Disney+’s Maestra: Strings of Truth, a Studio Dragon production, turned out to be one of the most interesting series of this season. The show follows the life of Cha Se-eum, a gifted violinist and conductor, played by Lee Young-ae, who battles a genetic illness. As the series progresses, Se-eum returns to South Korea, intending to…
Category: Asian Cinema
“Finding Her Beat” Review
Drums typically represent the most ancient musical tools within any society, and the Taiko has a historical presence dating back over 2,000 years in ancient Japan. Archaeological and anthropological studies suggest that during the Jomon era, people used drums as a means of communication or in religious rituals. However, the percussion instruments of that time…
17th Asian Film Awards Nominations Announced
Celebrating its 17th anniversary, the Asian Film Awards (AFA) has unveiled the nominees for its 16 award categories ahead of the ceremony scheduled for March 10, 2024 (Sunday). The Asian Film Awards Academy (AFAA), established by the Busan, Hong Kong, and Tokyo International Film Festivals, aims to honour excellence in Asian cinema. AFAA plays an…
Sung Hoon Dives into His Role of Seo Do-guk in Viki’s “Perfect Marriage Revenge” – Exclusive Interview
Meeting a Korean actor whose career has graced screens for over a decade is a rare and thrilling experience. Recently, I had the chance to sit down with the super lovely Sung Hoon in Seoul, where we explored his latest role in Viki’s Perfect Marriage Revenge. As we settled, Sung Hoon provided insights into the…
“Perfect Days” Review
It seems nearly impossible for a director from the West to shoot Tokyo from anything other than a tourist’s perspective. Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation and Gaspar Noé’s Enter the Void are seen as the two biggest offenders in this regard, with the Japan Times review of the latter opening with the pithy claim that:…
“Evil Does Not Exist” Review
The final moments of Evil Does Not Exist have proven divisive, but you won’t be able to successfully argue that Ryusuke Hamaguchi hasn’t tried to prepare you for them. From the opening moments to his latest effort, a prize winner at the recent Venice and London film festivals, it feels like the director is consciously…
18th London Korean Film Festival: “Hail to Hell” Review
In recent years, South Korean independent cinema has been taking the world by storm. Just look at Past Lives – a hidden gem of the country’s cinema. Another interesting film that is worth one’s attention is Lim Oh-jeong‘s Hail to Hell. Screened at this year’s London Korean Film Festival, the compelling film takes us on…
18th London Korean Film Festival: In Conversation with Lim Oh-jeong, Director of “Hail to Hell”
In modern cinema, where certain themes are revisited time and again, director Lim Oh-jeong manages to breathe new life into the well-worn subject of bullying with her debut feature film, Hail to Hell. In our exclusive interview with View of the Arts, Lim shares insights into the film’s narrative choices, character development, and cinematographic approach. …
8th London East Asia Film Festival: “Concrete Utopia” Review (Closing Night Film)
The essence of what makes us human is a complex and multi-layered pyramid of emotions, experiences, and moral choices. Human nature contains elements of both light and darkness and is often revealed during times of crisis, when the balance between empathy and selfishness can sway. The pressures of a crisis can bring out our instinct…
8th London East Asia Film Festival: “The Boys” Review (Opening Night Film)
The Boys is the final film in Chung Ji-young’s “true story trilogy” which began in 2012 with Broken Arrow (also known as Unbowed) later followed by Black Money in 2019. The three films deal with social issues and in particular focus on prosecutorial and police misconduct within the South Korean justice system and the ordinary…
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