Kicking off this news round-up is a small but notable update that Quentin Tarantino plans to launch production on his final feature The Movie Critic this fall in Los Angeles, according to Production Weekly. With Brad Pitt currently the only confirmed cast member, it’ll follow a movie critic in 1977 wherein Tararantino will reimagine the production of a number of films.
Lynne Ramsay has been developing a handful of projects following 2017’s You Were Never Really Here, and we now finally have an update on which one is likely to shoot first. As reported by Variety out of Reykjavik’s Stockfish Film & Industry Festival, Ramsay confirmed she’s prepping to shoot the Jennifer Lawrence-led Die, My Love, based on Ariana Harwicz’s novel “about a woman living in isolation in rural France who loses her mind amid marriage and motherhood.”
Walter Hill isn’t hanging up his directing hat,...
Lynne Ramsay has been developing a handful of projects following 2017’s You Were Never Really Here, and we now finally have an update on which one is likely to shoot first. As reported by Variety out of Reykjavik’s Stockfish Film & Industry Festival, Ramsay confirmed she’s prepping to shoot the Jennifer Lawrence-led Die, My Love, based on Ariana Harwicz’s novel “about a woman living in isolation in rural France who loses her mind amid marriage and motherhood.”
Walter Hill isn’t hanging up his directing hat,...
- 4/15/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Today, Asian Pop-Up Cinema announced the full lineup of films and programs included in its 18th edition, running March 20 – April 21, 2024. Each week throughout the festival is dedicated to works from a different region, with films screened in person on weekends at AMC Newcity 14 (1500 N. Clybourn Ave.) and available via streaming on weekdays. This year’s festival also features an inaugural partnership with Northwestern University, Asian Pop-Up Cinema at the Block Museum, featuring special screenings and guest lecturers. Screening schedules and tickets are available now at www.asianpopupcinema.org.
The 18th season of Asian Pop-Up Cinema opens on March 20, 2024, with the Chicago Premiere of Charles-Olivier Michaud’s Ru, the story of a young Vietnamese girl adapting to life in Quebec and featuring an in-person appearance from lead actor Jean Bui. Closing Night features the Midwest Premiere of We Are Family, following the founder of a rent-a-family business navigating personal and professional conflicts,...
The 18th season of Asian Pop-Up Cinema opens on March 20, 2024, with the Chicago Premiere of Charles-Olivier Michaud’s Ru, the story of a young Vietnamese girl adapting to life in Quebec and featuring an in-person appearance from lead actor Jean Bui. Closing Night features the Midwest Premiere of We Are Family, following the founder of a rent-a-family business navigating personal and professional conflicts,...
- 3/9/2024
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
China and Netherlands-based Fortissimo Films has picked up international sales rights to anticipated Chinese blockbuster movie “If You Are the One 3.”
To be released on Dec. 30 in China, the picture is directed by Feng Xiaogang as the second sequel in his anti-romance comedy franchise, about a rich businessman and an air stewardess, which kicked off in 2008 and earned a follow-up in 2010. The new picture reunites the key cast Ge You and Shu Qi, as well as Fan Wei (“One Second”), Yao Chen (“Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back”) and Guan Xiaotong (“Shadow”).
Set in 2031, the new film tells the story of Qin (Ge) retiring alone on a small island, as his wife Xiaoxiao (Shu) is away all year long. Fan (Fan), Qin’s friend, designs an android identical to Xiaoxiao to keep Qin company. Spending time with the android and old friends, Qin reflects on loneliness and companionship,...
To be released on Dec. 30 in China, the picture is directed by Feng Xiaogang as the second sequel in his anti-romance comedy franchise, about a rich businessman and an air stewardess, which kicked off in 2008 and earned a follow-up in 2010. The new picture reunites the key cast Ge You and Shu Qi, as well as Fan Wei (“One Second”), Yao Chen (“Journey to the West: The Demons Strike Back”) and Guan Xiaotong (“Shadow”).
Set in 2031, the new film tells the story of Qin (Ge) retiring alone on a small island, as his wife Xiaoxiao (Shu) is away all year long. Fan (Fan), Qin’s friend, designs an android identical to Xiaoxiao to keep Qin company. Spending time with the android and old friends, Qin reflects on loneliness and companionship,...
- 12/5/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The follow-up comes 15 years after the original box office hit.
Fortissimo Films has secured international rights to upcoming Chinese comedy If You Are The One 3, the anticipated third instalment in Feng Xiaogang’s box office hit franchise.
The Amsterdam and Beijing-based sales company will begin talks on the feature ahead of its local release on December 30. Fortissimo will launch the title to the international market at Berlin’s European Film Market (EFM) in February. The firm will not handle sales in North America, Hong Kong, Macao, Australia or New Zealand.
The third instalment is released 15 years after You Are The One,...
Fortissimo Films has secured international rights to upcoming Chinese comedy If You Are The One 3, the anticipated third instalment in Feng Xiaogang’s box office hit franchise.
The Amsterdam and Beijing-based sales company will begin talks on the feature ahead of its local release on December 30. Fortissimo will launch the title to the international market at Berlin’s European Film Market (EFM) in February. The firm will not handle sales in North America, Hong Kong, Macao, Australia or New Zealand.
The third instalment is released 15 years after You Are The One,...
- 12/4/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Three years after “Flowers of Shanghai”, Hou Hsiao-hsen released “Millennium Mambo”, a film that signaled another change in his themes, as it deals with the life of youths in contemporary Taiwan. “Millennium Mambo” inaugurated his collaborations with Shu Qi, who played the protagonist roles in most of his later works. The film was screened in more film festivals than any of his previous works and was the first to receive distribution in the US, although limited.
Millennium Mambo is screening at Five Flavours
Vicky has recently moved to Taipei from Keelung and works doing PR in a nightclub. Hao Hao is her jealous boyfriend who checks everything she does, including her bank transactions, her phone calls, and even her body smell. She spends her days working, doing drugs and fighting with Hao Hao, at least when they are not having sex. At some point, Hao Hao starts having trouble with the police.
Millennium Mambo is screening at Five Flavours
Vicky has recently moved to Taipei from Keelung and works doing PR in a nightclub. Hao Hao is her jealous boyfriend who checks everything she does, including her bank transactions, her phone calls, and even her body smell. She spends her days working, doing drugs and fighting with Hao Hao, at least when they are not having sex. At some point, Hao Hao starts having trouble with the police.
- 11/18/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
When her previous project “Ordinary Heroes” failed to make a dent at the box office, director Ann Hui turned to a genre which has proven time and time again to be popular with audiences, especially in Asia, which is the blend of horror and comedy. In the past, Hong Kong cinema has made a name for itself, creating a plethora of features representing this unique brand, often with a few martial-arts-scenes added for good measure. In the case of Ann Hui, her new project “Visible Secret” is certainly a deviation when compared to, for example, “Boat People” or “Night and Fog”, whose stories, themes and characters are more grounded within reality. However, while it does stay close to popular tropes of the horror genre of the time, “Visible Secret” also offers an interesting twist to some of the themes which have been a constant presence in the director's work, even...
- 11/10/2023
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Netting Sandra Ng Best Actress honors from the Hong Kong Film Awards and Shu Qi Best Supporting from the same competition and Golden Horse, “Portland Street Blues” is a spin-off of the “Young and Dangerous” series, focusing, however, on a female character this time.
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
The story starts with Sister 13 already being a boss, although her life is not exactly easy within the utterly male-dominated triad world and the fact that she is a lesbian does not make things any easier. After a few scenes in the present, and during a ceremony for the day of the death of her father, she begins narrating her life story to her comrades. Her father was a gambling addict who was repeatedly exploited by triad members, and particularly one mentioned as Sob, while Sister 13 was mostly hanging around with Kristy, trying to hustle some money here and there,...
