a priceless jade

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1160690150987842322006-10-12T23:44:00.000+02:002006-10-12T23:56:09.443+02:00

ZEBRA poetry award, the first festival and award worldwide that is solely dedicated to films based on poetry, opened wednesday for its third edition in Berlin.On Friday (tomorrow) Mannaka No le (The House In The Middle) by André Werner will be screened at 3h30 pm as part of Gesellschaftsspiele. It was shown in world premiere on this years Directors Lounge 2006. Mannaka No le, pure japanese poetry

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1160518339081167752006-10-11T00:11:00.000+02:002006-10-17T09:58:57.373+02:00

Luxury Car by Wang Chao (China, 2006).Presented at Cannes this year, the film received the award of "Certain Regard".Luxury car is the third film by Wang Chao who was assistant to the director of The Emperor and the Assassin by Chen Kaige. However Luxury Car may be less interesting compared to the two others (The Orphan of Anyang, shot closer to documentary style and Night and Day, more classic).

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1160050669214994612006-10-05T13:04:00.000+02:002006-10-05T17:05:38.293+02:00

PIFF, another big, reputated film festival, will be held from 2006. 10.12 to 2006. 10.20.Considering the huge list of films and amount of sections (with a Korean Cinema today, Korean Retrospective...). I will mention Chinese films (Mainland, HK, Taiwan).The festival will close with Crazy Stone by Ning Hao (China/HK) who previously directed Mongolian Ping Pong. This modern comedy was made possible

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1159917845486684582006-10-04T01:23:00.000+02:002006-11-02T01:00:16.236+01:00

Railroad of Hope (Ning Ying, 2001, Mainland China). Documentary.Sorry, I'm going to copy the synopsis - I haven't got much time to write something now, but I still wanted to make a post on this documentary that I saw yesterday at the theatre.Ning Ying hasn't directed many films and her work still remains underseen, however, she directed fictions (very realitic and documentary style) and

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1159803076613337162006-10-02T17:27:00.000+02:002006-10-02T17:31:50.900+02:00

A call for a blogathon on contemplative/non conventional cinema organized by Harry Tuttle on Screenville.

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1159717465846208982006-10-01T17:44:00.000+02:002006-11-11T18:31:16.956+01:00

Quick post just to name some films seen recently. May edit and write notes on them later. I'll also post a comment on Dong, Jia Zhangke's documentary at some point.Japan :Dead Run - Shisso (Hiroyuki Tanaka aka Sabu, 2005), Despite a good, promising beginning, the movie failed in some ways, perhaps because there are many Japanese films depicting the stray, lost, depressed youth and the religious

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1158698065086753012006-09-19T22:03:00.000+02:002006-09-19T22:34:26.603+02:00

In the Heat of the Sun (Jiang Wen, 1994, China)with Xia Yu, Ning Jing, Geng Le...Based on the novel written by Wang Shuo, this is the debut film as a director by famous actor Jiang Wen (he played in several 5th generation directors' films such as Red Sorghum, The Last Eunuch and in several recent Chinese films, Green Tea, A Letter from an Unknown Woman...).Narrated by the voice-over of the now

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1158452857928786342006-09-17T01:10:00.000+02:002006-09-17T02:27:38.600+02:00

yes, another festival....Sept.28-Oct.13festival websiteand another impressive Asian line-up :Cinema of Our Time- Bhutan :Milarepa (2006) by Neten Chokling Rinpoche (director of The Cup and Travellers and Magicians) website- India :Footsteps (Padakshep, 2006) by Suman GhoshThe Riddle (Paheli, 2005) by Amol Palekar- Iran :From Afar (2006) by Ramin MohseniMen at Work (Kargaran mashghoole karand,

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1158353053743412292006-09-15T22:43:00.000+02:002006-09-15T22:44:14.830+02:00

The Hong Kong Asian Film Festival (23.09-08.10)Presented by Ying E Chi and Broadway Cinematheque, the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival is one of the biggest film events held annually in Hong Kong. Many new films, shorts, features, fictions and documentaries from Hong Kong, the Mainland, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Iran, India and the Philippines will be presented in different sections : New Talent Award,

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1158186778988536242006-09-14T00:32:00.000+02:002006-09-14T00:32:59.313+02:00

Quick entry..Recently seen :China :- Baober in Love (Li Shaohong, 2004) with Zhou Xun, Huang Jue...A married bored salaryman unexpectedly finds true love and passion in an egnimatic, crazy but beautiful woman, Baober....Starting like a light romantic tale, the film turns into a darker psychological drama dealing with Baober's past and memories, almost as as if it were two different movies.

