Welcome to this exclusive interview with Kent Tsai and Kai Ko, two of the talented individuals behind “Bad Education”, a Taiwanese film that was shown at the 25th Far East Film Festival. Kent Tsai stars in the film as the lead character, Wang, a high school student who falls victim to intense peer pressure and…
Category: Foreign Films
25th Far East Film Festival: “The Legend & Butterfly” Review
Oda Nobunaga, Japan’s first “great unifier”, has been depicted on screen countless times. Depending on the angle of the narrative the daimyo can either be seen as a hero or villain; romantic lead or malevolent foe; the Fool of Owari or the Demon King. Often his part in unifying the country during the Sengoku period…
25th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Kim Eun-hee, Jang Hang-jun & Jeong Jin-woon of “Rebound”
The Udine Far East Film Festival surely knows how to delight its audience. This year we have seen many superb films, including Rebound, a South Korean production written by Kim Eun-hee, who is also responsible for Netflix’s Kingdom series, and directed by Jang Hang-jun (Forbidden). The inspiring film tells a story of a high school…
25th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with He Shuming, Hong Huifang & Anthony Chen of “Ajoomma”
The Udine Far East Film Festival is probably one of the most prestigious and important film festivals in Europe that promotes Asian films over 9 days. This year, FEFF celebrated its 25th anniversary with Ajoomma as the Opening Night film. During the festival, we had the pleasure of speaking with He Shuming (director), Hong Huifang…
25th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Cheng Wei-hao & Jin Pai-lunn of “Marry My Dead Body”
In 2019, Taiwan became the first state in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. It was a landmark moment in the region for LGBTQ+ rights, and since then it has also become an important part of pop culture – Cheng Wei-hao’s Marry My Dead Body is a prime example. The comedy, which was shown at the…
25th Far East Film Festival: “Ajoomma” Review
Making your feature film debut can be an exciting yet daunting experience, and the foundation of any good film is a strong story and its characters. Ajoomma, directed by He Shuming and co-written with Kris Ong, is one of those evocative narratives. A Singaporean and South Korean co-production, produced by the renowned filmmaker Anthony Chen…
25th Far East Film Festival: “Rebound” Review
Busan’s Jungang High School basketball team is in disarray and about to come to a stop until a new coach, Kang Yang-hyeon (Ahn Jae-hong: Time to Hunt, Fabricated City) is brought in to turn the team around. Jang Hang-jun’s new film, Rebound, not only follows Kang’s journey but also of his protégés: Bae Gyoo-hyeok (Jeong…
25th Far East Film Festival: “December” Review
If your daughter’s killer had the opportunity to start again, would she, to your mind, be deserving of that second chance? That is the question at the heart of December, a Japanese court drama helmed by Indian filmmaker Anshul Chauhan. Crime, punishment, and the rehabilitation of criminals are topics that are debated all around the…
25th Far East Film Festival: “Ditto” Review
Ditto, a 2022 South Korean film directed and written by Seo Eun-young and starring Yeo Jin-goo, Cho Yi-hyun, Kim Hye-yoon, and Na In-woo is, according to media, a remake of the 2000 film of the same name, starring Yoo Ji-tae and Ha Ji-won. Although the producers bought the rights to the remake, the 2022 version…
In Conversation with Luke Ishikawa Plowden of “The Three GentleBros” and “My Dear Donovan”
Hollywood has always been a clear destination for actors – it’s the “Hollywood dream” that many performers hope for, signifying the height of their career. However, popularity can also be gained in other parts of the world, including Thailand. Although success is measured differently, it is still a noteworthy accomplishment, especially in a country where…
Enemies To Lovers: “Love To Hate You” Drama Review (Netflix)
A hot-headed feminist crosses paths with a misunderstood gentleman in Netflix’s new feel-good romantic comedy Love To Hate You. The 2023 drama spans 10 episodes, with a generous balance of wit and charm between the main characters. Director Kim Jeong-kwon, whose filmography consists mostly of romance works, took the risk of making an unusual pairing…
“Ivalu” Short Film Review
Writer-director Anders Walter’s Ivalu is a somber story about childhood trauma. Having made his mark with Helium, which won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film in 2014, the 45-year-old Danish filmmaker is now competing for the award once again with his latest short film. The Greenlandic-language film is adapted from an award-winning graphic…
“Joyland” Review
Should a film that’s groundbreaking for its LGBTQ depiction within its own country be held up to more progressive standards when reviewed by international audiences? This is the central dilemma which comes with assessing the various merits of Joyland, the first Pakistani feature to premiere at Cannes and make the Academy Awards shortlist for Best…
“JUNG_E” Review
Most contemporary sci-fi blockbusters proudly wear their influences on their sleeve. In a movie culture where franchises are dominant, any nods to beloved films of the genre’s past can help gravitate an audience’s attention towards any original project; as much as science fiction thrives on originality, when making movies on this scale, it doesn’t hurt…
