Even though severely cut by the censorship boards (and all the original copies being destroyed) “Love Massacre” is still a rather violent film, particularly after a point, but at the same time, quite messy in terms of narrative.
Ivy, a Taiwanese girl studying in California, hangs out most of the time with Louie, an ex-boyfriend and Joy, a girl who exhibits continuous suicidal tendencies, despite the efforts of both the aforementioned. Joy seems to have a thing for Louie, but he has a thing for Ivy, a concept that has made the former girl despising the latter, despite her good will to help her. The “saviors”, after another suicide attempt, decide to call her brother from Hong, Chiu Ching in order to help with her. However, Chiu Ching gets involved romantically with Ivy, antagonizing Louie, complicating things even more, while soon, Ivy finally succeeds in her efforts to kill herself.
Ivy, a Taiwanese girl studying in California, hangs out most of the time with Louie, an ex-boyfriend and Joy, a girl who exhibits continuous suicidal tendencies, despite the efforts of both the aforementioned. Joy seems to have a thing for Louie, but he has a thing for Ivy, a concept that has made the former girl despising the latter, despite her good will to help her. The “saviors”, after another suicide attempt, decide to call her brother from Hong, Chiu Ching in order to help with her. However, Chiu Ching gets involved romantically with Ivy, antagonizing Louie, complicating things even more, while soon, Ivy finally succeeds in her efforts to kill herself.
- 5/22/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Contemporary Chinese Cinema is a column devoted to exploring contemporary Chinese-language cinema primarily as it is revealed to us at North American multiplexes.Over the last few years it has become increasingly easy to see mainstream Asian films in North America at the same time they are released in their home countries. Thanks to partnerships with small, international distributors, the major multiplex chains (AMC, Cinemark, Regal) have devoted a handful of screens in major markets to showing new releases from India, Korea, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Most of these titles fall under the radar of both critics and audiences outside the diasporic communities to which they are targeted. They play for a week or two and then disappear, outside of a handful of breakout titles. Last year Stephen Chow’s The Mermaid made headlines for its high per-screen averages in North America as it shattered domestic box office records in China.
- 12/4/2017
- MUBI
What we lack more and more these days are epic fight scenes in the final part of kung Fu/Martial Art movies. We have seen less and less one on one fight scenes in the final battle over the past 15-20 years, which is a shame but we have seen recently a few flicks bringing that winning formula back.
I want to name a few of my favorite end fight scenes and please feel free to comment below, your favorite fight scenes and maybe they will be added to the future features.
Dragons Forever
1.Dragons Forever (1988)
Cast:Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah, Benny The Jet, Billy Chow, Philip Ko, Pauline Yeung , Deannie Yip
Fight Choreographer:Sammo Hung and Crew, Jackie Chan and Crew, Corey Yuen
Snake Deadly Act
2.Snake Deadly Act (1980)
Cast:Fung Hak On, Wilson Tong, Ng Kwan Lung, Chan Wai Man, Phillip Ko
Fight Choreographer:...
I want to name a few of my favorite end fight scenes and please feel free to comment below, your favorite fight scenes and maybe they will be added to the future features.
Dragons Forever
1.Dragons Forever (1988)
Cast:Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah, Benny The Jet, Billy Chow, Philip Ko, Pauline Yeung , Deannie Yip
Fight Choreographer:Sammo Hung and Crew, Jackie Chan and Crew, Corey Yuen
Snake Deadly Act
2.Snake Deadly Act (1980)
Cast:Fung Hak On, Wilson Tong, Ng Kwan Lung, Chan Wai Man, Phillip Ko
Fight Choreographer:...
- 4/9/2015
- by kingofkungfu
- AsianMoviePulse
Ann Hui's voice is an uncommon one in world cinema. Probably the most acclaimed of the Hong Kong New Wave directors, Hui began her career in the late 1970s in a film industry then dominated by kung fu movies. She continued to make films in Hong Kong for over thirty years, striking an almost impossible balance between art, politics and commercial success. She has been described as an 'innovator within the mainstream', working on relatively low budget productions with Hong Kong stars such as Andy Lau and Chow Yun Fat, and even bringing the legendary Deanie Ip out of retirement to star in her recent film A Simple Life (2011). Her latest The Golden Era (2014), a period film about the Chinese writer Xiao Hong which screens at this year's Glasgow Film Festival.
- 2/27/2015
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Sammo Hung is one of the greatest Screen Fighters, Directors and Choreographers in Martial Arts cinema history. Started his early career as an extra in Shaw Brothers productions, then became of fight choreographer on a few of there movies.
It was when he started his career with Raymond Chow at Golden harvest Studios, that Sammo started to show what he could do in terms of action in-front and behind the camera. Sammo Hung has made some of the finest movies of all time and also bringing us some incredible talent such as Yuen Biao, Angela Mao, Lam Ching Ying, Michelle Yeoh and many more.
This is a list of 30 Sammo Hung movies you should check out, this list is also for new fans of the genre. So i hope you enjoy the list and i also mention some other Sammo Hung movies at the end of the page.
1.Hapkido (1972)
Director:...
It was when he started his career with Raymond Chow at Golden harvest Studios, that Sammo started to show what he could do in terms of action in-front and behind the camera. Sammo Hung has made some of the finest movies of all time and also bringing us some incredible talent such as Yuen Biao, Angela Mao, Lam Ching Ying, Michelle Yeoh and many more.
This is a list of 30 Sammo Hung movies you should check out, this list is also for new fans of the genre. So i hope you enjoy the list and i also mention some other Sammo Hung movies at the end of the page.
1.Hapkido (1972)
Director:...
- 1/13/2015
- by kingofkungfu
- AsianMoviePulse
Like millions of you around the world, i love Kung Fu movies. It is the only real genre that keeps me going back for more and that is why i will always love Kung Fu movies.
I know many of you have probably seen many of the movies i will post about, but this is also for anyone new to the genre of Kung Fu and even Swordplay and looking for other movies to enjoy. I hope you enjoy the movies i have listed and please feel free to comment about any of the movies.
1.Heroes Two (1974)
Director: Chang Cheh
Cast: Fu Sheng, Chen Kuan Tai, Bruce Tong, Wong Ching, Fong Sam, Fung Hak On, Lau Kar Wing
Fight Choreographer(s): Tong Gaai, Lau Kar Leung
Studio: Shaw Brothers
2.Shaolin Plot (1977)
Director: Huang Feng
Cast: James Tien, Chan Sing, Casanova Wong, Sammo Hung
Fight Choreographer(s): Sammo Hung...
I know many of you have probably seen many of the movies i will post about, but this is also for anyone new to the genre of Kung Fu and even Swordplay and looking for other movies to enjoy. I hope you enjoy the movies i have listed and please feel free to comment about any of the movies.
1.Heroes Two (1974)
Director: Chang Cheh
Cast: Fu Sheng, Chen Kuan Tai, Bruce Tong, Wong Ching, Fong Sam, Fung Hak On, Lau Kar Wing
Fight Choreographer(s): Tong Gaai, Lau Kar Leung
Studio: Shaw Brothers
2.Shaolin Plot (1977)
Director: Huang Feng
Cast: James Tien, Chan Sing, Casanova Wong, Sammo Hung
Fight Choreographer(s): Sammo Hung...
- 11/3/2014
- by kingofkungfu
- AsianMoviePulse
Award-winning director Wang Xiaoshuai disembarks in Venice with another potential prize winner in his lead actress in Red Amnesia.