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1157885474794117722006-09-10T12:40:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:13:07.510+02:00

JIA Zhangke received yesterday the Golden Lion for his feature film Still Life at Venice Film Festival.With Sanxia haoren (Still Life), Jia Zhang-Ke returns to competition at the Venice Film Festival for the third time in recent years, having participated in 2000 with Zhantai (Platform), and in 2004 with Shijie (The World).Sanxia haoren (Still Life) was shot in the old village of Fengjie, which

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1157390471173892332006-09-04T19:13:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:15:23.260+02:00

A few years ago, Tian Zhuangzhuang received a ten-year ban on making film because of The Blue Kite.Today, Lou Ye has been banned for five year from making films after showing Summer Palace in Cannes without government approval.BEIJING (AFP) - China's censors have banned director Lou Ye from making films for five years after he showed his "Summer Palace" at the Cannes Film Festival without

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1156524555658971482006-08-25T18:49:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:17:00.553+02:00

Toronto International Film Festival Line-up7.09-16.09 2006This year marks the 31st anniversary of the Toronto International Film Festival. 352 Films From 61 Countries.A few Asian films already scheduled in Venice.websiteCONTEMPORARY WORLD CINEMARain Dogs (Taiyang Yu) by Ho Yuhang (Malaysia, Hong Kong) see siteSummer Palace by Lou Ye (China) see site (fr)The Bet Collector (Kubrador) by Jeffrey

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1156460509961088362006-08-25T01:01:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:18:04.696+02:00

A couple Sogo Ishii films.Considered as one of the most known Japanese outsider filmmakers, Sogo Ishii's films are based on the visuals work (colours, aesthetic cinematography, effects, camera movements) and soundtracks (with importance of music too). Actors, Masatoshi Nagase and Tadanobu Asano are often his collaborators.Recently seen :Gojoe (2000) : with Masatoshi Nagase, disappointing

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1155723066310559922006-08-16T11:06:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:18:36.966+02:00

Invisible Waves (Pen-ek Ratanaruang), 2006, Thailand with Tadanobu Asano, Kang Hye-jeong (recently seen in Welcome to Dongmakgol), Ken Mitsuishi, Eric Tsang...This pan-Asian film by Pen-ek Ratanaruang brings again some of previous collaborators of Last Life in the Universe such as prolific and talented Japanese actor, Tadanobu Asano and acclaimed cinematographer, Christopher Doyle.Invisible

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1155568382175232222006-08-14T16:54:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:19:36.556+02:00

The award ceremony of Hong Kong's 11th Golden Bauhinia Awards (HK Film Critics Association) was held on August, the 13th.http://www.hkfca.org/Best film: ElectionOther nominees: Crazy N' the City, Perhaps Love, Isabella, Initial DBest director: Peter CHAN - Perhaps LoveOther nominees: PANG Ho-Cheung (Isabella), Benny CHAN (Divergence), Johnnie TO (Election), James YUEN (Crazy N' the City)

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1155421337796411422006-08-12T23:39:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:20:20.346+02:00

59th Locarno International Film Festival - The Results....International CompetitionThe official jury : Ann Hui, Edo Bertoglio, Antonio Capuano, Peter Rommel, Nobuhiro SuwaGolden Leopard : Das Fräulein by Andreas Staka (Switzerland/Germany)Special Jury Prize : Half Nelson by Ryan Fleck (USA)Prize for best directing : Laurent Achard - Le Dernier des Fous (France/Switzerland)Leopard for Best Actor :

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1155336422864861502006-08-12T00:45:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:21:31.726+02:00

a bit late with all my viewing entries, so it will be very brief (started to be so long ago now that it's even hard to remember...).Thailand :Fun Bar Karaoke (Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, 1997), Pen-Ek Ratanaruang' s debut feature film, and even though it had a potential to be a rather good movie with some original ideas (the opening sequence is very well done) and different characters, it could have been

