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…
Tag: Udine
Far East Film Festival 28 Unveils 76-Film Programme, Opening with Anthony Chen’s “We Are All Strangers”
What began in the spring of 1998 as a bold and somewhat puzzling experiment has grown into one of Europe’s most important showcases of Asian cinema. When the Centro Espressioni Cinematografiche (CEC) in Udine shifted its focus from Italian retrospectives to a programme dedicated to Hong Kong films, few could have predicted the outcome. Yet…
In Conversation with Yoon Joo-sang of “The Land of Morning Calm”
With a career that spans almost four decades and includes roles in theatre, television, and film, Yoon Joo-sang is undeniably one of South Korea’s most experienced and respected actors. Born in 1949, he has delivered powerful performances across a variety of genres and platforms, earning awards such as the Best Supporting Actor award at the…
27th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Cynthia Yee, Luka Yang and Shari Matsuura of “Chinatown Cha-Cha”
Nonagenarian Coby Yee is the shining light of the vibrant and soft-hearted documentary Chinatown Cha-Cha, as director Luka Yuanyuan Yang turns her attention to the life of the legendary dancer. But the spotlight is shared with Yee’s longtime dancing partners – the Grant Avenue Follies – and the film becomes more than just a portrait…
27th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Jo Seon-ho and Kim Jae-joong, Director and Producer Respectively of “Hear Me: Our Summer”
The industry has needed a proper feel-good flick for a long time. Not just the bittersweet, but the genuine, wholeheartedness of a story designed to relight some hope in humanity. The Taiwanese hit romance Hear Me did this over a decade ago, and recently got its much-anticipated Korean redo. After its Italian premiere at the…
Cinema as Sanctuary: Far East Film Festival Wraps Triumphant 27th Edition in Udine
“In the midst of such a chaotic world, we’re incredibly fortunate that cinema still exists. We still have movie theatres to escape to – whether we want to cry, laugh, or simply feel something. For those two hours, we can still believe the world is beautiful.” These moving words from legendary Taiwanese superstar Sylvia Chang,…
27th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with E.oni, Director of “Love in the Big City”
In the contemporary Korean cinema, director Lee Eon-hee, known professionally as E. oni, is recognised for her quietly revolutionary voice in telling human stories. E.oni was part of the first graduating class of the Korea National University of Arts, where she majored in film. Her early career was rooted in foundational, behind-the-scenes work: she served…
27th Far East Film Festival: “Cells at Work!” Review
If you’ve ever wondered what happens in the human body then Cells at Work! has the answers, well, kind of. Based on the manga of the same name by Akame Shimizu, Takeuchi Hideki has created a colourful, comical movie that is as hilarious as it is heartfelt. The story is set within the bodies of…
27th Far East Film Festival: “The Stone” Review
What happens when two artists, known more for their work in music, acting, and design, step behind the camera to tell a story rooted in faith, greed, and blood? You get The Stone – a hypnotic, high-stakes thriller that pierces the surface of Thai spiritual subculture and delivers a cinematic experience rooted in Thai identity…
27th Far East Film Festival: FOCUS ASIA 2025 Announces All Selected Projects & Works in Progress
Following the success of last year’s edition, Focus Asia 2025 – the dynamic industry platform of the Far East Film Festival in Udine – returns with an expanded and carefully curated programme aimed at promoting cooperation between Asia and Europe in the film industry. The event will once again feature two of its important initiatives:…
Takeuchi Hideki Returns to the Far East Film Festival
Historically, cinema has predominantly engaged with the human body through the lens of science fiction, often depicting miniature characters – reduced to the size of ants – who embark on fantastical journeys within our physical form, confronting its mysteries and the limited special effects technology of bygone eras. Iconic films like Richard Fleischer’s Fantastic Voyage,…
22nd Udine Far East Film Festival: Dance with Me Review
Shizuka Suzuki (Ayaka Miyoshi) hates musicals, or at least that’s what she claims after a traumatic incident from her childhood leads her to despise the stage. So, when she decides to take her niece to visit a fair in the park and magician Machin Ueda (Akira Takarada) hypnotises her into turning all life situations into…
Udine Far East Film Festival Reveals Its 20th Anniversary Edition Lineup
Today, a mere 9 days before the European audience finds its way to the little town in the Northeast Italy to explore the new and old jewels of Asian Cinema, Udine Far East Film Festival revealed its 2018 lineup. It was to be expected that the 20th anniversary edition of the festival would provide the…
19th Far East Film Festival: Close-Knit
Tomo has been abandoned by her mother, again. While this isn’t the first time it’s happened, and her mother has been more-or-less an absent parent since day one, it still hurts. Unable to live on her own, the eleven-year-old seeks refuge with her uncle Makio. He gladly accepts but he doesn’t live alone anymore, he…
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