Deng (Lu Zhong) is an elderly woman living in Beijing. Recently widowed, she spends her days trudging around the city from one family member to another. She visits her aged mother in an old people’s home, her wealthy son in his family home and her other son and his gay partner in their slightly dodgy massage parlour, cooking and feeding them while showing her disapproval to all. At home, she sets the table for two, and chats to the ghost of her dead husband. Yet this is not the only ghost: Deng is haunted by mysterious phone calls. Who would threaten this little old lady? A clue is given in the opening scene (and in the title). Zooming in on some photos, we see the young Deng and her husband in uniform,...
Deng (Lu Zhong) is an elderly woman living in Beijing. Recently widowed, she spends her days trudging around the city from one family member to another. She visits her aged mother in an old people’s home, her wealthy son in his family home and her other son and his gay partner in their slightly dodgy massage parlour, cooking and feeding them while showing her disapproval to all. At home, she sets the table for two, and chats to the ghost of her dead husband. Yet this is not the only ghost: Deng is haunted by mysterious phone calls. Who would threaten this little old lady? A clue is given in the opening scene (and in the title). Zooming in on some photos, we see the young Deng and her husband in uniform,...
- 9/8/2014
- by Jo-Ann Titmarsh
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Chinese biopic is directed by Ann Hui, who will chair the international jury for the Orizzonti section.
The Golden Era (Huangjin Shidai) has been named as the closing film of the 71st Venice Film Festival (Aug 27-Sept 6). The film centres on the life of Xiao Hong, one of the most radical and controversial Chinese women writers of the early 20th century, and stars Chinese actress Tang Wei.
Hong Kong-based filmmaker Ann Hui directed the feature and will chair the international jury for the Orizzonti section of Venice, which will award the Orizzonti prize for Best Film and the other official awards.
Hui, the first female director to win the Asian Film Award (the Asian Oscar) for lifetime achievement, has directed nearly 30 features and is considered one of the leading figures in the “Hong Kong New Wave” of the 1970s and 1980s.
In 2011, the filmmaker won acclaim at Venicefor A Simple Life, for which actress...
The Golden Era (Huangjin Shidai) has been named as the closing film of the 71st Venice Film Festival (Aug 27-Sept 6). The film centres on the life of Xiao Hong, one of the most radical and controversial Chinese women writers of the early 20th century, and stars Chinese actress Tang Wei.
Hong Kong-based filmmaker Ann Hui directed the feature and will chair the international jury for the Orizzonti section of Venice, which will award the Orizzonti prize for Best Film and the other official awards.
Hui, the first female director to win the Asian Film Award (the Asian Oscar) for lifetime achievement, has directed nearly 30 features and is considered one of the leading figures in the “Hong Kong New Wave” of the 1970s and 1980s.
In 2011, the filmmaker won acclaim at Venicefor A Simple Life, for which actress...
- 6/18/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
The One Where I Suggest Renting ‘Holy Motors’ and ‘The Master’ But Buying the New ‘Phineas and Ferb’
Welcome back to This Week In Discs! As always, if you see something you like, click on the image to buy it. A Simple Life Roger (Andy Lau) is a movie producer who returns home to find that the woman (Deanie Ip) who worked as his family’s maid since he was a child has suffered a stroke. He decides to set aside his affairs and focus on helping her, but as he struggles to manage the role of caregiver she finds it difficult to be the one being cared for. Lau is an international star known more for action films and rom-coms, but he does a fantastic job with the drama here. The real draw though is Ip who manages to deliver a character earns our respect, makes us laugh and breaks our hearts in equal measure. It’s an incredibly sweet film about finding the best in each other and ourselves, and...
- 2/25/2013
- by Rob Hunter
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
★★★★☆ This year's other great work about the hardships of old age and the inevitability of death - released in UK cinemas several months before Michael Haneke's Palme d'Or-winning Amour (2012) - Ann Hui's A Simple Life (2011) makes its way onto DVD and Blu-ray this week, where it should hopefully continue to win over deserved plaudits. A sensitively presented and extremely touching portrayal of life in one of rapidly ageing Hong Kong's numerous homes for the elderly, Hui's latest effort revels in life's quietest, yet most profound moments, further galvanised by two heartfelt performances from Andy Lau and Deanie Ip. Read more »...
- 11/19/2012
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
To mark the release of A Simple Life directed by Ann Hui on DVD November 19th, we’ve been given three copies to give away.
A moving story of unsung heroism and every day love A Simple Life reunites Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau (House of the Flying Daggers) with his real-life godmother Deanie Ip. The film made a clean sweep in all the major categories at the 31st Hong Kong Film Awards, and has blazed an award-winning trail since its debut at the Venice Film Festival 2011, where Deanie Ip picked up the Best Actress Award.
A Simple Life centres around the moving relationship between an ageing servant and her employer, now a successful film producer. Ah Tao
(Deanie Ip) has served a Hong Kong household for 40 years, and now that most of the family have emigrated to the Us, she remains as the dutiful maid to Roger, the youngest...
A moving story of unsung heroism and every day love A Simple Life reunites Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau (House of the Flying Daggers) with his real-life godmother Deanie Ip. The film made a clean sweep in all the major categories at the 31st Hong Kong Film Awards, and has blazed an award-winning trail since its debut at the Venice Film Festival 2011, where Deanie Ip picked up the Best Actress Award.
A Simple Life centres around the moving relationship between an ageing servant and her employer, now a successful film producer. Ah Tao
(Deanie Ip) has served a Hong Kong household for 40 years, and now that most of the family have emigrated to the Us, she remains as the dutiful maid to Roger, the youngest...
- 11/9/2012
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Little known in Britain, the veteran Hong Kong film-maker Ann Hui has been making well-regarded films in Asia for more than 30 years and A Simple Life rightly brought the sexagenarian Deanie Ip the best actress award at Venice for her performance as a family servant cared for in old age by a successful movie producer (Andy Lau) to whom she was almost a surrogate mother.
It's a gentle, flawlessly observed picture, moving but never sentimental, about getting old, fulfilling familial duties, killing time and being killed by time. The cramped nursing home where she lives is a grim place but not Dickensian, and there is humour but never at anyone's expense. The dressed-down director, for instance, is mistaken by a movie company secretary for an air-conditioning repairman. Later in a cafe he's taken for a taxi driver. "No," he says, "I'm an air-conditioning engineer."
DramaPhilip French
guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian...
It's a gentle, flawlessly observed picture, moving but never sentimental, about getting old, fulfilling familial duties, killing time and being killed by time. The cramped nursing home where she lives is a grim place but not Dickensian, and there is humour but never at anyone's expense. The dressed-down director, for instance, is mistaken by a movie company secretary for an air-conditioning repairman. Later in a cafe he's taken for a taxi driver. "No," he says, "I'm an air-conditioning engineer."
DramaPhilip French
guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian...
- 8/4/2012
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
Ted (15)
(Seth MacFarlane, 2012, Us) Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane, Joe McHale, Giovanni Ribisi. 106 mins
Those unconvinced by MacFarlane's Family Guy cartoon series will be even less convinced by his first feature – basically a routine manchild/bromance story with one novel idea: Wahlberg has a magic talking teddy, which has grown up into an obnoxious party animal – thus creating relationship issues with shrewish girlfriend Kunis. It's all gags and no comedy. And if you're anything other than white, male and pop culture-literate, you'll find the humour at best patchy, at worst, downright nasty.
