A scene from Flora Lau’s BENDS, the Opening Night film at Hong Kong Cinema, October 4-6 at the Vogue Theatre.

The San Francisco Film Society will kick off its Fall Season with the third annual Hong Kong Cinema festival, October 4 to 6, 2013, at the Vogue Theatre (3290 Sacramento Street). Kicking off the festival is Opening Night film BENDS, the debut full-length production from Flora Lau that features a knockout lead performance from Carina Lau. HK icons appear throughout this year’s festival, including superstar Andy Lau (BLIND DETECTIVE), Chow Yun-fat (THE LAST TYCOON), Aaron Kwok (CONSPIRATORS) and Cantopop sensations Grasshopper and Softhard, subjects of the music documentary THE GREAT WAR. Kung-fu fans will delight in the big-screen presentation of THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN, the universally celebrated martial arts classic that has inspired such luminaries as Quentin Tarantino and the Wu-Tang Clan. The 2013 edition includes an exciting tribute to Lau Kar-leung (aka Liu Chia-liang), the late master of kung-fu fight choreography responsible for many of the beloved genre’s most important works.

BENDS    Opening Night Film
Flora Lau (Hong Kong 2013)
Featured in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard, Flora Lau’s debut feature tells the dual story of a chauffeur trying to find a way for his wife on the mainland to give birth in Hong Kong and the wealthy woman he works for who is hiding the disappearance of her husband (and her money) from family and friends. With two terrific lead performances — particularly Carina Lau as the immaculately dressed and coiffed Anna Li, whose hauteur keeps her from opening up to anyone except her driver — and spectacular cinematography by Christopher Doyle, Bends depicts the desperation hidden underneath the glittering surfaces of modern Hong Kong. Written by Flora Lau. Cinematography by Christoper Doyle. With Carina Lau, Chen Kun. 92 min. In Cantonese and Mandarin with subtitles. Distributed by Distribution Workshop.

BLIND DETECTIVE    U.S. Premiere
Johnnie To (Man tam, Hong Kong 2013)

A delirious mix of comedy, mystery and romance, Johnnie To’s brand-new film offers superstar Andy Lau as the titular protagonist, a rather hapless investigator with a singular skill — his handicap allows him to “visualize” the very particular details of a crime scene. When he teams up with an admiring and athletically adept female police inspector named Ho, they find that their respective skills complement one another perfectly. As they search for Ho’s childhood friend Minnie who disappeared 20 years prior and other cases crop up in the process, an increasingly romantic attraction grows between the two detectives. Written by Wai Ka-fai, Yau Nai-hoi, Ryker Chan, Yu Xi. Cinematography by Cheng Siu-keung. With Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng. 129 min. In Cantonese with subtitles. Distributed by Media Asia Film Distribution (HK).

THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN
Lau Kar-leung (Shao Lin san shi liu fang, Hong Kong 1977)

The recent death of martial arts legend Lau Kar-leung (aka Liu Chia-liang) warrants a tribute screening of this essential kung-fu film directed by Lau himself. Starring the filmmaker’s frequent collaborator Liu Chia-hui (aka Gordon Liu), the story involves a student at the Shaolin monastery who undertakes grueling martial arts training in order to wreak vengeance on the marauders who occupied his village. With astonishing fight choreography by director Lau, the film has influenced legions of artists including the Wu-Tang Clan and Quentin Tarantino and was selected by Black Belt magazine as the third-best martial arts film of all time. Written by Ni Kuang. Cinematography by Arthur Wong. With Gordon Liu, Lieh Lo, Yang Yu, Wang Yu. 119 min. In Mandarin and Cantonese with subtitles. Distributed by Celestial Pictures.

THE LAST TYCOON
Wong Jing (Da Shanghai, Hong Kong 2012)

Grand passions meet turbulent times in this sumptuous historical epic set predominantly in 1930s Shanghai. The film traces the rise of a rural-born fruit seller named Cheng Daqi (Chow Yun-fat in the later scenes) who becomes a powerful crime lord with constantly shifting allegiances. While Daqi’s story and his love for two different women is the main focus, The Last Tycoon also details the fraught relationship between China and Japan during this period, climaxing with the devastating Battle of Songhu. The film also features HK icon Sammo Hung in a memorable supporting role as a corrupt cop. Written by Wong Jing, Manfred Wong, Lui Koon-nam. Cinematography by Jason Kwan, Andrew Lau. With Chow Yun-fat, Monica Mok, Sammo Hung. 118 min. In Mandarin with subtitles. Distributed by Distribution Workshop.