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
The story starts with Sister 13 already being a boss, although her life is not exactly easy within the utterly male-dominated triad world and the fact that she is a lesbian does not make things any easier. After a few scenes in the present, and during a ceremony for the day of the death of her father, she begins narrating her life story to her comrades. Her father was a gambling addict who was repeatedly exploited by triad members, and particularly one mentioned as Sob, while Sister 13 was mostly hanging around with Kristy, trying to hustle some money here and there,...
- 11/4/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
This year's Special Screenings section features two classics directed by the masters of Taiwanese cinema – Tsai Ming-liang and Hou Hsiao-hsien. The screenings of films, restored in 4K, will be a nostalgic trip down the memory lane to the magic tales that have already earned an indisputable cult status and entered the canon of Asian cinema.
The process of digital restoration allows festivals to return to classic titles and bring them back to audiences to revisit and reevaluate through the lens of time passed. The feeling that the world is changing and that cinema follows in its steps will be one of the key emotions accompanying the screenings.
Tsai Ming-liang's “Goodbye, Dragon Inn” is not just a tribute to King Hu, whose retrospective is one of this year's Festival highlights, but also a symbolic goodbye to the golden era of the classic wuxia films that have been kindling the emotions of Asian audiences for many decades.
The process of digital restoration allows festivals to return to classic titles and bring them back to audiences to revisit and reevaluate through the lens of time passed. The feeling that the world is changing and that cinema follows in its steps will be one of the key emotions accompanying the screenings.
Tsai Ming-liang's “Goodbye, Dragon Inn” is not just a tribute to King Hu, whose retrospective is one of this year's Festival highlights, but also a symbolic goodbye to the golden era of the classic wuxia films that have been kindling the emotions of Asian audiences for many decades.
- 10/30/2023
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
For more on Venice's standout films, read our dispatch coverage: "Biopics Reloaded" and "Hitmen, A.I., and Dangerous Women."Poor Things.Main Competition(Jury: Damien Chazelle (chair), Saleh Bakri, Jane Campion, Mia Hansen-Løve, Gabriele Mainetti, Martin McDonagh, Santiago Mitre, Laura Poitras, and Shu Qi)Golden Lion: Poor Things (Yorgos Lanthimos)Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize: Evil Does Not Exist (Ryusuke Hamaguchi)Silver Lion Best Director: Matteo Garrone (Io Capitano)Special Jury Prize: Green Border (Agnieszka Holland)Best Screenplay: Pablo Larraín and Guillermo Calderón (El Conde)Best Actress: Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla)Best Actor: Peter Sarsgaard (Memory)Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress: Seydou Sarr (Io Capitano)Explanation For Everything.HORIZONSJury: Jonas Carpignano (chair), Kaouther Ben Hania, Kahlil Joseph, Jean-Paul Salomé, and Tricia Truttle)Best Film: Explanation For Everything (Gábor Reisz)Best Director: Mika Gustafson (Paradise Is Burning)Special Jury Prize: Una Sterminata Domenica (Alain Parroni)Best Actress:...
- 9/12/2023
- MUBI
The 2023 Venice Film Festival persevered despite a dimmed Hollywood presence, with much of the onscreen talent sitting this year’s Lido event out due to the strikes. There in Italy, however, were directors like Michael Mann, David Fincher, Yorgos Lanthimos, Ava DuVernay, Wes Anderson, Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Richard Linklater, Sofia Coppola, and even Woody Allen to present their latest films and do the talking on behalf of their sidelined actors.
Saturday at the Sala Grande, the jury headed up by president Damien Chazelle revealed the winners of the 2023 competition awards. Jurors including Martin McDonagh, Jane Campion, and Mia Hansen-Løve saw 23 movies over the last week and a half, including Lanthimos’ raved-about “Poor Things,” Coppola’s well-liked “Priscilla,” Bertrand Bonello’s daring “The Beast,” Fincher’s assassin thriller “The Killer,” Bradley Cooper’s Oscar hopeful “Maestro,” Mann’s gripping “Ferrari,” and more.
Word on the Lido was highest for eventual Golden Lion winner “Poor Things,...
Saturday at the Sala Grande, the jury headed up by president Damien Chazelle revealed the winners of the 2023 competition awards. Jurors including Martin McDonagh, Jane Campion, and Mia Hansen-Løve saw 23 movies over the last week and a half, including Lanthimos’ raved-about “Poor Things,” Coppola’s well-liked “Priscilla,” Bertrand Bonello’s daring “The Beast,” Fincher’s assassin thriller “The Killer,” Bradley Cooper’s Oscar hopeful “Maestro,” Mann’s gripping “Ferrari,” and more.
Word on the Lido was highest for eventual Golden Lion winner “Poor Things,...
- 9/9/2023
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
With his astounding debut Kaili Blues (2015) and the equally impressive 3D odyssey Long Day’s Journey Into Night (2018), Chinese director Bi Gan emerged as one of the most promising new voices in cinema this last decade. Now he’s finally returning behind the camera with a new feature.
Later this year, Bi Gan will embark on the production of his third film Resurrection, Variety reports. Set to star Jackson Yee and Shu Qi, the project is described as an “ambitious sci-fi detective movie” tha follows a woman whose consciousness falls into the “eternal time zone” during a surgical procedure. “Trapped in many dreams, she finds an android corpse and tries to wake it up by telling endless stories. The android then wanders within her stories and its senses gradually awaken,” the synopsis reads.
Backed by Charles Gillibert’s CG Cinema, the crew includes cinematographer Dong Jingsong, production designers Tu Nan (Wong Kar-Wai...
Later this year, Bi Gan will embark on the production of his third film Resurrection, Variety reports. Set to star Jackson Yee and Shu Qi, the project is described as an “ambitious sci-fi detective movie” tha follows a woman whose consciousness falls into the “eternal time zone” during a surgical procedure. “Trapped in many dreams, she finds an android corpse and tries to wake it up by telling endless stories. The android then wanders within her stories and its senses gradually awaken,” the synopsis reads.
Backed by Charles Gillibert’s CG Cinema, the crew includes cinematographer Dong Jingsong, production designers Tu Nan (Wong Kar-Wai...
- 9/6/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Chinese director Bi Gan, whose 2018 film “Long Day’s Journey into Night” played at Cannes, will next direct “Resurrection.” The ambitious sci-fi detective movie is to be headlined by Chinese superstar Jackson Yee (“Better Days”) and actor Shu Qi (“The Assassin”) who sits on this year’s Venice jury.
Boasting Bi’s edgy aesthetic and narrative style, the film tells the story of a woman whose consciousness falls into the “eternal time zone” during a surgical procedure. Trapped in many dreams, she finds an android corpse and tries to wake it up by telling endless stories. The android then wanders within her stories and its senses gradually awaken.
Charles Gillibert’s CG Cinema will again co-produce the project. Bi is finishing the script and plans to shoot later this year.
“Resurrection” will be lensed by Dong Jingsong, whose credits include “Long Day’s Journey into Night” and “The Wild Goose Lake.”
The...
Boasting Bi’s edgy aesthetic and narrative style, the film tells the story of a woman whose consciousness falls into the “eternal time zone” during a surgical procedure. Trapped in many dreams, she finds an android corpse and tries to wake it up by telling endless stories. The android then wanders within her stories and its senses gradually awaken.
Charles Gillibert’s CG Cinema will again co-produce the project. Bi is finishing the script and plans to shoot later this year.
“Resurrection” will be lensed by Dong Jingsong, whose credits include “Long Day’s Journey into Night” and “The Wild Goose Lake.”
The...
- 9/6/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
A highlight of the first weekend of the 80th Venice International Film Festival was seeing Giorgio Armani appear on the catwalk, visibly excited, moved, smiling and proudly satisfied with his work. He then advanced graceful and happy, in his impeccable blue tuxedo holding hands with the model Agnese Zogla.