Sound Of My Voice (15)
(Zal Batmanglij, 2011, Us) Christopher Denham, Nicole Vicius, Brit Marling. 85 mins
As with Another Earth, co-writer Marling takes an unorthodox line through a familiar genre here. This time she's a spacey/scary cult leader who claims to be from the year 2054. A couple of investigative journalists get out of their depth taking her on.
(Seth MacFarlane, 2012, Us) Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane, Joe McHale, Giovanni Ribisi. 106 mins
Those unconvinced by MacFarlane's Family Guy cartoon series will be even less convinced by his first feature – basically a routine manchild/bromance story with one novel idea: Wahlberg has a magic talking teddy, which has grown up into an obnoxious party animal – thus creating relationship issues with shrewish girlfriend Kunis. It's all gags and no comedy. And if you're anything other than white, male and pop culture-literate, you'll find the humour at best patchy, at worst, downright nasty.
Sound Of My Voice (15)
(Zal Batmanglij, 2011, Us) Christopher Denham, Nicole Vicius, Brit Marling. 85 mins
As with Another Earth, co-writer Marling takes an unorthodox line through a familiar genre here. This time she's a spacey/scary cult leader who claims to be from the year 2054. A couple of investigative journalists get out of their depth taking her on.
- 8/3/2012
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
The Dark Knight Rises stays atop of the box office mountain this week taking in over three times more than its nearest rival in the process. It’s difficult to see anything displacing it for a few weeks yet, perhaps even until the new Bourne movie hits screens in a few weeks’ time. The Lorax meanwhile went in at the number 2 spot but it did so only by a narrow margin over its animated rival, Ice Age 4, which has now of course already been out for 5 weeks. Universal may have hoped for a slightly stronger opening weekend but with the school holidays in full swing they may still have a good few weeks ahead as parents are looking for that family friendly option.
Searching for Sugar Man had a solid opening weekend too coming in at 7th place despite only showing at around 28 cinemas nationwide. StudioCanal definitely picked a...
Searching for Sugar Man had a solid opening weekend too coming in at 7th place despite only showing at around 28 cinemas nationwide. StudioCanal definitely picked a...
- 8/3/2012
- by Rob Keeling
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
This tearjerker about a man who puts his family's nanny in a Hong Kong care home has an intriguingly anti-sentimental dimension
Ann Hui's Hong Kong movie A Simple Life is a tear-jerker, but thoughtful and intelligent, with an anti-sentimental dimension. Andy Lau plays Roger, a film producer who is one of only two remaining occupants of the apartment where he was brought up. The other is the ageing household maid-cum-nanny, Ah Tao (Deannie Ip), who has been with the family since she was a teenager. When Ah Tao has a stroke and asks to be put into a care home, Roger unhesitatingly takes on the administrative and financial burden himself. To other inhabitants of the care home, Ah Tao introduces him as her "god-son" and Roger realises this is how he now thinks of himself – or perhaps simply as her son. There is no overtly redemptive purpose to Roger's character development,...
Ann Hui's Hong Kong movie A Simple Life is a tear-jerker, but thoughtful and intelligent, with an anti-sentimental dimension. Andy Lau plays Roger, a film producer who is one of only two remaining occupants of the apartment where he was brought up. The other is the ageing household maid-cum-nanny, Ah Tao (Deannie Ip), who has been with the family since she was a teenager. When Ah Tao has a stroke and asks to be put into a care home, Roger unhesitatingly takes on the administrative and financial burden himself. To other inhabitants of the care home, Ah Tao introduces him as her "god-son" and Roger realises this is how he now thinks of himself – or perhaps simply as her son. There is no overtly redemptive purpose to Roger's character development,...
- 8/3/2012
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Michael Haneke’s Amour
Love (Amour) directed by Michael Haneke won the Best Feature Film award at the 33rd edition of the Durban International Film Festival that announced its award-winners on July 28, 2012.
The Best First Feature Film prize went to Julia Leigh for Sleeping Beauty (Australia).
The Best South African Feature Film was awarded to Adventures in Zambezia (South Africa), directed by Wayne Thornley.
The Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award went to Malika Zouhali-Worral and Katherine Fairfax Wright’s film Call Me Kuchu which focuses on attacks on gays in Uganda.
The full list of awards is:
Best Film: Love (Amour) (France, Austria, Germany), directed by Michael Haneke
Best South African Feature Film: Adventures in Zambezia (South Africa), directed by Wayne Thornley
Best First Feature Film: Sleeping Beauty (Australia), directed by Julia Leigh
Best Director: Benh Zeitlin for Beasts Of The Southern Wild (USA)
Best Actress: Deanie Ip in...
Love (Amour) directed by Michael Haneke won the Best Feature Film award at the 33rd edition of the Durban International Film Festival that announced its award-winners on July 28, 2012.
The Best First Feature Film prize went to Julia Leigh for Sleeping Beauty (Australia).
The Best South African Feature Film was awarded to Adventures in Zambezia (South Africa), directed by Wayne Thornley.
The Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award went to Malika Zouhali-Worral and Katherine Fairfax Wright’s film Call Me Kuchu which focuses on attacks on gays in Uganda.
The full list of awards is:
Best Film: Love (Amour) (France, Austria, Germany), directed by Michael Haneke
Best South African Feature Film: Adventures in Zambezia (South Africa), directed by Wayne Thornley
Best First Feature Film: Sleeping Beauty (Australia), directed by Julia Leigh
Best Director: Benh Zeitlin for Beasts Of The Southern Wild (USA)
Best Actress: Deanie Ip in...
- 7/29/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
A screen legend, a veteran film producer and talented fresh gems of Hong Kong film making, all brought together in London for the highly anticipated ‘Hong Kong 15 Film Festival’ from 2nd – 14th July 2012.
The Festival is thrilled to introduce new emerging talent, first-time and established filmmakers reflecting the vibrancy and energy of Hong Kong cinema. For this special occasion, world renowned star Jimmy Wang Yu and producer Roger Lee will be appearing in their respective film screenings, along with acclaimed directors Fung Chih Chiang and Jessey Tsang.
Famed in both Hong Kong and international film circles, Jimmy Wang Yu is widely credited as being the first Hong Kong Kung Fu star and this veteran of over 80 films has been a vital part of the evolution of Hong Kong action films since he joined Shaw Brothers studio in 1963.
He is still actively acting four decades later and ‘Hong Kong 15 Film Festival...
The Festival is thrilled to introduce new emerging talent, first-time and established filmmakers reflecting the vibrancy and energy of Hong Kong cinema. For this special occasion, world renowned star Jimmy Wang Yu and producer Roger Lee will be appearing in their respective film screenings, along with acclaimed directors Fung Chih Chiang and Jessey Tsang.
Famed in both Hong Kong and international film circles, Jimmy Wang Yu is widely credited as being the first Hong Kong Kung Fu star and this veteran of over 80 films has been a vital part of the evolution of Hong Kong action films since he joined Shaw Brothers studio in 1963.
He is still actively acting four decades later and ‘Hong Kong 15 Film Festival...
- 6/28/2012
- by kingofkungfu
- AsianMoviePulse
Hong Kong 15 Film Festival announces its much anticipated programme to mark the 15th Anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty
1st July marks fifteen years since Hong Kong returned to Chinese sovereignty. To commemorate this special occasion, the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office, London, in association with Terracotta Festival, has put together an exciting film festival to showcase the best of current Hong Kong films as well as to look back on the last fifteen years and beyond.
