140 Films, 17 Countries: San Diego Asian Film Festival 2008 October
by Jaden
Looking for something to do this weekend? Come to sunny San Diego for the 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival presented by Toyota Matrix, which runs now October 9-16 in San Diego and October 21-23 in Riverside.
140 films roll out from 17 countries with a spectacular line-up. There are so many great films, it is hard to choose which ones to watch: film shorts, animation, romance, comedy, drama, documentary, and action.
If you are thinking to yourself, “What do I care about Asian films?” Let me refresh you. Here are some favorite Asian influenced films from our recent past: Brokeback Mountain and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon by Ang Lee who won an Oscar for Best Director; thrillers Dark Water and The Ring are remakes based on novels by Kôji Suzuki; The Matrix is strongly influenced by decades of Asian films; and anything Bruce Lee are just some of the many films we love.
With the Asian Film Festival, you have the rare opportunity to see original work instead of American remakes.
The one I watched yesterday was Hollywood Chinese, a brilliant documentary that highlights Chinese in American cinema and the hurdles that they have had as actors, creators, and Americans. With unearthed forgotten footage and interviews with famous actors, directors, and writers, Hollywood Chinese is one not to miss. My favorite highlights were interviews with the entertaining James Hong (Big Trouble in Little China), gorgeous Nancy Kwan (Flower Drum Song), and watching the 1916 footage of The Curse of Quon Gwon (the dangerously explosive now illegal nitrate reels of which were buried in a Hefty garbage bag and passed down through the Wong family). Director Arthur Dong tells me that PBS plans to air Hollywood Chinese on television in 2009 and the DVD shall eventually be released. You may also catch a screening on October 21 in Riverside at 6:15pm where Mr. Dong will be in attendance.
Hollywood Chinese is just one of the many great films playing at the Asian Film Festival. Others in the spotlight are Accuracy of Death about a grim reaper who decides whether a person shall have a second chance, 200 Pounds Beauty based on a best-selling Japanese comic book, and the Animation shorts.
It is going on now; don’t miss out!
**Please note: Sunday Picture Posts will no longer appear weekly, but rather randomly.**
Comments
10 Responses to “140 Films, 17 Countries: San Diego Asian Film Festival 2008 October”
Got something to say?
Subscribe
-
-
Content RSS
Thanks Jaden! I check out the HOLLYWOOD CHINESE website and it looks like an intriguing documentary. Although many don’t like foreign flicks, I like them because they provide us with a different view of the world. Asia has had a great influence on our film industry. Look at Jackie Chan and Jet Li. My favorite Chinese flick is FEARLESS.
Yeah, once you start thinking about it, there are so many excellent Asian influences in cinema. I think no one does horror as terrifyingly as Japan.
Interesting timing for me to read this post, I’m about to watch The Forbidden Kingdom. It’s been sitting on my table for the past two weeks and I think I need to watch it so I can go rent something else.
I’m not a huge fan of the Asian flicks, but I pick some up here and there if they are recommended to me. That documentary sounds nice, so I’ll have to look out for that DVD. As for the film festival, it’s not exactly a block away from my house, but sooner or later I’ll get to attend these events.
In the way of foreign films, I’m like some Brazilian films or some that are in Spanish. But we’re talking about Asian films… Kung Fu Hustle is the only thing coming to mind that I really liked. I was in a bad mood at the time and that comedy just cheered me up.
t.sterling — I have only seen a few Spanish and Brazilian films — they were intense and excellent. I too would like to see much more of those. I’d like to go there as well.
I can’t say it’s “the best” Brazilian film but it is one my “most favoritests” of favorites of all foreign films I’ve seen so far: “The Man Who Copied.” I love the setting and enviroment, the characters are great, and I love the story and how it’s told. I forgot who I found out about it, but I’m glad I found it. I’d like to visit a lot of places in South America, and movies like this are sometimes the cause of this desire.
Heh!
Big Trouble in Little China.
I had almost forgotten about that one.
That was an AWESOME movie!!
Though hardly anyone under 30 really knows about it.
Friar — Yeah, Big Trouble is really weird and very 1980s! I just saw it as part of my VHS revolution.
@Jaden
…and I really had a crush on Kim Catrall…!!! :-)
Kim Catrall in Mannequin was hotttttt!
[...] 140 Films, 17 Countries: San Diego Asian Film Festival 2008 October [...]