THE GREAT WAR: DIRECTOR’S CUT
Yan Yan Mak (Hong Kong 2013)

If you missed the October 2012 showdown between Hong Kong superstar pop groups Grasshopper and Softhard, this entertaining documentary captures each members’ thoughts and feelings about the event, explores attendees’ obsessions and presents vivid onstage moments from the show. While Grasshopper is a fairly typical Cantopop group — led by the perfectionist Remus Choy — Softhard displays more of a hip-hop edge, incorporating political satire and ribald humor into their act. Featuring lengthy interviews with the five main band members interspersed with terrific live footage, it’s an entertaining look at the international phenomenon of the Hong Kong pop scene. Cinematography by Jam Yau, Harry Lee, Amos Wong, Stanley Tam, Noah Wong, Chun Wong. 85 min. In Cantonese with subtitles. Distributed by Dragonfly J.

THE EIGHT DIAGRAM POLE FIGHTER
Lau Kar-leung (Wu Lang ba gua gun, Hong Kong 1984)

This kung-fu classic is one of the Shaw Brothers’ most spectacular presentations and features the same actor/director team as The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. Here, Gordon Liu’s character seeks to avenge the death of family members who are ambushed and slaughtered by Tartars in the remarkable opening sequence. Having escaped the attack, he retreats to a monastery where he must convince the abbot he is worthy of receiving training in special pole-fighting techniques. In a rousing climax, he puts his training to vivid use in order to rescue his sister who has been kidnapped by the same marauding Tartars. Written by Liu Chia-liang, Ni Kuang. Cinematography by Tsao An-shun. With Wang Yu, Gordon Liu, Alexander Fu, Sheng Liu. 97 min. In Mandarin with subtitles. Distributed by Celestial Pictures.

A COMPLICATED STORY    International Premiere
Kiwi Chow (Hong Kong 2013)

 
Yazi Liu is a young woman from mainland China studying in Hong Kong who takes a lucrative gig as a surrogate mother. She is kept in a private apartment with a personal assistant, and the identities of the parents are kept from her. But when her contract is abruptly terminated and identities are revealed on both sides, Liu is forced to make a series of life-altering decisions. Made by a crew comprised predominantly of students from the School of Film & Television and executive produced by Johnnie To and Bill Kong, A Complicated Story portrays issues of class and sexuality with texture and style. Written by Kei Shu, Kiwi Chow. Cinematography by Ying Zhang. With Jacky Cheung, Zhiying Zhu, Stephanie Che, Zi Yi. 108 min. In Cantonese with subtitles. Distributed by Edko Films.

CONSPIRATORS    North American Premiere
Oxide Pang (Tóngmóu, Hong Kong/China 2013)

In this action-packed mystery/thriller, Malaysian-born Chan Tam (Aaron Kwok) returns to his native soil to track down the men who murdered his parents 30 years earlier. To help him navigate the treacherous underworld, he enlists local PI Zheng (Nick Cheung). As they uncover a dense web of nefarious behavior, both men’s familial histories come into play. The film’s several tense action sequences, including Tam’s remarkable escape from an office building and a speeding train are bolstered by Kwok and Cheung’s humorous rapport and the nifty international locales. Written by Ng Mang-cheung, Oxide Pang, Thomas Pang. Cinematography by Decha Srimantra. With Aaron Kwok, Nick Cheung, Yi Yan Jiang. 102 min. In Cantonese and Mandarin with subtitles. Distributed by Universe Films Distribution.

Read more

Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Mark Mori’s BETTIE PAGE REVEALS ALL will open in theaters in New York City and Los Angeles on November 29, 2013 before expanding to additional markets.  BETTIE PAGE REVEALS ALL is described as an intimate look at one of the world’s most recognized sex symbols, featuring Bettie Page herself telling her story for the first time in her own words.  

In Mori’s documentary, the real Bettie Page emerges from the veil of myth and rumor via interviews Mori taped a decade prior to her death in 2008.  With earthy, razor sharp wit, Bettie tells her life story — from humble beginnings as one of six children born to an impoverished southern family, to high school salutatorian, to her career as a scandalous 50s pin-up model.  The film also uncovers previously unknown details about Bettie’s short-lived first marriage and many torrid affairs, told from both her and her lovers’ perspectives. We follow her story through her sudden retirement at the peak of her modeling career in 1957, and discover a strange tale of decades of broken marriages, born-again Christianity, and bouts of mental illness, before ultimately resurfacing in the public eye in the early 90’s, unaware of her cult status.

With a stunning array of photographs, archival material and movie footage, BETTIE PAGE REVEALS ALL shows how Page’s unabashed sexual expression and provocative poses set the stage for the 1960s sexual revolution and ushered in a modern era in fashion. The film definitively demonstrates why, for stars like Katy Perry and Beyonce, and for new generations of fans, Bettie remains an irresistible style icon.  Revealingly, Forbes in 2012 listed her as one of the top ten posthumous celebrity earners.

http://youtu.be/12M1LnIGfWk  

Read more

GARIFUNA IN PERIL directed by Filmmakers Alí Allié and Ruben Reyes from Honduras will be one of the highlights of the 8th Annual CaribbeanTales Toronto Film Showcase, September 4 – 14, 2013.

This film follows a Garifuna language teacher, Ricardo, who struggles to preserve his endangered Afro-Amerindian culture by building a language school back in his home village in Honduras, Central America. A business venture with his brother designed to raise money for the school’s construction becomes complicated by the expansion plans of a nearby tourist resort into indigenous territory. Historical parallels are invoked as Ricardo’s son rehearses a stage play about the Garifuna people’s last stand against British colonialism over 200 years ago in their motherland, the island of St. Vincent in the Caribbean.

GARIFUNA IN PERIL features strong debut performances by Garifuna actors from Honduras, Belize and the USA, and is the first dramatic feature film with a majority of its dialogue in Garifuna (a language proclaimed by UNESCO in 2001 as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity). The film examines family strife and the tensions between tradition and assimilation. These challenges, along with defending the integrity of ancestral lands from exploitative interests, are the focal point of the film’s message, highlighting realities not only for the Garifuna, but all indigenous peoples worldwide.

The Garifuna are a mix of West African and Carib-Arawak Indian people who originated on the island of St. Vincent in the 17th Century, and are considered indigenous to the Americas. They were exiled from the island in 1797 by the British and now live in the coastal regions of Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua and the United States.

 http://youtu.be/NQs5m9haasM

Read more

We’re a few weeks away from the fall weekends when the major studios release their Oscar contenders (both expensive and indie in origin), so you ought to try and see a few more indie films coming out this weekend that might soon be overshadowed by movies with more “weight” behind them and expensive marketing campaigns.  Remember, though these films are being initially released this weekend they may not be in your area yet.  Check your local theater times and your VOD outlets of choice to see if you can view them now!

PLUSH

I think countless movies and real-life divorce proceedings have hammered home the idea that one shouldn’t marry a rock star who spends his or her life on the road.  Plush is about a young married musician (Emily Browning) who gets involved with her guitarist, only to find her life soon spinning out of control.  Unlike most indie films it hasn’t made the festival rounds (and critics haven’t seen it), so there’s no word on it just yet.

http://youtu.be/6uYPx4VpT8o

JAYNE MANSFIELD’S CAR

It’s hard to believe that Billy Bob Thornton hasn’t written directed a film since 2001’s Daddy and Them after he won an Oscar for adapted screenplay for 1996’s awesome Sling Blade.  Like Thornton’s previous films, Jayne Mansfield’s Car is a family drama set in the south. It is about a “blended family” who meets for the first time when their shared matriarch — who left her Alabama husband and family for an Englishman and started a second family — passes away.  It fits alongside the “Southern Gothic” genre of fiction writers like William Faulkner and Flannery O’Connor.

BLUE CAPRICE

Based on the horrifying 2002 Washington DC sniper attacks, Blue Caprice stars Isaiah Washington as gunman John Allen Muhammad who enlisted a young man to help him carrying out his murders.  Directed by first-time feature director Alexandre Moore, Blue Caprice premiered at Sundance and has received almost universally positive reviews from critics over the last few months.

WADJDA

Though it’s already been released in most areas around the world, Wadjda is finally getting a limited U.S. release.  It’s an important film for many reasons — it’s the first feature film that was entirely shot in Saudi Arabia, and the first feature film written and directed by a female Saudi, Haifaa Al-Mansour.  Wadjda takes on the role of women in Saudi society when a young girl seeks to raise enough money to buy a bicycle — even though such ambition (and bike riding itself) by women is frowned upon in Saudi society.  This film is obviously a breakthrough in more ways than one.

AND WHILE WE WERE HERE

Though And While We Were Here premiered at last years’ Tribeca Film Festival, I didn’t get a chance to see it.  Written and directed by Kate Coiro (Life Happens), And While We Were Here stars Kate Bosworth (who we haven’t seen much since Superman Returns) as a writer who gets involved with a younger man (Jamie Blackley).  We’ve been getting a lot of those movies lately, right?  Anyway, it’s already available on VOD, but finally gets a theatrical release this weekend.

CHAVEZ CAGE OF GLORY

Written, directed, and starring marital artist/actor Hector Echavarria, Chavez Cage of Glory is about a middle-aged martial artist who becomes an MMA fighter in order to pay his ailing son’s medical bills.  It’s hard not to compare it to Rocky, but Rocky didn’t have Danny Trejo in it, did it?  The film is only being released in Los Angeles-area theaters at first.

GMO OMG (Documentary)

A STRANGE BRAND OF HAPPY

HARRY DEAN STANTON: PARTLY FICTION (Documentary)

MOTHER OF GEORGE

INFORMANT (Documentary)

FOUR

THE LAST TIME I SAW MACAO

SAMPLE THIS (Documentary)

Read more