The moment was experienced by the more than 500 guests at Armani’s One Night Only event, where the world of cinema flocked to pay homage to King Giorgio, with guests including Sophia Loren, who has always been his beloved friend, accompanied by her son Edoardo Ponti, actor Benicio Del Toro, actress Jessica Chastain, and directors Ang Lee, Gabriele Salvatores and Giuseppe Tornatore.
The standing ovation lasted several minutes from an audience composed of numerous couples from the Italian film star system: from Sergio Castellitto and Margaret Mazzantini and Pierfrancesco Favino and Anna Ferzetti to Raul Bova and Rocio Munoz Morales to Kasia Smutniak and Domenico Procacci.
The moment was experienced by the more than 500 guests at Armani’s One Night Only event, where the world of cinema flocked to pay homage to King Giorgio, with guests including Sophia Loren, who has always been his beloved friend, accompanied by her son Edoardo Ponti, actor Benicio Del Toro, actress Jessica Chastain, and directors Ang Lee, Gabriele Salvatores and Giuseppe Tornatore.
The standing ovation lasted several minutes from an audience composed of numerous couples from the Italian film star system: from Sergio Castellitto and Margaret Mazzantini and Pierfrancesco Favino and Anna Ferzetti to Raul Bova and Rocio Munoz Morales to Kasia Smutniak and Domenico Procacci.
- 9/5/2023
- by Pino Gagliardi
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chazelle gave an impassioned response in support of the strikes.
Venice Competition jury head Damien Chazelle and his fellow competition jurors offered their support to the striking actors and writers in the US, at the opening press conference for the 80th Venice Film Festival.
Chazelle and competition jurors directors Martin McDonagh and Laura Poitras wore T-shirts with the words ‘Writers Guild on strike’, while Chazelle gave an impassioned response to the opening question about the strike.
“There’s a basic idea that each work of art has value unto itself. It’s not just a piece of content to be put into a pipeline,...
Venice Competition jury head Damien Chazelle and his fellow competition jurors offered their support to the striking actors and writers in the US, at the opening press conference for the 80th Venice Film Festival.
Chazelle and competition jurors directors Martin McDonagh and Laura Poitras wore T-shirts with the words ‘Writers Guild on strike’, while Chazelle gave an impassioned response to the opening question about the strike.
“There’s a basic idea that each work of art has value unto itself. It’s not just a piece of content to be put into a pipeline,...
- 8/30/2023
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Venice Film Festival jury head Damien Chazelle arrived at the opening press conference sporting a Writers Guild on strike t-shirt and badge today.
The La La Land and Whiplash director-writer said of the two Hollywood strikes: “Today is the 121st day the writers have been of strike and the 48th the actors have been on strike. I think there is a basic idea that each work of art has value unto itself, and is not only a piece of content to be put into a pipeline. That basic idea has been eroded in the past years. That’s the core issue for me. That issue of residuals and people being remunerated for each piece of art is key. A lot of people who would ordinarily be here aren’t able to be here. It’s a difficult time, particularly for crew and writers in Hollywood.”
Jury members Martin McDonagh and Laura Poitras,...
The La La Land and Whiplash director-writer said of the two Hollywood strikes: “Today is the 121st day the writers have been of strike and the 48th the actors have been on strike. I think there is a basic idea that each work of art has value unto itself, and is not only a piece of content to be put into a pipeline. That basic idea has been eroded in the past years. That’s the core issue for me. That issue of residuals and people being remunerated for each piece of art is key. A lot of people who would ordinarily be here aren’t able to be here. It’s a difficult time, particularly for crew and writers in Hollywood.”
Jury members Martin McDonagh and Laura Poitras,...
- 8/30/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Corey Yuen's career may not have hit the heights of his contemporaries Yuen Woo Ping and Sammo Hung but when it came to female led action films, he can certainly claim to have a huge influence, being the director of the seminal “Yes Madam”. He would later rather unsuccessfully try to merge Category III with the genre in the poor “Women on the Run” and remake John Woo's “The Killer” into the Shu Qi starring “So Close”. Yet it is “She Shoots Straight” that comes the closest to matching “Yes Madam” for energy and similarity in form and in many aspects. With Eureka Entertainment releasing a remastered Blu Ray in the UK in September, it's time to go back and revisit one that possibly audiences might have missed out on.
Inspector Mina (Joyce Godenzi) is about to marry Inspector Huang Tsung-pao (Tony Leung Ka-fai) the only male in a family filled with policewomen.
Inspector Mina (Joyce Godenzi) is about to marry Inspector Huang Tsung-pao (Tony Leung Ka-fai) the only male in a family filled with policewomen.
- 8/15/2023
- by Ben Stykuc
- AsianMoviePulse
‘Love Is A Gun’ set to play in competition in Critics’ Week at Venice.
Chinese sales agent Parallax Films has boarded actor Lee Hong-Chi’s directorial debut Love Is A Gun, ahead of its premiere at Venice, and Liang Ming’s Carefree Days, the opening film of San Sebastian’s New Directors strand.
Love Is A Gun, also starring and written by Lee, follows a young man who is determined to start afresh after getting out of jail, but his turbulent past comes back to haunt him, including a gun of which he cannot get rid.
It will premiere in...
Chinese sales agent Parallax Films has boarded actor Lee Hong-Chi’s directorial debut Love Is A Gun, ahead of its premiere at Venice, and Liang Ming’s Carefree Days, the opening film of San Sebastian’s New Directors strand.
Love Is A Gun, also starring and written by Lee, follows a young man who is determined to start afresh after getting out of jail, but his turbulent past comes back to haunt him, including a gun of which he cannot get rid.
It will premiere in...
- 8/11/2023
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
The much delayed “Under the Light” by Zhang Yimou, which has previously been described has previously as an “urban crime thriller”, first saw a trailer release all the way back in 2020, but kept getting pushed back for one unknown reason or the other. In the meantime, three more films by the prolific Mainland auteur saw release but it seems that now “Under the Light” may finally be greeting the audience with a new trailer that confirms a Mainland release date.
Synopsis
An urban crime drama film which will cover topics from anti-corruption to anti-crime. The story revolves around Su Jian Ming and Li Hui Lin jointly investigating an undercurrent criminal case involving a huge interest group. In order to investigate the case, Su Jian Ming ignores the persuasion of his powerful father Zheng Gang, and rushes to the “Hongmen Banquet”, hosted by rich businessman Li Zhi Tian. More and more clues gradually surface.
Synopsis
An urban crime drama film which will cover topics from anti-corruption to anti-crime. The story revolves around Su Jian Ming and Li Hui Lin jointly investigating an undercurrent criminal case involving a huge interest group. In order to investigate the case, Su Jian Ming ignores the persuasion of his powerful father Zheng Gang, and rushes to the “Hongmen Banquet”, hosted by rich businessman Li Zhi Tian. More and more clues gradually surface.
- 8/5/2023
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
The Venice Film Festival sails on in Italy — even with much of Hollywood at a standstill.
The annual cinema celebration hosted by La Biennale di Venezia and directed by Alberto Barbera runs from August 30 through September 9. Despite already having lost Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers” from its opening night slot due to its SAG-AFTRA talent including star Zendaya being unable to accompany the world premiere due to strike work stoppage orders, Venice has plenty of movie goodness in store for its 80th edition.
Competition highlights include Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro,” Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla,” David Fincher’s “The Killer,” Michael Mann’s “Ferrari,” Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things,” Ava DuVernay’s “Origin,” Luc Besson’s “Dogman,” Michel Franco’s “Memory,” Pablo Larrain’s “El Conde,” and many more. Out of competition, Venice will screen new films from Harmony Korine, Richard Linklater, Woody Allen, Wes Anderson, Roman Polanski, and William Friedkin.
The annual cinema celebration hosted by La Biennale di Venezia and directed by Alberto Barbera runs from August 30 through September 9. Despite already having lost Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers” from its opening night slot due to its SAG-AFTRA talent including star Zendaya being unable to accompany the world premiere due to strike work stoppage orders, Venice has plenty of movie goodness in store for its 80th edition.
