Jun 17 2008
Asian films are GO!
Film festivals seem to multiply like rabbits on speed with each year, yet they all tend to end up with fewer movies of actual interest. One exception for all ya’ll lucky ones in the Big Apple is the New York Asian Film Festival. The 2008 edition of the NYAFF seems to have pulled out all the stops – like they say, they’re either “starting something big, or going out with a bang” – and the line-up of 43 (!) feature films is bound to have something to satisfy even the most jaded viewer.
They run the gamut from gore-fest shockers and controversial documentaries to surreal dramas and genuinely out-there comedies. I’m particularly looking forward to the two Johnnie To/Milkyway Image productions, the mind-bending crime thriller Mad Detective, produced by Mr. To, and the pickpocket romance Sparrow, which he directed. Whether producing or directing, To’s name guarantees a stunning visual expressiveness, stylish camerawork, and seductive lighting. His nighttime scenes are consistently beautiful, well worth seeing on the big screen. Another film of interest is the documentary Action Boys, which focuses on a group of up-and-coming stuntment in the Korean film industry and reveals the harsher-than-pure-bleach treatment they receive while trying to get a break in the industry. Asian movies are always known for their amazing stuntwork, and this movie purports to really peel back all the blinders from the magic and the pain.
The fest runs from June 20 - July 6. Check out the schedule here:
and the trailer here:
