By Roger Costa
FURIE
In his seventh feature, Vietnamese director Le-Van Kiet conceives his most accomplished film yet, an exciting, well-done action thriller filled with sensational chases and martial arts fights. Dancing star turned actress/producer Veronica Ngô deservedly won the Excellence in Action Cinema Award for her bold role as a debt collector leaving a trail of blood and destruction as she seeks to rescue her daughter from kidnappers. She gives a fascinating, vivid performance as the desperate mother, while Kiet provides amusing non-stop action sequences and a soft, relevant commentary on the horrors of organ trafficking. (Screens July 11).
SOMEONE IN THE CLOUDS
The pair of young lovebirds (Taiwanese stars Po-Hung Lin and Man-shu Jian) are convincingly charming in this efficient, deliciously silly and funny comedy about how modern society rely on mysticism in order to find true love. First-time Writers-directors Ming-Chien Lin and Gary Tseng really have some precious comedic skills, and here they leave an impressive signature. It follows the premature, troublesome romantic bond between a spoiled tarot cards reader and an out of control bon-vivant. As they go on with their seductive encounters and challenges, meeting up folks in and outside college, the film paints a colorful, eccentric and witty portrait of community strength, innocent love, and the advances in modern day relationships. A refreshing rom-com, it’s a stylized, sexy, debaucherous take on finding love in a vulnerable, unsettled generation seeking meaning. (Screens July 13).
STILL HUMAN
Hong Kong newcomer director Oliver Siu Kuen Chan proves to be a natural master of storytelling with his award-winning debut, a dramedy about the cultural clash between a cranky man confined to a wheelchair and his Filipina maid. Named Best New Director at both Asian and Hong Kong Film Awards, the director brilliantly exercises precise levels of entertainment, with a delicate, humorous and heartfelt story of humanitarian values. Pointing to immigration issues, loneliness, unsolved family matters, struggles of the minority and the motivational power of oneself’s dreams, it delivers top-notch performances from the entire cast, in a special blend of good laughs and heartbreaking moments. (Screens July 14).
MAGGIE
Vivid, spontaneously funny and visually appealing, it demonstrates the vibrant aesthetic of modern Korean cinema. It revolves around the effects caused by an explicit X-ray photo, raising false accusations and a net of unsatisfied desires. The Hospital’s workers react differently to the alarming situation, painting a canvas of society, its dogmas, prejudice and inability of trust. As an investigation kicks off in search of who were having sex in the X-ray room, other issues surge among them, strengthen up their virtues. Fresh, lively and lovely, director Yi Ok-seop addresses environmental issues, relocation, doubting and trusting in a modern, stylized and fascinating comedic structure. (Screens July 13).
5 MILLION DOLLAR LIFE
A very touching and heartwarming anti-suicide story about a young teen who escapes his reality in order to find himself. He becomes notorious in his community, as a boy who needs a heart transplant. His neighbors raise enough money for the operation, and meet up with him every year to check on his progress. The responsibility and the high expectations around him, gets him overwhelmed and he decides to work in a sex-agency in order to pay back the money, and set himself free. Japanese filmmaker Moon Sung-ho conceives a precise, delicate and timely account on family bond and the ambiguity of Millennials, as the protagonist goes on a desperate quest to find his freedom. (Screens July 11).
A FIRST FAREWELL
An enchanting, deeply moving and poignant hybrid documentary following the activities of three children as they clash with their parents’ traditions and preoccupations, struggle to learn a necessary language, and share precious moments of existence with each other. Looking at the lives of China’s Uighur minority, a group living in the outskirts, away from the big cities, and communicating in a personal dialect, director Wang Lina captures exhilarating natural images, as well as truthful and honest reactions from the players: one boy cares for his ill mother; big sister tries to educate her young, rebellious brother; adults meet up for difficult decisions. Awarded at Berlin, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo Film Festivals, it’s a poetic, extremely sensitive and stunning directorial debut. (Screens July 11).
ZOMBIEPURA
The first Zombie movie produced in Singapore, Jacen Tan’s feature debut is an efficient, deliriously macabre and utterly irreverent horror comedy, with elaborated commentary on social behavior, individualism and consumerism. An army base in suddenly infested and attacked by zombie creatures, as they multiplicate and become killing/eating machines. A lazy soldier trying to avoid the army duties, a selfish sergeant, and a spoiled, nasty beautiful girl are those with the hard task to save themselves and perhaps, the world. Each of them represent a key-element in now-a-days society, resulting in an accomplished, funny and very entertaining first-time work. (Screens July 13).
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