When & Where
The ‘Hong Kong 15 Film Festival’ will take place at the Odeon Covent Garden, London, commencing 2nd July 2012 for a fortnight until 14th July. With guests in attendance and fifteen films carefully selected, the festival will pay tribute to the extraordinary story of this vibrant and energetic island city through the eyes of its film-makers.
The diversity of Hong Kong cinema will be represented through a panorama of...
1st July marks fifteen years since Hong Kong returned to Chinese sovereignty. To commemorate this special occasion, the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office, London, in association with Terracotta Festival, has put together an exciting film festival to showcase the best of current Hong Kong films as well as to look back on the last fifteen years and beyond.
When & Where
The ‘Hong Kong 15 Film Festival’ will take place at the Odeon Covent Garden, London, commencing 2nd July 2012 for a fortnight until 14th July. With guests in attendance and fifteen films carefully selected, the festival will pay tribute to the extraordinary story of this vibrant and energetic island city through the eyes of its film-makers.
The diversity of Hong Kong cinema will be represented through a panorama of...
- 6/17/2012
- by Tiger33
- AsianMoviePulse
1st July marks 15 years since Hong Kong was handed back to the Chinese by Great Britain. To commemorate this special occasion, the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office London, in association with the Terracotta Festival, has put together a fantastic programme of films from the region, including both the very latest big screen releases, highlights from the past fifteen years, and also a couple of timeless gems to delight British fans of Hong Kong Cinema.Taking place at the Odeon Covent Garden, London, from 2nd July until 14th July, the festival kicks off with Ann Hui's multi-award-winning drama, A Simple Life, starring Andy Lau and the highly decorated Deanie Ip, with writer-producer Roger Lee in attendance, on whose life the story is based. Other films in...
- 6/14/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Chicago – The inherent drama of reality is trickier to capture on camera than one might suspect. Cinéma verité failed as soon as filmmakers utilized manipulative techniques to contrive on-camera drama. The staged shouting matches, comedic barbs and tearful breakdowns prevalent on Reality TV are as phony (or, dare I say, phonier) than the human behavior witnessed in scripted productions.
Rating: 4.5/5.0
So many films that purport themselves to be realistic depictions of life rely on clichéd misunderstandings and third act revelations to fuel the dramatic conflict. This is an easy alternative to exploring human relationships unbound by the limitations of a formula. As one of the essential figures of the Hong Kong New Wave, Ann Hui avoids such constructs like the plague. There’s more reality-per-frame in her new film, “A Simple Life,” than there is in TLC’s entire programming schedule.
Read Matt Fagerholm’s full review of “A Simple Life” in our reviews section.
Rating: 4.5/5.0
So many films that purport themselves to be realistic depictions of life rely on clichéd misunderstandings and third act revelations to fuel the dramatic conflict. This is an easy alternative to exploring human relationships unbound by the limitations of a formula. As one of the essential figures of the Hong Kong New Wave, Ann Hui avoids such constructs like the plague. There’s more reality-per-frame in her new film, “A Simple Life,” than there is in TLC’s entire programming schedule.
Read Matt Fagerholm’s full review of “A Simple Life” in our reviews section.
- 5/4/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
A Simple Life has won 5 major awards at the 31st Annual Hong Kong Film Awards, Hong Kong's most prestigious film awards. The film won Best Picture, director Ann Hui won Best Director and scriptwriter Susan Chan won Best Screenplay, while Andy Lau and Deannie Yip took home the Best Actor and Best Actress awards respectively. Deannie Yip has already won more than 5 Best Actress awards for her performance as a servant in the touching drama, including at Venice Film Festival last year. The full listing of the 31st Hong Kong Film Award winners:Best PictureA Simple LifeBest DirectorAnn Hui On-Wah (A Simple Life) (pictured on left)Best ActorAndy Lau Tak-Wah (A Simple Life) (top picture)Best ActressDeannie Yip Tak-Han (A Simple Life) (top picture)Best Supporting ActorLo...
- 4/16/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Hong Kong – Director Ann Hui’s A Simple Life and Tsui Hark’s The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate split the 31st Hong Kong Film Awards with five nods each. Hui’s drama made a clean sweep in the major categories, winning best film, director for Hui, screenplay, actress for Deanie Ip and actor for Andy Lau; while Tsui’s innovation in his 3D martial arts extravaganza paid off in the technical categories. This marked Hui’s fourth best director win at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Her 1995 film, Summer Snow, was the only other film in the awards’ history to have won
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- 4/16/2012
- by Karen Chu
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ann Hui risks the delicate balancing act of combine fantasy and reality with A Simple Life, another—and an exceedingly excellent and moving—mainstream “social message” film from this master director. On the surface the “social” seems to come from the reality—the film is based on the true story of a maid (played by Deannie Yip) who after 60 years of service to a single family across four generations suffers a stroke and is finally separated from them and put into a nursing home. From this, the film with little fuss or pointed editorializing introduces the spaces and conditions, the humans and the feelings, of the process of being sent to an institution, of getting older, getting informed about ailments and mortality, of having to be looked after, and of looking after someone whose life is going away. But I think the real challenge here comes in the fantasy of the film,...
- 4/14/2012
- MUBI
China Lion Film Distribution, the company that has brought such recent hits as Dante Lam's The Viral Factor and Doze Niu's Love to Asian Film-loving audiences both in North America and Australasia has announced that it will next be releasing Ann Hui's surprise festival hit A Simple Life. The film, directed by Ann Hui and starring Andy Lau and Deanie Ip, has been a phenomenal hit at festivals and award galas around the world since its premiere in Venice back in September. Veteran actress Ip, whose last film was more than a decade ago, scooped the Volpi Cup Best Actress award on the Lido, as well as the equivalent honour at the Asian Film Awards and Taiwan's Golden Horses, to name but a few. While the...
- 3/23/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Monday night saw the winners announced for the 6th Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong, with Asghar Farhadi's Oscar winning A Separation taking home four prizes including Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay. As expected, veteran Hong Kong actress Deanie Ip was named Best Actress for her heart-warming turn in Ann Hui's A Simple Life, while Indonesian actor Donny Damara picked up the Best Actor trophy for his performance in Lovely Man. Peter Chan's Wu Xia won three technical awards: Best Cinematographer, Best Composer and Best Production Designer, while Mainland actress Ni Ni was named Best Newcomer for her star-making turn in Zhang Yimou's The Flowers Of War.Here is the full list of award winners:Best Film:a Separation (Iran)Best Director:Asghar Farhadi - A Separation (Iran)Best...
- 3/21/2012
- Screen Anarchy
Congralutations to Andy Lau (representing Hong Kong's Oscar submission A Simple Life) and Eugene Domingo (the star of The Philippine's Oscar submission Woman in a Septic Tank) who won the People's Choice Award for Actor and Actress at the 6th Annual Asian Film Awards.
They look so happy. The Oscars are long over but somehow it's comforting to know that people hold new trophies every day of the year for something or other and not all of them are dreaming of Oscar. And not all awards bodies are concerned with whether or not Oscar voters are watching.
It was a big night for A Separation (which we were just talking about) which took home the top prize and three others. The craft categories were mostly split between Wu Xia and The Flying Swords of Dragon Gale, neither of which have come to Us cinemas.
The acting awards were all over...
They look so happy. The Oscars are long over but somehow it's comforting to know that people hold new trophies every day of the year for something or other and not all of them are dreaming of Oscar. And not all awards bodies are concerned with whether or not Oscar voters are watching.
