In all honesty, few actresses in Asian cinema have built a career as remarkable as Fan Bingbing. Fearless and endlessly versatile, Fan has spent decades proving herself as one of the most unforgettable actresses of her generation. She is known not only for historical films such as Sacrifice and Lady of the Dynasty, but also…
Category: Chinese Cinema
28th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Chao Koi-wang (Director) and Kai Ko (Actor) of ” I Blew Out the Candles Before Making a Wish”
I Blew Out the Candles Before Making a Wish is the feature debut of directors Chao Koi-wang and Hu Chin-ye, offering a view of Macau far removed from its usual casino-driven image. The film focuses on everyday lives defined by debt, absence, and survival, following a young girl and a debt collector whose paths unexpectedly…
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…
“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…
Yuen Woo-ping’s “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…
“Dead to Rights” Review
In December 1937, the city of Nanjing was thrust into an unimaginable nightmare. During what has become known as the Nanjing Massacre, Japanese forces captured the Chinese capital, committing atrocities that left tens of thousands dead and countless others traumatised. This dark chapter of history, filled with destruction, brutality, and human suffering, provides the setting…
ALULA Film Festival: In Conversation with JI Qiuyu, Director of “The Homeless”
Chinese filmmaker Ji Qiuyu approaches the world with gentleness. Her documentary The Homeless captures the lives of those existing on the margins of society, people who have drifted between belonging and isolation, freedom and invisibility. Rather than portraying homelessness as a tragedy, Ji observes it as a complex human condition. Shot with a compassionate eye,…
ALULA Film Festival: “Obedience” Review
Based in the heart of Hong Kong, the district of Hung Hom feels like a city within a city, a place where the living and the dead coexist almost side by side. Coffins glide through narrow streets toward nearby funeral homes, while a few steps away, commuters and street vendours fight for space among the…
2025 ALULA Film Festival: “The Homeless” Review
Homelessness is one of the most visible manifestations of social inequality. Globally, individuals experiencing homelessness often face multiple layers of marginalization – not only lacking stable housing but also encountering barriers to healthcare, employment as well as social services. The causes of homelessness are complex and intertwined, ranging from poverty, unemployment, and housing shortages to…
ALULA Film Festival: In Conversation with Bian Zhuo, Director of “As the Water Flows”
Bian Zhuo’s As the Water Flows is a gentle and beautiful film about aging and reconciliation, shaped by the director’s own family story. The film was inspired by the diary of Bian’s late grandfather, a man who suffered greatly during China’s Anti-Rightist Movement. What started as an attempt to recreate that hardship slowly turned into…
VIEW OF THE ARTS 