Competition highlights include Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro,” Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla,” David Fincher’s “The Killer,” Michael Mann’s “Ferrari,” Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things,” Ava DuVernay’s “Origin,” Luc Besson’s “Dogman,” Michel Franco’s “Memory,” Pablo Larrain’s “El Conde,” and many more. Out of competition, Venice will screen new films from Harmony Korine, Richard Linklater, Woody Allen, Wes Anderson, Roman Polanski, and William Friedkin.
- 7/25/2023
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Includes films from David Fincher, Sofia Coppola, Ava DuVernay, Yorgos Lanthimos, Bradley Cooper and Ryusuke Hamaguchi.
Venice Film Festival announced the programme for its 80th edition, including a 23-strong Competition with new films from David Fincher, Sofia Coppola, Ava DuVernay, Yorgos Lanthimos, Bradley Cooper and Ryusuke Hamaguchi.
Scroll down for full line-up
The selection was announced by festival president Roberto Cicutto and artistic director Alberto Barbera. The SAG-AFTRA strike in the US has had a “quite modest” impact on the selection according to Barbera, who was forced to pull Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers as the opening film over the weekend due to the strike.
Venice Film Festival announced the programme for its 80th edition, including a 23-strong Competition with new films from David Fincher, Sofia Coppola, Ava DuVernay, Yorgos Lanthimos, Bradley Cooper and Ryusuke Hamaguchi.
Scroll down for full line-up
The selection was announced by festival president Roberto Cicutto and artistic director Alberto Barbera. The SAG-AFTRA strike in the US has had a “quite modest” impact on the selection according to Barbera, who was forced to pull Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers as the opening film over the weekend due to the strike.
- 7/25/2023
- by Ben Dalton¬Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
This year’s selection will be announced at 11:00 Cest (10:00 BST) by Roberto Cicutto and Alberto Barbera.
The line-up for the 80th Venice International Film Festival (August 30-September 9) will be revealed this morning at 11:00 Cest (10:00 BST) by festival president Roberto Cicutto and artistic director Alberto Barbera
The press conference will be live-streamed below, and this page will be updated with the films as they are announced.
Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers was originally set to open the festival but was pulled by MGM amid the actors’ strike. It was replaced by Edoardo De Angelis’ Comandante.
The closing film...
The line-up for the 80th Venice International Film Festival (August 30-September 9) will be revealed this morning at 11:00 Cest (10:00 BST) by festival president Roberto Cicutto and artistic director Alberto Barbera
The press conference will be live-streamed below, and this page will be updated with the films as they are announced.
Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers was originally set to open the festival but was pulled by MGM amid the actors’ strike. It was replaced by Edoardo De Angelis’ Comandante.
The closing film...
- 7/25/2023
- by Ben Dalton¬Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
The Venice Film Festival will announce the lineup for its 80th edition Tuesday at 11 a.m. European time (2 a.m. Pt/5 a.m. Et). Venice Artistic Director Alberto Barbera will be joined by Biennale President Roberto Cicutto to reveal this year’s titles.
The stream can be found on the official Biennale website as well as the festival’s official Facebook page, Twitter feed, and YouTube channel.
You can also watch the stream live here.
Deadline will also be live reporting the list of Official Selection films as the names come in. Check that out here. With simultaneous WGA-sag-aftra strikes, Venice will likely look a little different this year, with stars observing their pickets staying away from the Lido.
The fest is usually a glamorous springboard for U.S. awards hopefuls and big streamer and studio fare, but its plans for American buzz titles have been thrown into disarray by the strike,...
The stream can be found on the official Biennale website as well as the festival’s official Facebook page, Twitter feed, and YouTube channel.
You can also watch the stream live here.
Deadline will also be live reporting the list of Official Selection films as the names come in. Check that out here. With simultaneous WGA-sag-aftra strikes, Venice will likely look a little different this year, with stars observing their pickets staying away from the Lido.
The fest is usually a glamorous springboard for U.S. awards hopefuls and big streamer and studio fare, but its plans for American buzz titles have been thrown into disarray by the strike,...
- 7/25/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
The main jury for the upcoming Venice Film Festival has added a number of prestigious filmmakers, with Jane Campion, Martin McDonagh, Laura Poitras and Mia Hansen-Løve joining jury president Damien Chazelle for the festival.
Other jurors on the panel include Saleh Bakri (“Wajib”), Gabriele Mainetti (“They Call Me Jeeg”), Santiago Mitre and Shu Qi (“The Assassin”).
The jury is responsible for awarding the following prizes during the festival: Golden Lion for Best Film, Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize, Silver Lion for Best Director, Coppa Volpi for Best Actress, Coppa Volpi for Best Actor, Special Jury Prize, Award for Best Screenplay and “Marcello Mastroianni” Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress.
The festival also unveiled the juries for the other sections on Thursday, with the Orizzonti section jury set to include Jonas Carpignano, Kaouther Ben Hania, Kahlil Joseph, Jean-Paul Salomé and Tricia Tuttle.
The “Luigi De Laurentis” award for a debut film,...
Other jurors on the panel include Saleh Bakri (“Wajib”), Gabriele Mainetti (“They Call Me Jeeg”), Santiago Mitre and Shu Qi (“The Assassin”).
The jury is responsible for awarding the following prizes during the festival: Golden Lion for Best Film, Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize, Silver Lion for Best Director, Coppa Volpi for Best Actress, Coppa Volpi for Best Actor, Special Jury Prize, Award for Best Screenplay and “Marcello Mastroianni” Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress.
The festival also unveiled the juries for the other sections on Thursday, with the Orizzonti section jury set to include Jonas Carpignano, Kaouther Ben Hania, Kahlil Joseph, Jean-Paul Salomé and Tricia Tuttle.
The “Luigi De Laurentis” award for a debut film,...
- 7/13/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
The 2023 Venice Film Festival has unveiled its Main Competition jury.
Under president Damien Chazelle, the jury will include Jane Campion, Mia Hansen-Løve, Laura Poitras, Martin McDonagh, Saleh Bakri, Gabriele Mainetti, Santiago Mitre, and Shu Qi. The 80th annual festival will run from August 30 to September 9.
The Main Competition jury will award the Golden Lion for Best Film, Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize, Silver Lion for Best Director, Coppa Volpi for Best Actress, Coppa Volpi for Best Actor, Special Jury Prize, Award for Best Screenplay, and “Marcello Mastroianni” Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress.
Last year’s jury was overseen by Julianne Moore, awarding the Golden Lion to 2023 jury member Poitras’ documentary “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed.”
Silver Lion winner Luca Guadagnino returns to the 2023 festival with Opening Night film “Challengers” starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist as three tennis players caught up in a game of love.
Under president Damien Chazelle, the jury will include Jane Campion, Mia Hansen-Løve, Laura Poitras, Martin McDonagh, Saleh Bakri, Gabriele Mainetti, Santiago Mitre, and Shu Qi. The 80th annual festival will run from August 30 to September 9.
The Main Competition jury will award the Golden Lion for Best Film, Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize, Silver Lion for Best Director, Coppa Volpi for Best Actress, Coppa Volpi for Best Actor, Special Jury Prize, Award for Best Screenplay, and “Marcello Mastroianni” Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress.
Last year’s jury was overseen by Julianne Moore, awarding the Golden Lion to 2023 jury member Poitras’ documentary “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed.”
Silver Lion winner Luca Guadagnino returns to the 2023 festival with Opening Night film “Challengers” starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist as three tennis players caught up in a game of love.
- 7/13/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
An all-star award-winning filmmaker jury is lining up to judge the competition titles of the 80th Venice Film Festival. Oscar and Palme d’Or winner Jane Campion, Oscar winner Martin McDonagh, and Oscar and Venice Golden Lion winner Laura Poitras will join jury president Damien Chazelle on the Venice 2023 international jury.