It was a big night for A Separation (which we were just talking about) which took home the top prize and three others. The craft categories were mostly split between Wu Xia and The Flying Swords of Dragon Gale, neither of which have come to Us cinemas.
The acting awards were all over...
- 3/21/2012
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Still from A Separation
Asghar Farhadi’s Nader and Simin, A Separation added to its long list of accolades after it scooped up four awards at the 6th Asian Film Awards (Afa) in Hong Kong. It won the Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenwriter and Best Editor.
Donny Damara won the Best Actor for Lovely Man (Indonesia) while Deanie IP won the Best Actress for A Simple Life (Hong Kong).
The 6th Afa that took place on March 19 is one of the opening events of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong and takes place with two other flagship events of the Hkiffs: the 36th Hong Kong International Film Festival (Hkiff), and the 10th Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf).
The winners of the 6th Afa are:
Best Film
• Nader And Simin, A Separation (Iran)
Best Director
• Asghar Farhadi ― Nader And Simin, A Separation (Iran)
Best Actor
• Donny Damara ― Lovely Man (Indonesia...
Asghar Farhadi’s Nader and Simin, A Separation added to its long list of accolades after it scooped up four awards at the 6th Asian Film Awards (Afa) in Hong Kong. It won the Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenwriter and Best Editor.
Donny Damara won the Best Actor for Lovely Man (Indonesia) while Deanie IP won the Best Actress for A Simple Life (Hong Kong).
The 6th Afa that took place on March 19 is one of the opening events of Entertainment Expo Hong Kong and takes place with two other flagship events of the Hkiffs: the 36th Hong Kong International Film Festival (Hkiff), and the 10th Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf).
The winners of the 6th Afa are:
Best Film
• Nader And Simin, A Separation (Iran)
Best Director
• Asghar Farhadi ― Nader And Simin, A Separation (Iran)
Best Actor
• Donny Damara ― Lovely Man (Indonesia...
- 3/20/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Six months and more than half a dozen film festival appearances later, Hong Kong audiences are finally given the opportunity to see their supposed "Best Film of 2011", as Ann Hui's award-winning drama goes on general release this weekend. Already the film has swept a number of awards both in Asia and overseas and is likely to do the same both at this month's Asian Film Awards and next month's Hong Kong Film Awards. But beyond a standout lead performance from veteran actress Deanie Ip, does the film offer much else to audiences?Despite a large supporting cast boasting a number of big-name cameos, A Simple Life is essentially a two-hander, exploring the relationship between successful Hong Kong movie producer Roger Cheung (Andy Lau) and his...
- 3/10/2012
- Screen Anarchy
A Simple Life, also known as Sister Peach, is an upcoming Hong Kong drama film directed by Ann Hui and starring Andy Lau and Deanie Ip. Ip, in the titled role as Sister Peach, won the Best Actress Award in the 68th Venice International Film Festival.
Although it is often said that it is the first collaboration of Lau and Ip since 1988′s The Truth,their last collaboration was actually 1999′s Prince Charming. Production of the film officially began during Chinese New Year. It is filmed in Mei Foo Sun Chuen. Production was wrapped on 6 April 2011 after two months of filming. The film competed in the 68th Venice International Film Festival. It was also selected as the Hong Kong entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards,but it did not make the final shortlist.
Plot
Inspired by a true story, the film tells about a...
Although it is often said that it is the first collaboration of Lau and Ip since 1988′s The Truth,their last collaboration was actually 1999′s Prince Charming. Production of the film officially began during Chinese New Year. It is filmed in Mei Foo Sun Chuen. Production was wrapped on 6 April 2011 after two months of filming. The film competed in the 68th Venice International Film Festival. It was also selected as the Hong Kong entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards,but it did not make the final shortlist.
Plot
Inspired by a true story, the film tells about a...
- 2/13/2012
- by kingofkungfu
- AsianMoviePulse
Nominations for the 6th annual Asian Film Awards were announced in Hong Kong today:
Best Film
A Separation (Iran) Postcard (Japan) The Flowers of War (Mainland China) Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (Hong Kong/Mainland China) Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (Taiwan) You Don’t Get Life a Second Time (India)
Best Director
Asghar Farhadi, A Separation Teddy Soeriaatmadja, Lovely Man Sono Sion, Guilty of Romance Tsui Hark, Flying Swords of Dragon Gate Wei Te-sheng, Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale Zhang Yimou, The Flowers of War
Best Actor
Chen Kun, Flying Swords of Dragon Gate Donny Damara, Lovely Man Andy Lau, A Simple Life Park Hae Il, War of the Arrows Yakusho Koji, Chronicle of My Mother
Best Actress
Vidya Balan, The Dirty Picture Michelle Chen, You Are the Apple of My Eye Eugene Domingo, The Woman in the Septic Tank Leila Hatami, A Separation Deanie Ip,...
Best Film
A Separation (Iran) Postcard (Japan) The Flowers of War (Mainland China) Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (Hong Kong/Mainland China) Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (Taiwan) You Don’t Get Life a Second Time (India)
Best Director
Asghar Farhadi, A Separation Teddy Soeriaatmadja, Lovely Man Sono Sion, Guilty of Romance Tsui Hark, Flying Swords of Dragon Gate Wei Te-sheng, Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale Zhang Yimou, The Flowers of War
Best Actor
Chen Kun, Flying Swords of Dragon Gate Donny Damara, Lovely Man Andy Lau, A Simple Life Park Hae Il, War of the Arrows Yakusho Koji, Chronicle of My Mother
Best Actress
Vidya Balan, The Dirty Picture Michelle Chen, You Are the Apple of My Eye Eugene Domingo, The Woman in the Septic Tank Leila Hatami, A Separation Deanie Ip,...
- 1/18/2012
- MUBI
The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate and the other nominations for the 2012 Asian Film Awards have been announced. The 6th Annual Asian Film Awards was presented by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (Hkiffs) “to recognize excellence of film professionals in the film industries of Asian cinema.” This year’s award ceremony will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on March 19, 2012.
The full listing of the 2012 Asian Film Awards nominations have been announced.
Best Film
A Separation (Iran)
Postcard (Japan)
The Flowers of War (Mainland China)
Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (Hong Kong/Mainland China)
Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (Taiwan)
You Don’t Get Life a Second Time (India)
Best Director
Asghar Farhadi, A Separation
Teddy Soeriaatmadja, Lovely Man
Sono Sion, Guilty of Romance
Tsui Hark, Flying Swords of Dragon Gate
Wei Te-sheng, Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale
Zhang Yimou, The...
The full listing of the 2012 Asian Film Awards nominations have been announced.
Best Film
A Separation (Iran)
Postcard (Japan)
The Flowers of War (Mainland China)
Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (Hong Kong/Mainland China)
Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (Taiwan)
You Don’t Get Life a Second Time (India)
Best Director
Asghar Farhadi, A Separation
Teddy Soeriaatmadja, Lovely Man
Sono Sion, Guilty of Romance
Tsui Hark, Flying Swords of Dragon Gate
Wei Te-sheng, Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale
Zhang Yimou, The...
- 1/18/2012
- by filmbook
- Film-Book
"Damn you, Spielberg, for getting me choked up with your Au Hasard Blockbuztar," tweets Aaron Hillis. Search for "War Horse" on Twitter and you could spend quite a while combing through the results before you'll find one that doesn't mention tears, weeping or outright blubbering. Though it doesn't open until Christmas Day, Steven Spielberg's War Horse is being shown to the media and industry now because, suggests Anne Thompson, the New York Film Critics Circle, like a state eager to draw early attention to its Republican primary, has moved its day of voting to this Tuesday. In other words, the Nyfcc will be announcing its awards for the best film of the year, performances and so on, with a full month of 2011 yet to go.