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1154941342534933762006-08-07T10:58:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:26:59.436+02:00

A new site.I finally decided to put on line a website dedicated to only Chinese cinema, for now just Mainland Chinese films. It will be updated every now and then. I will keep of course Chungking Express for quick entries, news related to Asian cinema.chinese-cinema

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1154894424544512332006-08-06T21:25:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:27:51.623+02:00

63th Venice International Film Festival (30.08-09.09)Venice Fest.It seems to be a rather good selection of Asian movies in Venice - especially if we compared to the Cannes selection of this year. Some very teasing new films by great directors, such as I Don't Want to Sleep Alone by Tsai Ming-liang, Syndromes and a Century by Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Exiled by Johnnie To. Also several

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1153819936191529932006-07-25T11:24:00.000+02:002006-10-28T01:05:59.560+02:00

Two short Chinese documentaries will be screened at Die Rote Loge in Berlin, an "avant goût" of Directors Lounge's forth-coming special on independent Chinese films.In association with Zhu Rikun (Fanhall Studio), two Chinese shorts will be screened during the first part of the night. These works are independent documentaries, shot in DV. They are portraits of the common people in mainland China,

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1152921809773530432006-07-15T01:28:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:29:43.906+02:00

59th Locarno International Film Festival 2006Locarno Festival WebsiteThe Press Kit of the festival can be now downloaded on their website.Locarno 2006Open DoorsIndustry OfficeRetrospective Aki KaurismäkiSwiss Films in LocarnoIn EnglishIn FrenchIn ItalianIn GermanThe programmeThe Piazza GrandeInternational CompetitionFilmmakers of the Present CompetitionFilmmakers of the PresentJeonju

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1152094426278261252006-07-05T12:00:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:33:24.733+02:00

The International Film Documentary of Marseille will start tomorrow. http://www.fidmarseille.org/For the 17th edition, the festival offers an official selection, with an international and french competition and parallel screens including "All Nights' in which Dream Walking is scheduled.

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1151955762157942002006-07-03T21:25:00.000+02:002006-10-04T11:21:03.456+02:00

International Film Festival of La RochelleFestival of La RochelleThe 34th La Rochelle International Film Festival will be held from Friday, June 30th to Monday, July 10th, 2006.Aside of the Retrospectives (John Houston, Harold Lloyd, Maurice Ronet), tributes are given to Bulle Ogier, Roman Polanski, Brother Quay and Hirokazu Kore-Eda.Concerning the Asian films, are screened the following :

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1151922950767509012006-07-03T12:29:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:35:35.590+02:00

Fabian Bielinsky, Argentinian director, 47, died in Brazil on June, 29th. SAO PAULO, Brazil (Reuters) - Argentine film director Fabian Bielinsky, who shot the critically-acclaimed Nine Queens crime caper, died of a heart attack in Sao Paulo, Brazil, consulate officials said on Thursday. He was 47. Bielinsky was in Brazil doing casting for commercials. He died on Wednesday night in his hotel.

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1151752810174060352006-07-01T12:48:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:36:23.660+02:00

so hot, too lazy to write....Last Asian films seen :Chinese :Sunflower by Zhang Yang with Joan Chen (2005), a family subject drama which was okay (despite the constant soft piano music) but I probably prefered Quitting. Joan Chen who plays a mother wasn't recognizable, she played very well.Huayao Bride in Shangrila by Zhang Jia Rui (2005) .HK :Viva Erotica by Derek Yee (1996) with Leslie Cheung,

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1150290172840157362006-06-14T14:58:00.000+02:002006-10-27T23:08:41.140+02:00

A few dates and screenings with Directors Lounge :During the summer, Directors Lounge (Berlin) presents: a summer evening with ... a series of special screenings every Thursday in cooperation with zapplive and Z BarmoreJune 15th 9pm THE PSYCHOACOUSTIC GEOGRAPHERS at Z Bar Emotional exiles from the Land of Opportunity, experimental filmmakers Ben Russell and Jonathan Schwartz come to Europemore

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1150131279784166402006-06-12T18:11:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:38:31.946+02:00

A bit late at the moment with my postings...(very short...)Japanese films- First I've recently seen in one of the finest theatres in Paris during my short journey over there, Twilight Samurai by Yoji Yamada, 2002 (finally saw it!) which I appreciated especially for the screening itself (great sound, great view, big screen...). I actually liked the simplicity of the film, the pace is rather slow

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1149525048288806792006-06-05T18:27:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:39:55.266+02:00

Slow Space a film and art project by fellow curator at the Directors Lounge, Klaus W. Eisenlohr, will be shown in premiere at Kino Arsenal/ Friends of German Kinemathekjune 7th 9pmFilmed entirely within the urban constructed environment that makes up the contemporary North American city of Chicago, Slow Space is a visually arresting investigation into how space is described, defined and

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1148811550795578822006-05-28T12:08:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:40:43.683+02:00

Chinese movies in Cannes 2006.This year 3 main Chinese films were selected in Cannes (not much!). Lou Ye's Summer Palace is in the official competition, Luxury Car by Wang Chao in A Certain Regard and Johnnie To's Election 2 in Off Competition.Remarked by film buffs thanks to his second feature film Suzhou River in 2000, Chinese director Lou Ye came to the Festival de Cannes three years later for

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1145910824511936782006-04-24T21:48:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:41:18.536+02:00

Still keep on watching movies...Korean Movies :Mist (Angae) by Kim Soo-yong, 1967Compared as an Antonioni or Renais, the film delivered surely a breeze of new wave and modernity. Jun Kijun returns to his native village before starting to work in the company of his father-in-law. He finds a friend who dreams to become singer of opera in Seoul. The story is only purpose. It's film about errance,

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1144880587038161362006-04-13T00:17:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:41:59.413+02:00

A couple of movies I've watched quite recently and that I won't recommend but when you're too tired or can't be bothered to do anything else, they are watchable... - Running Wild by Kim Sung-Soo (2006) : just action/thriller movie, watchable, probably will forget in a few months... but I'm sure many will like this movie.- Sunday Seoul by Oh Myung-hoon (2006) : 3 segments in different genres about

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1144142604692345752006-04-04T11:22:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:43:01.340+02:00

Fanhall Studio is an independent Chinese organization set in Beijing that produces, distributes and screens independent Chinese films. Here is an interview with the founder that can be read on Directors Lounge website :Interview in EnglishInterview in French

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1143819305494417372006-03-31T17:19:00.000+02:002006-09-13T22:43:50.880+02:00

OoOooops...been a while..Firstly, spring is coming, the forum, Fragments, has just been moved to another place.A special place has been made for cinema discussions and particularly Asian cinema. Hopefully, it will be more active...http://www.hekae3.com/frag/index.phpmovies seen recently :The Soong Sisters by Mabel Cheung, 1997... okay but could have been betterThe movie is based on the true

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1142941699563082752006-03-21T12:44:00.000+01:002006-10-28T01:06:59.590+02:00

Impressions of Directors Lounge 2006 - BerlinThe impressions of the DL event, held in February 9-19. 06, in Berlin is now online on the website : "Over the next ten days we screened more than 200 films and about 25 installations/video-loops.The fact that many of our visitors became regular guests was especially encouraging as was the attendance of several directors and artists. The move into a

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1142884040083633162006-03-20T20:46:00.000+01:002006-09-13T22:45:45.650+02:00

Dream Walking, an independent Chinese documentary, has just received the Great Prize of the festival "Cinema du Reel" held in Centre Pompidou in Paris (March, 10th to 19th). Since its creation in 1978 by the "Bibliotheque publique d'information", Cinema du Reel has developped into a major documentary cinema festival, a reference event in which the public as well as the professionals discover new

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World of Geisha by Tatsumi Kumashiro (1973). My second movie by this director, the other being Street of Joy. Both of these movies are called as "nikku roman porno".Starring Junko Miyashita, prolific actress and queen of the nikku roman porno who also performed in A Woman Called Sada Abe, Watcher in the Attic, Street of Joy (three of them are recommended) and many others that I still haven't

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Everlasting Regret by Stanley Kwan (2005).Despite the negative comments or reviews it received, I wanted to see it. The movie is set in Shanghai and covers the times from 1947 up to the 80s, mostly shot indoor. It follows a linear narrative structure, cut by period of times, sometimes accompanied by a sentence or two. Every now and then, the story is narrated by the voice-over of Tony Leung's