Also on this year’s jury judging the Golden and Silver Lion winners will be acclaimed French director Mia Hansen-Love, Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri, Argentine filmmaker Santiago Mitre as well as Chinese actress Shu Qi.
Most of the jury has a history with Venice. Chazelle premiered La La Land and First Man in competition on the Lido. Poitras’ last film, the documentary All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, won last year’s Golden Lion. Campion’s The Power of the Dog was a Silver Lion winner in 2021. McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin, a 2022 Venice competition title, took the...
Also on this year’s jury judging the Golden and Silver Lion winners will be acclaimed French director Mia Hansen-Love, Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri, Argentine filmmaker Santiago Mitre as well as Chinese actress Shu Qi.
Most of the jury has a history with Venice. Chazelle premiered La La Land and First Man in competition on the Lido. Poitras’ last film, the documentary All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, won last year’s Golden Lion. Campion’s The Power of the Dog was a Silver Lion winner in 2021. McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin, a 2022 Venice competition title, took the...
- 7/13/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Among those selected, Laura Poitras won the Golden Lion at the festival last year.
Jane Campion, Mia Hansen-Løve, Laura Poitras and Martin McDonagh have joined the main Competition jury of the 80th Venice Film Festival (August 30-September 9).
The filmmakers will be joined by Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri (Wajib); Italian director Gabriele Mainetti, who was in Competition at the festival in 2021 with Freaks Out; Argentinian writer/director Santiago Mitre, whose Argentina, 1985 premiered in Competition at Venice last year; and Chinese actress Shu Qi, known for her performances in Hou Hsiao-Hsien films Millennium Mambo, Three Times and The Assassin.
US director Poitras...
Jane Campion, Mia Hansen-Løve, Laura Poitras and Martin McDonagh have joined the main Competition jury of the 80th Venice Film Festival (August 30-September 9).
The filmmakers will be joined by Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri (Wajib); Italian director Gabriele Mainetti, who was in Competition at the festival in 2021 with Freaks Out; Argentinian writer/director Santiago Mitre, whose Argentina, 1985 premiered in Competition at Venice last year; and Chinese actress Shu Qi, known for her performances in Hou Hsiao-Hsien films Millennium Mambo, Three Times and The Assassin.
US director Poitras...
- 7/13/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
The Venice Film Festival has unveiled the names who will join Damien Chazelle on the main Competition jury of its 80th edition, running Aug 30 — Sep 9.
Jury members include Saleh Bakri, Jane Campion, Mia Hansen-Løve, Gabriele Mainetti, Martin McDonagh, Santiago Mitre, Laura Poitras, and Shu Qi.
The jury will award the following official prizes to the feature films in Competition, with no joint awards allowed: Golden Lion for Best Film, Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize, Silver Lion for Best Director, Coppa Volpi for Best Actress, Coppa Volpi for Best Actor, Special Jury Prize, Award for Best Screenplay, and “Marcello Mastroianni” Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress.
Saleh Bakri is a Palestinian film and theater actor. For the movie Wajib (2017) by Annemarie Jacir, Bakri won the Muhr Award for Best Actor at the Dubai Film Festival. His latest film performances are in the Oscar-nominated short film The Present by Farah Nabulsi (2020) and in Costa Brava,...
Jury members include Saleh Bakri, Jane Campion, Mia Hansen-Løve, Gabriele Mainetti, Martin McDonagh, Santiago Mitre, Laura Poitras, and Shu Qi.
The jury will award the following official prizes to the feature films in Competition, with no joint awards allowed: Golden Lion for Best Film, Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize, Silver Lion for Best Director, Coppa Volpi for Best Actress, Coppa Volpi for Best Actor, Special Jury Prize, Award for Best Screenplay, and “Marcello Mastroianni” Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress.
Saleh Bakri is a Palestinian film and theater actor. For the movie Wajib (2017) by Annemarie Jacir, Bakri won the Muhr Award for Best Actor at the Dubai Film Festival. His latest film performances are in the Oscar-nominated short film The Present by Farah Nabulsi (2020) and in Costa Brava,...
- 7/13/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Jane Campion, Laura Poitras, Martin McDonagh and Mia Hansen-Løve have joined the main jury of the upcoming Venice Film Festival.
The prominent directors, most of whom are Venice regulars – Poitras last year scored the Golden Lion with documentary “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” – will be joined by fellow jury members including Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri (“Wajib”); Chinese star Shu Qi (“The Assassin”); Italian director Gabriele Mainetti, who was at Venice last year with “Freaks Out”; and Argentinian auteur Santiago Mitre, whose “Argentina, 1985” also launched from the Lido last year.
They will join Damien Chazelle who, as previously announced, will serve as president of the Venice competition jury.
Venice revealed its jury just hours after talks broke down without a deal between actors union SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance for Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). A strike is expected to be called on Thursday morning, Pacific time, which could have...
The prominent directors, most of whom are Venice regulars – Poitras last year scored the Golden Lion with documentary “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” – will be joined by fellow jury members including Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri (“Wajib”); Chinese star Shu Qi (“The Assassin”); Italian director Gabriele Mainetti, who was at Venice last year with “Freaks Out”; and Argentinian auteur Santiago Mitre, whose “Argentina, 1985” also launched from the Lido last year.
They will join Damien Chazelle who, as previously announced, will serve as president of the Venice competition jury.
Venice revealed its jury just hours after talks broke down without a deal between actors union SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance for Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). A strike is expected to be called on Thursday morning, Pacific time, which could have...
- 7/13/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
From the mid-1980s to the end of the 20th century, Hou Hsiao-hsien emerged as a kind of national historian, exploring Taiwan’s colonial history and attendant identity crisis across his work. Though his dramas of this period dealt with individuals and families, they tended to adopt a distanced, objective camera perspective with an emphasis on groups of people dwarfed by their physical and political surroundings. Eschewing close-ups, Hou ignored individual perspective to better study the tides of change playing on the characters as the accumulated weight of centuries of occupations shaped their sense of self and frequently alienated notion of belonging.
Hou took an opposite approach with 2001’s Millennium Mambo—that is, with a literally close-up portrait of an individual, Vicky (Shu Qi), navigating on-again, off-again romances with Hao-Hao (Tuan Chun-hao), the failed DJ and drug-using petty criminal with whom she shares an apartment, and Jack (Jack Kao), a kindly older gangster.
Hou took an opposite approach with 2001’s Millennium Mambo—that is, with a literally close-up portrait of an individual, Vicky (Shu Qi), navigating on-again, off-again romances with Hao-Hao (Tuan Chun-hao), the failed DJ and drug-using petty criminal with whom she shares an apartment, and Jack (Jack Kao), a kindly older gangster.
- 6/20/2023
- by Jake Cole
- Slant Magazine
The 25th edition marks a return in-person after being cancelled last year.
Han Yan’s Love Never Ends is set to open the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival (Siff), which has also revealed the nominations for its Golden Goblet Awards.
The romance drama is adapted from a cartoon of the same name created by Kang Full. Ni Dahong, Kara Wai, Tony Leung Ka-Fai and Cecilia Yip play two elderly couples who show it is never too late to love.
Director Han previously directed 2015’s Go Away Mr. Tumor and 2020’s A Little Red Flower. Love Never Ends is set for...
Han Yan’s Love Never Ends is set to open the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival (Siff), which has also revealed the nominations for its Golden Goblet Awards.
The romance drama is adapted from a cartoon of the same name created by Kang Full. Ni Dahong, Kara Wai, Tony Leung Ka-Fai and Cecilia Yip play two elderly couples who show it is never too late to love.
Director Han previously directed 2015’s Go Away Mr. Tumor and 2020’s A Little Red Flower. Love Never Ends is set for...
