Antichrist
As a married couple (Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg) make love, their child plummets to his death. Then, as they retire to the countryside for therapy, the pair descend into psychological, physical and sexual violence amid surreal images and a doom-laden atmosphere. Excoriated by his enemies and lauded by a number of respected critics, this exorcism of director Lars von Trier’s own psychological demons is for those who want to see him inflict even more damage on the bodies of his two actors than Roland Emmerich did on world landmarks in 2012. By the way, if you think glimpsing Dafoe’s testes in this softer version of the film (as opposed to the “hard” version screened at Cannes) is worth the price of a ticket, then be warned: Taiwan’s censors have sharper scissors than those used on the female character’s private parts. Gainsbourg won Best Actress at Cannes for her role.
Best of INPUT 2009
Representing the International Public TV Screening Conference (INPUT), Taiwan’s Public Television Service (PTS) is showing some interesting material that challenges assumptions of TV programming. Screening at the Kaohsiung Film Archive from today to Sunday and at the Eslite Xinyi Bookstore in Taipei from Dec. 4 to Dec. 6. Entry is free but seating is limited. The Web site is at bestinput.pts.org.tw.
Exit Speed
It’s DVD promotion time again with this action flick starring Lea Thompson, who had a previous generation of young male moviegoers on side with appearances in Back to the Future and Howard the Duck, and who has been doing a lot of TV work since. This is a more rigorous, violent outing, however, as a demented biker gang attacks a busload of passengers in the middle of nowhere. Starts tomorrow at the Baixue theater in Ximending.
Tokyo Desire
Also at the Baixue from tomorrow is this Japanese oddity from 2004, an erotic fantasy by prolific veteran director Mamoru Watanabe, who has made this kind of “pink” film since the late 1960s. A young woman is infatuated with the husband of a relative, and — to the detriment of the morals of all involved — an opportunity presents itself when he moves in nearby, but first she must dispose of her rival. Watanabe is nearly 80, so if anyone knows how to give this scenario a new hook, it’s him.
Omen
Three young men (played by a Thai boy band called D2B) find their lives under increasing threat after an accident leads to an encounter with an old woman who seems to know what the future has in store. This mild Thai horror film from 2003 started last Saturday, and today is likely the last day it screens, so for those who simply must see every work by writers Oxide Pang (彭順) and Danny Pang (彭發), rush to the Baixue now.
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