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1140987531300865142006-02-26T21:48:00.000+01:002006-09-13T22:47:38.446+02:00

Seventeen Years by Zhang Yuan (1999). Yu Zhenggao and Tao Airong are a remarried couple. Each one of them has a daughter of the same age. However they constantly argue for no specific reasons, and the two sisters are different in their characters. Yu's daughter, Xiaoqin, is a studious, quiet girl whereas Tao's daughter, Tao Lan, is an outgoing girl. One day, another quarrell bursts when Xiaoqin

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1140440232141663992006-02-20T13:25:00.000+01:002006-09-13T22:48:29.303+02:00

some HK comedies......Of course the king of comedy in HK is Stephen Chow Sing Chi. 2 other of his movies seen lately :Fight Back to School (Gordon Chan, 1991), this one is so funny from the music to the situation and the acting.Love in delivery (1994, Lee Lik-Chee, Stephen Chow) - the Garfield superhero is great! So silly and funny.Stephen Chow Movies seen :Legend of Dragon - (1990, Danny Lee)

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1140192071317515682006-02-17T16:49:00.000+01:002006-09-13T22:49:44.123+02:00

Three Asian Movies....Public Toilet (2002, Fruit Chan). After viewing Hong Kong - Hollywood, I watched Public Toilet.I'm surprised of how many people disliked it and how many bad reviews it received. Sure, it's not perfect, and I found it a bit too long, a bit too over the place (you're in India, Korea, NY, Beijing, HK, even very shortly in Rome...). But I like the way it was filmed, with a

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Directors Lounge - February, 9 - 19. 2006 - BerlinDirectors Lounge shows collections of short, experimental works from many different genres. Special screenings feature highlights of experimental cinema, explore new trends in video-art and emphasize the role of independent filmmaking in culturspecific enviroments. http://kultur-in-berlin.de/index.html2nd edition : Directors Lounge 2006 at a

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1139755554177439982006-02-12T15:24:00.001+01:002006-09-13T22:50:56.386+02:00

A few Asian movies seen lately... (bis)even shorter thoughts! May develop a bit more later...One Nite in Mongkok by Derek Yee (2004-HK) with Cecilia Cheung, Daniel Wu - well told story, good crime film in a rather realistic manner. I enjoyed it.Shanghai Dreams by Wang Xiaoshuai (2005, China) - set at the beginning of the 80s in Guizhou province. In the 60s, a large amount of families left Chinese

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1139753905077203472006-02-12T14:36:00.000+01:002006-09-13T22:51:33.213+02:00

A few Asian movies seen lately...I've been watching several films lately, just too lazy to write about them. Very brief thoughts of two Japanese movies:Pastoral: To Die In the Country by Shuji Terayama (1974). It's hard to describe the movie, but it's based upon his adolescence in a community in the countryside. It gives his interrogation between his work, autobiographical work, what's fictive,

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1138483604819973082006-01-28T21:36:00.000+01:002006-09-13T22:52:19.496+02:00

A New Life (Une Vie Volée) by Philippe Grandrieux (2002).Yes, this is not an Asian film, but it's a great, experimental and strange film. First of all, this is my second Philippe Grandrieux film. I once saw Sombre which was his first fiction film. Philippe Grandrieux isn't a filmmaker very appreciated in France, and he's almost unknown outside of this country. I guess the particular and tense

Ouyang Fenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11093127414849188851noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15840576.post-1138400518727266502006-01-27T23:16:00.000+01:002006-09-13T22:52:54.946+02:00

Canary (Akihiko Shiota, 2004/2005) This is my third movie by this director. Akihiko Shiota isn't a director very well-known. I discovered him in 2001 with Harmful Insect which was in competition at the 3 Continents Film Festival. It actually won Special Jury Award and Best Actress award. Already this movie dealt with a young girl of 12 years old who had a complicated family life and had an early

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Two Thai Movies...Citizen Dog by Wisit Sasanatieng (2004).Wisit Sasanatieng got known for its debut film Tears of the Black Tiger (2000), which was like a pastiche Thai western in the 40s using Thai popular culture. (Good and funny movie by the way). Citizen Dog keeps the same excessive colourful visual style and popular imagery but goes a bit more surreal. The movie could be like a fable, to me,

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