▲Compiled by Martin Williams
12 A Russian rethinking of 12 Angry Men, this was nominated for best foreign film at this year’s Academy Awards and is directed by Nikita Mikhalkov, whose Burnt by the Sun won the same award in 1995. In this version, a young Chechen is on trial for the murder of his adoptive father, a Russian. The film thus grafts the classic story of a volatile jury that sways in every direction onto the incendiary, savage reality of modern-day Russia. Variety magazine could not praise this film highly enough. |
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The Haunted Samurai This warrior just can’t get a break. An unusual blackish comedy from Japan sees a low-status samurai failing to make much of an impact despite reasonable talent, before losing his family and resorting to a drunken appeal to the gods after suffering the ultimate indignity: moving in with his brother’s family. Unfortunately for him, he prays at the wrong shrine and the three inauspicious gods that answer his prayers are about to make things even worse — or are they? Based on the novel by bestselling author Jiro Asada. Japanese title: Tsukigami. | |
The Night Before Final Exam,Today Next up is an obscure sequel to a reasonably well received Italian teen comedy that never saw the light of a projector in Taiwan. Part 2 ups the T&A and sex quotient, which is probably the only reason it’s getting a release here. The title betrays most of the plot. One of those “teen” sex comedies that follows the dubious, global tradition (possibly started by Porky’s in 1982) of casting actors who are around 10 years too old for their roles. | |
One Way Ticket to Mombasa This Finnish flick from 2002 opened last week with no advertising but deserves a quick mention. Two ill young men skip hospital to go on a last road trip before cancer claims them. A simple story, with a healthy message and peerless Finnish scenery. Similar to the recent American film The Bucket List in some respects, and by most reports it’s much better. But be quick: It finishes on Sunday at the Scholar theater complex in Taipei. | |
Ocean Butterfly A young Thai woman who has mermaid-like abilities and aquatic communication skills when she is in contact with sea creatures falls in love with a photographer, who has his own surprise in store. This broad comic-fantasy combines interesting and sometimes sinister special effects with moments of utter stupidity and goofiness. Originally pegged as a grindhouse release in the backblocks of Ximending, Ocean Butterfly will now enjoy screenings in more reputable theaters in Taipei and Taichung. Starts tomorrow. |
In late October of 1873 the government of Japan decided against sending a military expedition to Korea to force that nation to open trade relations. Across the government supporters of the expedition resigned immediately. The spectacle of revolt by disaffected samurai began to loom over Japanese politics. In January of 1874 disaffected samurai attacked a senior minister in Tokyo. A month later, a group of pro-Korea expedition and anti-foreign elements from Saga prefecture in Kyushu revolted, driven in part by high food prices stemming from poor harvests. Their leader, according to Edward Drea’s classic Japan’s Imperial Army, was a samurai
The following three paragraphs are just some of what the local Chinese-language press is reporting on breathlessly and following every twist and turn with the eagerness of a soap opera fan. For many English-language readers, it probably comes across as incomprehensibly opaque, so bear with me briefly dear reader: To the surprise of many, former pop singer and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) ex-lawmaker Yu Tien (余天) of the Taiwan Normal Country Promotion Association (TNCPA) at the last minute dropped out of the running for committee chair of the DPP’s New Taipei City chapter, paving the way for DPP legislator Su
Located down a sideroad in old Wanhua District (萬華區), Waley Art (水谷藝術) has an established reputation for curating some of the more provocative indie art exhibitions in Taipei. And this month is no exception. Beyond the innocuous facade of a shophouse, the full three stories of the gallery space (including the basement) have been taken over by photographs, installation videos and abstract images courtesy of two creatives who hail from the opposite ends of the earth, Taiwan’s Hsu Yi-ting (許懿婷) and Germany’s Benjamin Janzen. “In 2019, I had an art residency in Europe,” Hsu says. “I met Benjamin in the lobby
April 22 to April 28 The true identity of the mastermind behind the Demon Gang (魔鬼黨) was undoubtedly on the minds of countless schoolchildren in late 1958. In the days leading up to the big reveal, more than 10,000 guesses were sent to Ta Hwa Publishing Co (大華文化社) for a chance to win prizes. The smash success of the comic series Great Battle Against the Demon Gang (大戰魔鬼黨) came as a surprise to author Yeh Hung-chia (葉宏甲), who had long given up on his dream after being jailed for 10 months in 1947 over political cartoons. Protagonist