But at Deadline, Pete Hammond suggests that the "unusual strategy" Dreamworks and distributor Disney are pursuing isn't hinging on a single band of critics.
But at Deadline, Pete Hammond suggests that the "unusual strategy" Dreamworks and distributor Disney are pursuing isn't hinging on a single band of critics.
- 11/27/2011
- MUBI
Reuters Andy Lau, left, and Deanie Ip celebrate winning the Best Leading Actor and Actress categories for ‘A Simple Life.’
An epic film about an aboriginal tribe’s rebellion against Japanese colonial rulers and a sensitive domestic drama took the top honors at Saturday night’s 48th Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan.
“Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale,” a sprawling, 4-1/2-hour film from Taiwan, was named best feature film. The film, being shown in two parts, is based on...
An epic film about an aboriginal tribe’s rebellion against Japanese colonial rulers and a sensitive domestic drama took the top honors at Saturday night’s 48th Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan.
“Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale,” a sprawling, 4-1/2-hour film from Taiwan, was named best feature film. The film, being shown in two parts, is based on...
- 11/27/2011
- by WSJ Staff
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Ann Hui's touching drama A Simple Life took home three of the big prizes at last night's 48th Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan, with Deanie Ip repeating her Venice win by taking home the Best Actress award, while her co-star Andy Lau was named Best Actor. Hui (pictured) won Best Director, but the film failed to snag the biggest prize, as homegrown epic Warriors Of The Rainbow: Seediq Bale won Best Film.Other big winners on the night included Peter Chan's Wu Xia, which won a number of technical awards including Action Choreography for Donnie Yen, and Jiang Wen's comedy thriller Let The Bullets Fly picked up the Best Adapted Screenplay Award and Best Cinematography. Taiwan's big hit of the year, teen drama You Are The...
- 11/27/2011
- Screen Anarchy
China's Oscar submission this year, Zhang Yimou's The Flowers of War (previously discussed) was not released in time to show up in the nominations for its own country's Oscar equivalent. Nevertheless two Asian submissions for this year's Best Foreign Film Oscar race are competing for the "Golden Horse". While there are multiple film awards which hail from Asia (it can be horribly confusing to follow) The Golden Horse is the oldest and most inclusive of the awards institutions as there are no nationality requirements, only that the film be predominantly in a Chinese language. As is our habit and general proclivity let's start with Best Picture and Best Actress, the two most important categories in any awards show.
Let the Bullets Fly, Piano in a Factory and A Simple Life (pictured) compete for "Best Feature Film" alongside "Return Ticket" and "Seediq Bale"
Best Picture
Let the Bullets Fly (China / Hong...
Let the Bullets Fly, Piano in a Factory and A Simple Life (pictured) compete for "Best Feature Film" alongside "Return Ticket" and "Seediq Bale"
Best Picture
Let the Bullets Fly (China / Hong...
- 10/4/2011
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
The Film Experience is known the world over for its actressy devotions but for this quickie link-list, we've gone Men Only for some reason. Must be all that Best Actor talk in the air... or rather in the internetz. On that front I would like to note that my Best Actor chart is Haunting Me. It went the way of the dinosaur once Moneyball hit... rendering past speculations moot and the html coding is suddenly acting up, too. Yes, Brad Pitt vaults up when the charts are all redone on Friday. Weekly updates, however minor, follow from then on. Aren't you excited?
Okay okay. Enough screams and tears of joy for weekly charts. Settle.
Hello Giggles a must-read letter to Ryan Gosling. "You have to stop. Just stop. It’s getting to be too much."
Oscar Metrics Mark Harris in the lonely outfield, doubting Brad Pitt's nominatability for Moneyball.
Okay okay. Enough screams and tears of joy for weekly charts. Settle.
Hello Giggles a must-read letter to Ryan Gosling. "You have to stop. Just stop. It’s getting to be too much."
Oscar Metrics Mark Harris in the lonely outfield, doubting Brad Pitt's nominatability for Moneyball.
- 9/26/2011
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Simone Eder and Carlotta Corvi report from the Venice International Film Festival.
The 68th was certainly a memorable year with the overall quality of the films being very high and the films for the lineup well selected. Some films surprised while some films disappointed, and most of them will be talked about in the coming weeks and months.
Day 1
The longest running Film festival in the World kicked off its 68th Edition Festival at the Lido in Venice with the world premiere of George Clooney’s political drama The Ides of March starring Ryan Gosling, Clooney himself, Paul Giamatti and Phillip Seymour Hoffman,and was the first film shown in competition for the Golden Lion. Promoted as intense tale of sex, ambition, loyalty, betrayal and revenge the film was however less cynical and shocking than promised and contained a couple of weak plot points. The actors, especially the supporting cast,...
The 68th was certainly a memorable year with the overall quality of the films being very high and the films for the lineup well selected. Some films surprised while some films disappointed, and most of them will be talked about in the coming weeks and months.
Day 1
The longest running Film festival in the World kicked off its 68th Edition Festival at the Lido in Venice with the world premiere of George Clooney’s political drama The Ides of March starring Ryan Gosling, Clooney himself, Paul Giamatti and Phillip Seymour Hoffman,and was the first film shown in competition for the Golden Lion. Promoted as intense tale of sex, ambition, loyalty, betrayal and revenge the film was however less cynical and shocking than promised and contained a couple of weak plot points. The actors, especially the supporting cast,...
- 9/23/2011
- by Guest
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
As you know if you're paying attention (there will be a quiz) I've been offline for 72 hours. Gasp! So if some of the following links are Gasp 72 hours old, you will forgive. For the record I highly recommend spending 72 hours in a cabin in the woods without internet, tv or cel phones (provided there are no serial killers nearby). Highly relaxing!
Let's catch up with pieces/stories you (by which I mean "I") might have missed!
The Film Doctor on Contagion and the "die-off" scenario.
Go Fug Yourself succinct funny snappy boring Brangelina
Blog Stage will Broadway actress Mary Farber be a new SNL cast member?
Towleroad the continuing antics of James Franco. This time painted pink for Woooo mag.
My New Plaid Pants Kate Winslet... and Elizabeth Taylor
Natasha Vc remember a time via Pauline Kael when Nicolas Cage was sorta wonderful. I saw Moonstruck again recently and it was just ♥♥♥♥... well that's amore!
Let's catch up with pieces/stories you (by which I mean "I") might have missed!
The Film Doctor on Contagion and the "die-off" scenario.
Go Fug Yourself succinct funny snappy boring Brangelina
Blog Stage will Broadway actress Mary Farber be a new SNL cast member?
Towleroad the continuing antics of James Franco. This time painted pink for Woooo mag.
My New Plaid Pants Kate Winslet... and Elizabeth Taylor
Natasha Vc remember a time via Pauline Kael when Nicolas Cage was sorta wonderful. I saw Moonstruck again recently and it was just ♥♥♥♥... well that's amore!
- 9/13/2011
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Aleksandr Sokurov's Faust has won the Golden Lion at this year's Venice Film Festival. Now's a good time to catch up with Daniel Kasman's review.
The Jury, headed by Darren Aronofsky, awarded the Silver Lion (Best Director) to Cai Shangjun for People Mountain People Sea.
The Special Jury Prize goes to Emanuele Crialese's Terraferma. A roundup was posted earlier today.
The Osella for Best Screenplay goes to Giorgos Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou for Alps. (Roundup and Daniel Kasman's review.)
The Osella for Best Cinematography: Robbie Ryan for Wuthering Heights. (Roundup.)
Michael Fassbender wins the Volpi Cup (Best Actor) for his performance in Steve McQueens's Shame (roundup), while the Volpi Cup for Best Actress goes to Deanie Ip for her performance in Ann Hui's A Simple Life (roundup and Daniel Kasman's review).
The Marcello Mastroianni Award (Best Young Actor) goes to Shota Sometani and Fumi Nikaido for their work in Sion Sono's Himizu.
The Jury, headed by Darren Aronofsky, awarded the Silver Lion (Best Director) to Cai Shangjun for People Mountain People Sea.
The Special Jury Prize goes to Emanuele Crialese's Terraferma. A roundup was posted earlier today.
The Osella for Best Screenplay goes to Giorgos Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou for Alps. (Roundup and Daniel Kasman's review.)
The Osella for Best Cinematography: Robbie Ryan for Wuthering Heights. (Roundup.)
Michael Fassbender wins the Volpi Cup (Best Actor) for his performance in Steve McQueens's Shame (roundup), while the Volpi Cup for Best Actress goes to Deanie Ip for her performance in Ann Hui's A Simple Life (roundup and Daniel Kasman's review).
The Marcello Mastroianni Award (Best Young Actor) goes to Shota Sometani and Fumi Nikaido for their work in Sion Sono's Himizu.
- 9/11/2011
- MUBI
Wuthering Heights, Shame, and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy make an awesome threesome for Britain
European film festivals tend to be wary of British cinema. They love our actors, but our film-making is rarely highlighted. In the past I have bemoaned entire competition line-ups at Cannes or Venice in which not a single British film has appeared, although the old triumvirate of Mike Leigh, Ken Loach and Stephen Frears has generally kept journalists on the Lido or Croisette in copy over the last couple of decades. I can't recall a time when British cinema looked like it was the most vital and respected in the world, but this past fortnight at the 68th Venice film festival made it look that way.
Steve McQueen's Shame, Andrea Arnold's Wuthering Heights and Tomas Alfredson's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy were three of the best-reviewed and most talked-about films here, all premiering in a three-day burst last week,...
European film festivals tend to be wary of British cinema. They love our actors, but our film-making is rarely highlighted. In the past I have bemoaned entire competition line-ups at Cannes or Venice in which not a single British film has appeared, although the old triumvirate of Mike Leigh, Ken Loach and Stephen Frears has generally kept journalists on the Lido or Croisette in copy over the last couple of decades. I can't recall a time when British cinema looked like it was the most vital and respected in the world, but this past fortnight at the 68th Venice film festival made it look that way.
Steve McQueen's Shame, Andrea Arnold's Wuthering Heights and Tomas Alfredson's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy were three of the best-reviewed and most talked-about films here, all premiering in a three-day burst last week,...
- 9/10/2011
- by Jason Solomons
- The Guardian - Film News
Venice, Italy — Russian director Aleksander Sokurov's "Faust," a new take on the German legend about the quest for knowledge at all cost, won the Golden Lion prize at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday.
"Faust" tells the tale of a professor, played by Johannes Zeiler, who craves knowledge and sells his soul for the love of Margarete, played by Isolda Dychauk. The Mephistopheles character is played by Anton Adasinskiy.
Dense and difficult to watch, "Faust" was nevertheless one of the critics' top choices among the 23 in-competition films at Venice this year. It marks the final chapter in Sokurov's four-film look at the relationship between man and power that began with "Moloch" in 1999 about Hitler, "Taurus" a year later about Lenin and the 2005 film "The Sun" about Japanese Emperor Hirohito.
At a post-award news conference, Sokurov made an impassioned plea for governments to continue supporting culture with state funds.
"Culture is not a luxury!
"Faust" tells the tale of a professor, played by Johannes Zeiler, who craves knowledge and sells his soul for the love of Margarete, played by Isolda Dychauk. The Mephistopheles character is played by Anton Adasinskiy.
Dense and difficult to watch, "Faust" was nevertheless one of the critics' top choices among the 23 in-competition films at Venice this year. It marks the final chapter in Sokurov's four-film look at the relationship between man and power that began with "Moloch" in 1999 about Hitler, "Taurus" a year later about Lenin and the 2005 film "The Sun" about Japanese Emperor Hirohito.
At a post-award news conference, Sokurov made an impassioned plea for governments to continue supporting culture with state funds.
"Culture is not a luxury!
- 9/10/2011
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Jose here.
Earlier today the 68th Venice Film Festival came to an end. Awards were given out to what seem to be some strange choices (gotta love when quriky jury members choose the most obscure people, no?)
with the Golden Lion (Best Picture) going to Alexander Sokurov's Faust.
Just yesterday, our awesome correspondent from Venice mentioned how people expected this one to win and yet it doesn't even show up in the critical consensus. That must've been a dark horse if there ever was one. Apologies to the actual Dark Horse which came out empty handed.
The complete list of winners:
Golden Lion - Faust (Alexander Sokurov, Russia)
Silver Lion for Best Director - Shangjun Cai for Ren shan ren hai/People Mountain People Sea (China)
Special jury Prize - Terraferma (Emanuele Crialese, Italy)
Volpi Cup for Best Actor - Michael Fassbender for Shame (Steve McQueen, UK)
Volpi Cup...
Earlier today the 68th Venice Film Festival came to an end. Awards were given out to what seem to be some strange choices (gotta love when quriky jury members choose the most obscure people, no?)
with the Golden Lion (Best Picture) going to Alexander Sokurov's Faust.
Just yesterday, our awesome correspondent from Venice mentioned how people expected this one to win and yet it doesn't even show up in the critical consensus. That must've been a dark horse if there ever was one. Apologies to the actual Dark Horse which came out empty handed.
The complete list of winners:
Golden Lion - Faust (Alexander Sokurov, Russia)
Silver Lion for Best Director - Shangjun Cai for Ren shan ren hai/People Mountain People Sea (China)
Special jury Prize - Terraferma (Emanuele Crialese, Italy)
Volpi Cup for Best Actor - Michael Fassbender for Shame (Steve McQueen, UK)
Volpi Cup...
- 9/10/2011
- by Jose
- FilmExperience
Getty Actors Anton Adasinskiy, Johannes Zeiler, director Aleksander Sokurov, Festival Director Marco Muller, producer Andrey Sigle and guests attend the ‘Faust’ premiere during the 68th Venice Film Festival at Palazzo del Cinema on September 8, 2011 in Venice, Italy.
Russian director Aleksander Sokurov’s “Faust” won the Golden Lion for best film at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday night.
Sokurov has described “Faust” — a new interpretation of Goethe’s tragedy — as the last installment of his four films exploring the “nature of power,...
Russian director Aleksander Sokurov’s “Faust” won the Golden Lion for best film at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday night.
Sokurov has described “Faust” — a new interpretation of Goethe’s tragedy — as the last installment of his four films exploring the “nature of power,...
- 9/10/2011
- by Dean Napolitano
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Get out your scoresheets and see how they compare with those of Venice Film Festival jury boss Darren Aronofsky, whose group today awarded the fest's top prize, the Golden Lion, to Aleksandr Sokurov's film Faust. The heavily favored Michael Fassbender won the fest's Best Actor award for Shame, while Deanie Ip earned Best Actress for the Stephanie Zacharek-endorsed Hong Kong effort A Simple LIfe. Other big winners included People Mountain People Sea and Terraferma; congrats to all! [AP]...