- 5/30/2023
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
Alexi Tan, a screenwriter and director who was a protégé of John Woo, has teamed with artist Charles Simpson to launch comic book “Monk Wars.”
The “Monk Wars” universe is a dystopian gritty world filled with martial arts action and a broad array of diverse characters. The first book will follow Monk Ma, who has ancient animal powers, as he assembles his followers to take on the Rat-Men soldiers.
The project is being steered by David U. Lee’s Beijing-based Leeding Media which will manage all media rights to the comic book including film, television and web series. Weston Suh’s Los Angeles-based Final Order Comics has partnered to take print publication rights for the first book and subsequent issues.
“I want to create a world that introduces classic martial arts animal fighting styles from movies I grew up watching and turn them into superpowers for a new generation of young heroes,...
The “Monk Wars” universe is a dystopian gritty world filled with martial arts action and a broad array of diverse characters. The first book will follow Monk Ma, who has ancient animal powers, as he assembles his followers to take on the Rat-Men soldiers.
The project is being steered by David U. Lee’s Beijing-based Leeding Media which will manage all media rights to the comic book including film, television and web series. Weston Suh’s Los Angeles-based Final Order Comics has partnered to take print publication rights for the first book and subsequent issues.
“I want to create a world that introduces classic martial arts animal fighting styles from movies I grew up watching and turn them into superpowers for a new generation of young heroes,...
- 5/12/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Despite amassing a rather significant amount at the 1998 Hong Kong box office, reaching more than 41 million Hk$ in revenue, “The Storm Riders” was essentially a flop, since its budget was more than double that amount. This, however, did not prevent the movie from achieving cult status later on, particularly for its over-the-top action scenes and the imposing presence of Sonny Chiba.
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Based on the manhua series Fung Wan by artist Ma Wing-shing, the story begins when the evil Lord Conqueror, head of Conqueror's Clan, is given a prophecy by Mud Buddha when questioned about his delayed duel with Sword Saint. The prophecy states that if Conqueror finds two young children by the name of Wind and Cloud, he will have good fortune. Mud Buddha provides the birth charts of these two and gives him a puzzle box stating that finding Wind...
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Based on the manhua series Fung Wan by artist Ma Wing-shing, the story begins when the evil Lord Conqueror, head of Conqueror's Clan, is given a prophecy by Mud Buddha when questioned about his delayed duel with Sword Saint. The prophecy states that if Conqueror finds two young children by the name of Wind and Cloud, he will have good fortune. Mud Buddha provides the birth charts of these two and gives him a puzzle box stating that finding Wind...
- 4/16/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Winner of the 1999 Golden Horse Award for Best Visual Effects, Andrew Lau's “A Man Called Hero” is a genuine wuxia film, which doubles intensely though, as a drama, in a rather appealing package that also benefits the most by the impressive cast. The movie would be a huge commercial success, amassing more than 23 million Hk dollars upon its release.
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The script is loosely based on the manhua series Chinese Hero: Tales of the Blood Sword by Hong Kong artist Ma Wing-shing and begins in early Republican China. After passing a test, Hero Hua is accepted by Pride, a master swordsman, as his second apprentice. When he returns home, he is horrified to see that his parents have been murdered by foreigners for opposing the opium trade. That night, Hero breaks up the foreigners' party and kills them in revenge.
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The script is loosely based on the manhua series Chinese Hero: Tales of the Blood Sword by Hong Kong artist Ma Wing-shing and begins in early Republican China. After passing a test, Hero Hua is accepted by Pride, a master swordsman, as his second apprentice. When he returns home, he is horrified to see that his parents have been murdered by foreigners for opposing the opium trade. That night, Hero breaks up the foreigners' party and kills them in revenge.
- 4/14/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Panorama are bringing the 2002 Hong Kong-Singaporean horror movie ‘The Eye' and its sequels to Hong Kong Blu-ray and DVD on March 31, 2023.
Limited to 666 sets, this 20th-anniversary boxset comes with ‘The Eye,' ‘The Eye 2' and ‘The Eye 10' (aka ‘The Eye 3: Infinity') on Blu-ray and DVD. It also comes with three movie poster cards, The Eye 20th anniversary booklet, and a bookmark set.
The Eye (2002)
Mun (Angelica Lee) lost her eyesight at a young age. She finally has the chance to see again when she gets a cornea transplant. However, the world she sees is strange and even terrifying, and those around her do not understand her struggle. She tries to adjust and make sense of the ghostly images that appear before her. One day, she learns that the reflection she sees in the mirror is not her own face.
The Eye 2 (2004)
“Suicide is a dreadful sin.
Limited to 666 sets, this 20th-anniversary boxset comes with ‘The Eye,' ‘The Eye 2' and ‘The Eye 10' (aka ‘The Eye 3: Infinity') on Blu-ray and DVD. It also comes with three movie poster cards, The Eye 20th anniversary booklet, and a bookmark set.
The Eye (2002)
Mun (Angelica Lee) lost her eyesight at a young age. She finally has the chance to see again when she gets a cornea transplant. However, the world she sees is strange and even terrifying, and those around her do not understand her struggle. She tries to adjust and make sense of the ghostly images that appear before her. One day, she learns that the reflection she sees in the mirror is not her own face.
The Eye 2 (2004)
“Suicide is a dreadful sin.
- 3/31/2023
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
The 47th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF47) will honour Soi Cheang as this year’s Filmmaker-in-Focus.
One of Hong Kong’s most stylish and formidable directors, Cheang joins an illustrious and growing list of recent Hkiff Filmmakers-in-Focus, including Sandra Ng, Stanley Kwan, Michael Hui, Sammo Hung and Brigitte Lin.
Returning to its traditional dates after last year’s postponement, HKIFF47 will take place from 30 March to 10 April. At the centre of this year’s cinephile extravaganza is the showcase of Cheang’s 12 seminal works, the publication of a commemorative book and, in collaboration with long-term festival partner Moleskine, the release of a limited edition notebook. Cheang will also attend a Face-to-Face session to share his insights and vision with the public.
In making the announcement, Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Executive Director Albert Lee paid tribute to Cheang and said the festival was proud to recognise his indelible contribution to Hong Kong cinema.
One of Hong Kong’s most stylish and formidable directors, Cheang joins an illustrious and growing list of recent Hkiff Filmmakers-in-Focus, including Sandra Ng, Stanley Kwan, Michael Hui, Sammo Hung and Brigitte Lin.
Returning to its traditional dates after last year’s postponement, HKIFF47 will take place from 30 March to 10 April. At the centre of this year’s cinephile extravaganza is the showcase of Cheang’s 12 seminal works, the publication of a commemorative book and, in collaboration with long-term festival partner Moleskine, the release of a limited edition notebook. Cheang will also attend a Face-to-Face session to share his insights and vision with the public.
In making the announcement, Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Executive Director Albert Lee paid tribute to Cheang and said the festival was proud to recognise his indelible contribution to Hong Kong cinema.
- 2/3/2023
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
Three years after “Flowers of Shanghai”, Hou Hsiao-hsen released “Millennium Mambo”, a film that signaled another change in his themes, as it deals with the life of youths in contemporary Taiwan. “Millenium Mambo” inaugurated his collaborations with Shu Qi, who played the protagonist roles in most of his later works. The film was screened in more film festivals than any of his previous works and was the first to receive distribution in the US, although limited.
A 4K restoration release of “Millennium Mambo” is screening exclusively at Metrograph theater in Manhattan and online on Metrograph At Home.
Vicky has recently moved to Taipei from Keelung and works doing PR in a nightclub. Hao Hao is her jealous boyfriend who checks everything she does, including her bank transactions, her phone calls, and even her body smell. She spends her days working, doing drugs and fighting with Hao Hao, at least when they are not having sex.
A 4K restoration release of “Millennium Mambo” is screening exclusively at Metrograph theater in Manhattan and online on Metrograph At Home.
Vicky has recently moved to Taipei from Keelung and works doing PR in a nightclub. Hao Hao is her jealous boyfriend who checks everything she does, including her bank transactions, her phone calls, and even her body smell. She spends her days working, doing drugs and fighting with Hao Hao, at least when they are not having sex.
- 1/16/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Metrograph Pictures is thrilled to celebrate a record-smashing two-week straight sold-out run of their newly released 4K restoration of Hou Hsiao-hsien‘s 2001 Cannes Palme d’Or nominee Millennium Mambo following its theatrical launch on Friday, December 23. Playing exclusively at Metrograph theater in Manhattan and online on Metrograph At Home, additional screenings have been added for the widely lauded restoration release for the month of January due to overwhelming demand.
A stylish and seductive submersion into the techno-scored neon nightlife of Taipei, Hou’s much-misunderstood marvel stars Shu Qi (The Assassin) as an aimless bar hostess drifting away from her blowhard boyfriend and towards Jack Kao’s suave, sensitive gangster. Structured as a flashback to the then-present from the then-future of 2011, it’s a transfixing trance-out of a movie, drenched in club lights, ecstatic endorphin-rush exhilaration, and a nagging undercurrent of ennui. A Metrograph Pictures release.
A stylish and seductive submersion into the techno-scored neon nightlife of Taipei, Hou’s much-misunderstood marvel stars Shu Qi (The Assassin) as an aimless bar hostess drifting away from her blowhard boyfriend and towards Jack Kao’s suave, sensitive gangster. Structured as a flashback to the then-present from the then-future of 2011, it’s a transfixing trance-out of a movie, drenched in club lights, ecstatic endorphin-rush exhilaration, and a nagging undercurrent of ennui. A Metrograph Pictures release.
- 1/12/2023
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
Hou Hsiao-hsien’s Millennium Mambo premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2001 to, sadly, so little enthusiasm outside the highbrow crowd that it didn’t finally land in North American theaters until three years later. Initially mystifying even to fans of Hou for being so “minor” after a number of historical dramas, it’s had a second act—seemingly earning the mantle of the director’s most popular film, at least judging by Letterboxd-logging stats. It’s curious to reflect on the reason for its elevated reputation, yet easy to recognize why it’s a particular favorite to aging millennials who serve as our chief tastemakers. And now on the occasion of a new 4K restoration, the film has the chance to be experienced theatrically for the first time by many of its biggest admirers, where its hypnotic rhythms and neon world can be better appreciated than on a...
- 12/22/2022
- by Ethan Vestby
- The Film Stage
Slowly but surely the works of one of the greatest directors in cinema history are getting restored. On the heels of the recent Flowers of Shanghai revamp, Hou Hsiao-hsien’s 2001 masterpiece Millennium Mambo has recently undergone a 4K restoration and is now arriving just in time for Christmas. Ahead of the theatrical release at NYC’s Metrograph and digital release on Metrograph At Home this Friday, December 23, the new trailer has arrived.
Led by Shu Qi in one of the most mesmerizing performances of this young century, she plays a bar hostess stuck in an unfulfilling relationship with her loser DJ boyfriend and gets caught up with a gangster, played by Jack Kao. I had a chance to get an early look at the 4K restoration and, as the trailer hints, it’s quite something to behold––from the already-iconic opening shot to the neon-lit clubs to Shu Qi’s...
Led by Shu Qi in one of the most mesmerizing performances of this young century, she plays a bar hostess stuck in an unfulfilling relationship with her loser DJ boyfriend and gets caught up with a gangster, played by Jack Kao. I had a chance to get an early look at the 4K restoration and, as the trailer hints, it’s quite something to behold––from the already-iconic opening shot to the neon-lit clubs to Shu Qi’s...
- 12/21/2022
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Hou Hsiao-hsien’s Intoxicating 2001 ‘Millennium Mambo’ Is a Must-See — Watch the Restoration Trailer
Taiwanese master of Ozu-esque dramas Hou Hsiao-hsien has not released a feature since 2015’s wuxia drama “The Assassin” made him an almost Oscar contender. In that film, Chinese superstar Shu Qi played a government-slaying assassin. In “Millennium Mambo,” Hou’s intimately constructed 2001 drama, she plays a dissatisfied nightclub hostess in a post-Y2K Taipei, tumbling through a series of relationships we now, more than two decades later, understand as “toxic.” “Millennium Mambo” has long been hard to find on home video, but Metrograph Pictures is re-releasing the film theatrically December 23, as well as online via the label’s Metrograph at Home selections. Check out the new trailer for “Millennium Mambo,” exclusively on IndieWire, below.
This clip, excerpted from early in the film, shows the kind of somnambulant atmosphere Hou conjures. Moments of wordless visual poetry — from this scene to how Hou shoots neon-glimmering club scenes or under-cranks in slow motion...
This clip, excerpted from early in the film, shows the kind of somnambulant atmosphere Hou conjures. Moments of wordless visual poetry — from this scene to how Hou shoots neon-glimmering club scenes or under-cranks in slow motion...
- 12/21/2022
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
This week’s New to Streaming column is sponsored by Sara Dosa’s Fire of Love, now streaming on Disney+, courtesy of National Geographic Documentary Films.
Fire of Love (Sara Dosa)
In a bond forged over mutual fascination (or obsession) with the mysteries of volcanoes, Katia and Maurice Krafft dedicated their lives to discovering everything they could about these natural phenomena. Forces of both awe-inspiring wonder and tragic disaster, Sara Dosa’s archival documentary Fire of Love gracefully captures this extreme dichotomy while also getting to the heart of what drove this couple to abandon a routine, domesticated lifestyle and literally sacrifice their lives in the mission to save others. In telling their devotion to one of the natural world’s most dangerous forces,...
This week’s New to Streaming column is sponsored by Sara Dosa’s Fire of Love, now streaming on Disney+, courtesy of National Geographic Documentary Films.
Fire of Love (Sara Dosa)
In a bond forged over mutual fascination (or obsession) with the mysteries of volcanoes, Katia and Maurice Krafft dedicated their lives to discovering everything they could about these natural phenomena. Forces of both awe-inspiring wonder and tragic disaster, Sara Dosa’s archival documentary Fire of Love gracefully captures this extreme dichotomy while also getting to the heart of what drove this couple to abandon a routine, domesticated lifestyle and literally sacrifice their lives in the mission to save others. In telling their devotion to one of the natural world’s most dangerous forces,...
- 11/11/2022
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The conclusion of a four part series by Cláudio Alves
In the cinema of Hou Hsiao-Hsien, the 21st century started with a neon dream. The camera follows Shu Qi's Vicky as she runs through a Taipei tunnel, lights flickering above. Everything happens in slow-motion, flickers turn into waves and the actress's movement makes a strange unnatural dance. She looks back at us, hair flying in a cloud of black tendrils, her eyes asking us to follow her down the tunnel, like Alice down the rabbit hole. It's a hypnotic sight, made more seductive by the music of Lim Giong, house beats and techno dronings that transform the screen into a pulsing heart.
2001's Millennium Mambo fulfills the formalistic promise of Daughter of the Nile, transcending Goodbye South, Goodbye's tethering to material truth. Like its protagonist, the film looks back at its director's history while moving forward to an unknown future.
In the cinema of Hou Hsiao-Hsien, the 21st century started with a neon dream. The camera follows Shu Qi's Vicky as she runs through a Taipei tunnel, lights flickering above. Everything happens in slow-motion, flickers turn into waves and the actress's movement makes a strange unnatural dance. She looks back at us, hair flying in a cloud of black tendrils, her eyes asking us to follow her down the tunnel, like Alice down the rabbit hole. It's a hypnotic sight, made more seductive by the music of Lim Giong, house beats and techno dronings that transform the screen into a pulsing heart.
2001's Millennium Mambo fulfills the formalistic promise of Daughter of the Nile, transcending Goodbye South, Goodbye's tethering to material truth. Like its protagonist, the film looks back at its director's history while moving forward to an unknown future.
