What does it take to become the master of an art form? That’s the question at the heart of Lee Sang-il’s exquisite film Kokuho, which recounts the rise of young prodigy Kikuo Tachibana (played by Ryo Yoshizawa and Soya Kurokawa) in the world of kabuki. Kikuo, the son of a Yakuza boss, has a talent…
28th Far East Film Festival: “I Blew Out the Candles Before Making a Wish” Review
Macau is often shown as a city of bright lights and easy fortune, where casinos rise like temples of luck and excess. But behind the glamour, there is another reality made up of ordinary people living in the shadow of debt and hope. I Blew Out the Candles Before Making a Wish, directed by Chao…
28th Far East Film Festival: “Someone Like Me” Review
For many people with disabilities, intimacy is not simply a private matter; it is influenced by social barriers, misunderstandings, and often, limitations placed on them by others. There is a persistent assumption that people with disabilities are either asexual or should not pursue romantic or physical relationships at all. Families can become overprotective, sometimes out…
28th Far East Film Festival: “The World of Love” Review
Yoon Ga-eun has long been recognised for her work in capturing the emotional world of young people with rare honesty. From her early short films Guest (2011) and Sprout (2013) to her acclaimed features The World of Us and The House of Us, she has consistently explored childhood and the often complicated journey toward adulthood….
28th Far East Film Festival: “Blades of the Guardians” Review
In Blades of the Guardians, director Yuen Woo-ping returns to the wuxia tradition with a film that emphasises the physical and moral foundations of the genre. Known internationally for influencing the style of cinematic combat – just look at The Matrix trilogy and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – Yuen treats the film as a way…
28th Far East Film Festival: “The Blood of Wolves” Review
Yakuza films, as a genre, have evolved exponentially since they first emerged in the silent movie era of the Japanese film industry. Initially depicted as sympathetic Robin Hood-like characters who were forced to live their lives as outlaws, it wasn’t until the 1970s that the violent, brutish image of Yakuza as we know it came…
28th Far East Film Festival: KOCCA on Screen with Yoo Yeon-seok in Attendance
A new “letter” is being added to the story of the 28th Far East Film Festival: K. K stands for Korea, and also for KOCCA – the Korea Creative Content Agency. One of the key highlights of this year’s edition is a new collaboration between the Udine-based festival and KOCCA, the South Korean government organisation…
“Pursuit of Jade” Review: Why the C-Drama Is a Massive Success
Camp, or genuinely excellent? Many C-Dramas teeter between the two. Widely beloved, The Untamed is a prime example of plentiful awkward effects being forgiven on account of its compelling story and believable chemistry between characters. On the complete flip side, recently aired Whispers of Fate boasts its budget on all the VFX necessary for a…
Panther Chan on Her New Album and Her Upcoming London Show – Exclusive Interview
Panther Chan doesn’t walk into a room unnoticed and neither does her music. There’s something very real about her presence. It comes from years of hard work, self-reflection, and staying true to who she is as an artist. She speaks thoughtfully, not because she has to, but because she means what she says. Over the…
“Cityscapes – New Horizons”: Gaho & KAVE Bring an Excellent Performance to London- Concert Review
Gaho’s sound hits like a flash of light: impossible to ignore. Before stepping into the spotlight as a solo artist, he was already developing the sound of K-dramas, writing memorable OSTs that reached every corner of the world. His journey began behind the scenes with Come To Me for While You Were Sleeping, but it…
VIEW OF THE ARTS 