- 9/10/2011
- Movieline
Ann Hui risks the delicate balancing act of combine fantasy and reality with A Simple Life, another—and an exceedingly excellent and moving—mainstream “social message” film from this master director. On the surface the “social” seems to come from the reality—the film is based on the true story of a maid (played by Deannie Yip) who after 60 years of service to a single family across four generations suffers a stroke and is finally separated from them and put into a nursing home. From this, the film with little fuss or pointed editorializing introduces the spaces and conditions, the humans and the feelings, of the process of being sent to an institution, of getting older, getting informed about ailments and mortality, of having to be looked after, and of looking after someone whose life is going away. But I think the real challenge here comes in the fantasy of the film,...
- 9/8/2011
- MUBI
"After an elderly maid for a Hong Kong film producer has a stroke, he finds a nursing home for her to move into," begins Shelly Kraicer in Cinema Scope. "With that simple premise, based on the real life story of producer Roger Lee and his actual family's amah Chung Chun-tao (aka Ah Tao), Hong Kong director Ann Hui has crafted one of her greatest films. This low-key masterpiece of almost documentary realism features big stars and non-professionals: king of Hong Kong cinema Andy Lau plays Roger and the remarkable actress Deannie Yip plays Ah Tao, while the home's elderly residents play themselves…. Ann Hui's brilliant filmography extends back to 1979, and this new work instantly earns pride of place as one of its glories."
"A Simple Life is loaded with cameos by celebrities from Hong Kong's action-packed cinema including martial-arts legends Tsui Hark and Sammo Hung," notes Neil Young in the Hollywood Reporter.
"A Simple Life is loaded with cameos by celebrities from Hong Kong's action-packed cinema including martial-arts legends Tsui Hark and Sammo Hung," notes Neil Young in the Hollywood Reporter.
- 9/7/2011
- MUBI
[Editor's Note: Here's Manolis, a Greek reader who is covering Venice for The Film Experience. If you can read Greek, visit Cinema News for more of his festival coverage.]
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The spy thriller was eagerly anticipated here in Venice and reaction was generally positive though some critics felt that something was missing. English is not my first language and with the heavy accents I did have a hard time following all of the twists of the intricate plot. But despite my difficult I was delighted that the film doesn’t underestimate your intelligence and demands your full attention throughout. The film's technical aspest are very impressive from sets to costumes to cinematography and Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In) directs with stylish gusto, creating magnificent shots and frames. Though the spy movie genre doesn't generally promise the slow pacing that Alfredson chooses, it's an interesting approach. The performances follow this same tone, all of them toned down. The triumph of the ensemble cast is that you can feel that underneath the icy surface of the British mentality of the period,...
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The spy thriller was eagerly anticipated here in Venice and reaction was generally positive though some critics felt that something was missing. English is not my first language and with the heavy accents I did have a hard time following all of the twists of the intricate plot. But despite my difficult I was delighted that the film doesn’t underestimate your intelligence and demands your full attention throughout. The film's technical aspest are very impressive from sets to costumes to cinematography and Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In) directs with stylish gusto, creating magnificent shots and frames. Though the spy movie genre doesn't generally promise the slow pacing that Alfredson chooses, it's an interesting approach. The performances follow this same tone, all of them toned down. The triumph of the ensemble cast is that you can feel that underneath the icy surface of the British mentality of the period,...
- 9/6/2011
- by Manolis Dounias
- FilmExperience
Now in its 36th year, the Toronto International Film Festival announced a selection of films in the 2011 Galas and Special Presentations programmes. The selection comprises 10 Galas and 43 Special Presentations, including 31 World Premieres.
The festival has become a hot spot for a number of big films - and this year is no exception. The Brad Pitt film Moneyball will debut at the festival, as well as, Butter starring Jennifer Garner and Hugh Jackman; A Dangerous Method, starring Keira Knightley, Michael Fassbender, and Viggo Mortensen, and The Ides of March from George Clooney, who also stars in the film.
The 10-day festival will run from September 8 to 18 and feature world premieres from a number of esteemed directors including, Cameron Crowe, Roland Emmerich, Francis Ford Coppola, Marc Foster, Alexander Payne, Sarah Polley, Jennifer Westfeldt, and Wang Xiaoshual.
“The international scope and diversity of voices in these programmes are impressive and inspiring,” said Piers Handling,...
The festival has become a hot spot for a number of big films - and this year is no exception. The Brad Pitt film Moneyball will debut at the festival, as well as, Butter starring Jennifer Garner and Hugh Jackman; A Dangerous Method, starring Keira Knightley, Michael Fassbender, and Viggo Mortensen, and The Ides of March from George Clooney, who also stars in the film.
The 10-day festival will run from September 8 to 18 and feature world premieres from a number of esteemed directors including, Cameron Crowe, Roland Emmerich, Francis Ford Coppola, Marc Foster, Alexander Payne, Sarah Polley, Jennifer Westfeldt, and Wang Xiaoshual.
“The international scope and diversity of voices in these programmes are impressive and inspiring,” said Piers Handling,...
- 7/27/2011
- by alyssa@mediavine.com (Alyssa Caverley)
- Reel Movie News
If you're more interested in the typical fall slate of festival entrees than summer's glut of tentpole action fare, this is a great week. The Toronto International Film Festival announced the first wave of films that will play the fest in September. This is a batch of about 50 titles, which makes up only a small chunk of the programming. Usually Tiff features between two and three hundred films. But these are some of the highest-profile entries. Below you'll find rundowns on the new films from George Clooney, Bennett Miller, Jay & Mark Duplass, Todd Solondz, Francis Ford Coppola, Cameron Crowe, Sarah Polley, Fernando Meirelles, Lars von Trier, Marc Forster, Steve McQueen, Alexander Payne, and Lynne Ramsay. No announcement yet of the Midnight Madness programming choices, always some of my faves, but this is a great start. This is quite the list -- there are easily thirty films here that could be potential top ten for 2011 candidates,...
- 7/27/2011
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
The Toronto International Film Festival is once again proving to be a major stop on the festival circuit. The announcement was released yesterday of 53 titles, including 31 world premieres, and some of the biggest names of the year are among them. Most, if not all, of the films I am most looking forward to will be in attendance, and with the festival just around the corner, the time to get excited for these offerings is now.
Check out the full release below.
Now in its 36th year, the Toronto International Film Festival® today unveiled a selection of films in the 2011 Galas and Special Presentations programmes. The selection comprises 10 Galas and 43 Special Presentations, including 31 World Premieres. Running from September 8 to 18, this year’s Festival presents the world premieres of films from directors Bruce Beresford, Luc Besson, Rémi Bezancon, Cameron Crowe, Terence Davies, Mathieu Demy, Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass, Roland Emmerich, Julian Farino,...
Check out the full release below.
Now in its 36th year, the Toronto International Film Festival® today unveiled a selection of films in the 2011 Galas and Special Presentations programmes. The selection comprises 10 Galas and 43 Special Presentations, including 31 World Premieres. Running from September 8 to 18, this year’s Festival presents the world premieres of films from directors Bruce Beresford, Luc Besson, Rémi Bezancon, Cameron Crowe, Terence Davies, Mathieu Demy, Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass, Roland Emmerich, Julian Farino,...
- 7/27/2011
- by Marc Eastman
- AreYouScreening.com
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