- 4/12/2022
- by Cláudio Alves
- FilmExperience
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSAbove: The Temenos screening in Lyssarea, Greece.Registration for Temenos 2022, which will premiere a new section of avant-garde master Gregory Markopoulos's epic Eniaios, is now open. This very special event, which usually takes place every four years, will be taking place June 9-19 in Lyssarea, Greece. For more information on the Temenos screenings and the ongoing restoration of Eniaios, visit here.Hou Hsiao-hsien has announced two new projects: the long-gestating, Shu Qi-led film Shulan River, an adaptation of the Hsieh Hai-meng novel about a river goddess; and a yet unnamed project starring Chang Chen about "an elderly father and his son." Filmmaker, painter, writer, Nick Zedd has died. In addition to his darkly funny no-budget films like They Eat Scum (1979) and his zine Underground Film Bulletin, Zedd is coining the term "Cinema of...
- 3/2/2022
- MUBI
After a prolific first two decades of his career (with many films we hope will get new restorations), Chinese-born Taiwanese master Hou Hsiao-hsien has been taking his time for the last 15 years. Since 2007’s Flight of the Red Balloon, we were grateful to get the stunning wuxia epic The Assassin in 2015 but haven’t heard many updates on Shulan River, a long-developing drama.
Now, the director has finally provided an update on his adaptation of the Hsieh Hai-meng novel, courtesy of Hang Lu (via Ioncinema). While speaking at an event this week, he revealed he’ll begin to scout locations for the Shu Qi-led project starting next month when “spring is blooming.” Intriguingly, he also revealed he’s developing a project with another past collaborator, Chang Chen. Local media reports this new film will focus on an elderly father and his son.
“It’s a movie about a river goddess set in the modern era,...
Now, the director has finally provided an update on his adaptation of the Hsieh Hai-meng novel, courtesy of Hang Lu (via Ioncinema). While speaking at an event this week, he revealed he’ll begin to scout locations for the Shu Qi-led project starting next month when “spring is blooming.” Intriguingly, he also revealed he’s developing a project with another past collaborator, Chang Chen. Local media reports this new film will focus on an elderly father and his son.
“It’s a movie about a river goddess set in the modern era,...
- 2/25/2022
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Thanks to the interwebs, we learn that master filmmaker Hou Hsiao-Hsien is finally set to begin pre-production on the long gestating Shulan River. Unsurprisingly he is set to reteam with his Millennium Mambo, Three Times and The Assassin muse in actress Shu Qi – who’ll topline the project next month. And the good news comes in spades. The septuagenarian is already looking to the future and is setting up another feature project featuring Chang Chen — who was a memorable presence in Three Times. We’ll be looking for more info over the weeks to come and there’ll likely be some international sales update during the Cannes Film Festival.…...
- 2/24/2022
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
2018 has been, yet again, another fantastic year for movies. There has been some great films in the cinema, on DVD and VOD and the film festivals we’ve covered have been jam-packed with quality movies. Which makes it Very hard to narrow down a list of the Top 10 of the year! Even moreso when it comes to Dtv releases…
So, with that being said, I’ve decided that this year I’d split my picks into two distinct lists – the ten best films I saw this year, be it at the local multiplex or at film festivals; and the ten best direct-to-market titles of the year, be they DVD or VOD. The only other criteria is that we’ve covered the film here on Nerdly.
This list takes in All the direct to DVD, VOD premieres, etc., that never made it to cinemas with, as per usual with my end-of-year lists,...
So, with that being said, I’ve decided that this year I’d split my picks into two distinct lists – the ten best films I saw this year, be it at the local multiplex or at film festivals; and the ten best direct-to-market titles of the year, be they DVD or VOD. The only other criteria is that we’ve covered the film here on Nerdly.
This list takes in All the direct to DVD, VOD premieres, etc., that never made it to cinemas with, as per usual with my end-of-year lists,...
- 12/28/2018
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
International film stars or stars from other countries are hard to pin down sometimes since the information is either incomplete or not always as forthcoming. Qi Shu, or Shu Qi, is what you would call a very accomplished actress. If you take a look at her career you’ll see that she is not a novice to the industry and has managed to make herself quite a valuable individual throughout her many contributions. Actors work their entire lives to be noticed and respected in their field but sometimes it happens that while the respect comes the notice doesn’t always precede or
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Shu Qi...
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Shu Qi...
- 11/2/2018
- by Tom
- TVovermind.com
Bo Huang’s “The Island” makes one thing abundantly clear: Mainstream American comedies are playing things way too safe when compared to the rest of the world. The overstuffed, underwritten, swing-for-the-fences kind of farce is already a massive hit in its native China (after just two weeks in release it’s now the seventh-highest-grossing film of the year), and no disrespect to delightful Hollywood offerings like “Blockers” — or even semi-decent attempts like “I Feel Pretty” — but it’s basically impossible to imagine a major domestic studio releasing anything like this.
“The Island” is a 132-minute comedy that opens with a massive special effects sequence before segueing into a frenzied social commentary that’s part “Lost,” part Stanford Prison Experiment, and part college philosophy course. Oh, and the movie also makes room for a love story, a meteorite, and a long scene where people get kicked in the groin in slow-motion...
“The Island” is a 132-minute comedy that opens with a massive special effects sequence before segueing into a frenzied social commentary that’s part “Lost,” part Stanford Prison Experiment, and part college philosophy course. Oh, and the movie also makes room for a love story, a meteorite, and a long scene where people get kicked in the groin in slow-motion...
- 8/24/2018
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Stars: Jean Reno, Qi Shu, Andy Lau, Tony Yang, Jingchu Zhang, Eric Tsang, Karel Dobry, Gen Seto, David Bowles, Yi Sha, Tianyi You | Written by Chi Kwong Cheung, Stephen Fung, Steve Ha, Andy Lo | Directed by Stephen Fung
Infamous and charismatic thief Cheung Tan (Andy Lau) has recently been released from prison. Cheung immediately plots a heist with his former partner in crime, Po (Tony Yang), and beautiful chameleon Red (Qi Shu), in order to pull off the heist of a lifetime – and steal precious jewels in Europe. Meanwhile, French detective Pierre (Jean Reno) has been hot on Cheung’s trails for many years. This time, he decides to capture Cheung and his gang of thieves for good… which means Cheung and co. will have to take their game to the next level.
Who doesn’t love a good heist movie? When the genre is done right you get fantastic and intriguing films like Flypaper,...
Infamous and charismatic thief Cheung Tan (Andy Lau) has recently been released from prison. Cheung immediately plots a heist with his former partner in crime, Po (Tony Yang), and beautiful chameleon Red (Qi Shu), in order to pull off the heist of a lifetime – and steal precious jewels in Europe. Meanwhile, French detective Pierre (Jean Reno) has been hot on Cheung’s trails for many years. This time, he decides to capture Cheung and his gang of thieves for good… which means Cheung and co. will have to take their game to the next level.
Who doesn’t love a good heist movie? When the genre is done right you get fantastic and intriguing films like Flypaper,...
- 1/5/2018
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Contemporary Chinese Cinema is a column devoted to exploring contemporary Chinese-language cinema primarily as it is revealed to us at North American multiplexes.Over the last few years it has become increasingly easy to see mainstream Asian films in North America at the same time they are released in their home countries. Thanks to partnerships with small, international distributors, the major multiplex chains (AMC, Cinemark, Regal) have devoted a handful of screens in major markets to showing new releases from India, Korea, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Most of these titles fall under the radar of both critics and audiences outside the diasporic communities to which they are targeted. They play for a week or two and then disappear, outside of a handful of breakout titles. Last year Stephen Chow’s The Mermaid made headlines for its high per-screen averages in North America as it shattered domestic box office records in China.
- 12/4/2017
- MUBI
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