Here and There
by Andrea RademanMay 1-8 LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL (formerly the VC FilmFest) at the Director’s Guild of America (DGA), Laemmle’s Sunset 5 Theatres, ImaginAsian Center, The National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, and the Aratani/Japan America Theatre. In this year’s outstanding crop of films, Asian American female directors are featured prominently throughout the fest kicking off with Oscar® winning director Jessica Yu’s comedy PING PONG PLAYA and closing with Australian director Tony Ayres’ moving drama THE HOME SONG STORIES starring Joan Chen.
HIGHLIGHTS (some of these films will play at a Laemmle or other theater post-festival):
THE SENSEI is martial artist/stunt actress turned director Diana Lee Inosanto’s directorial and writing debut centering around a small conservative town in the late 1980s during the rise of the AIDS panic. Young McC;ain is a gay teen who is constantly harassed and ostracized in his provincial community. Karen Nakano-O’Neil (Diana Lee Inosanto), once denied her black belt for being a woman, returns home after a five-year absence to make amends with her Asian American family - owners of the main successful martial arts training center and proud members of their local church. When three bullies hospitalize McClain after a near-fatal beating and are then released on bail, Mcclain’s outraged mother asks Karen to teach McClain the martial art ways.
NEVER FOREVER Sundance award winning film written and directed by up and coming Korean American filmmaker Gina Kim starring the amazing Vera Farmiga in the title role of Sophie - the perfect Caucasian housewife for Andrew - her successful Asian American husband. Their once happy marriage is suddenly put to the test when her husband goes into depression after losing his mother. Sophie and Andrew are unsuccessful at conceiving a child. And to try and save her marriage, Sophie does something desperate - she initiates a bold and clandestine venture with Jihan - an illegal immigrant from Korea. What turns out to be a business arrangement over time becomes much more than it really is.
UP THE YANGTZE Award winning documentary from Canadian filmmaker Yung Chang. In China, it is simply known as “the river.” But the Yangtze - and the life that surrounds it - is undergoing a truly spectacular transformation wrought by the biggest hydroelectric dam in history: The Three Gorges. From the vantage point of a luxury “farewell cruise” that wends its way up the “river,” we witness the dramatic shift of peasant families forced to relocate their entire lives as floodwaters steadily engulf their villages along with young tour-boat employees who warily grasp at a more prosperous future combined with Western tourists trying to catch a final glimpse of a disappearing culture. (begins Friday, May 16th at the Music Hall in Beverly Hills and Playhouse 7 in Pasadena.)
FOSTER CHILD New Philippine Cinema is fast taking shape and filmmaker Brilliante Mendoza is at the forefront. Based on a true story, FOSTER CHILD observes a day in the life a poor foster family in Manila - comprised of Mother Thelma, husband Dado, and sons Gerard and Yuri. The film takes place on the day Mother Thelma is forced to part with a precious 3 year old named John John who has just been adopted by an American family. This moving film examines the emotional bonds between foster-parents-for-hire and the abandoned babies they care for.
May 3 Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Greater Los Angeles 15th Annual UNCORK A WISH WINE TASTING AND AUCTION Up for grabs, a 1955 Pontiac Chieftain, plus silent and live auction packages featuring fine wines, artwork, vacations, sports and entertainment memorabilia, a Thermador wall oven, and one-of-a-kind experiences, such as a walk-on role during the hit television program Scrubs. Tastings will be offered by 75 vintners, The Carving Ice company will be create a martini bar out of ice and staffed by celebrity bartenders from television and movies. Restaurants include: Asia de Cuba; Bar Pintxo; Boa Steakhouse; Buddha’s Belly; Locanda del Lago: Morton’s The Steakhouse; Provisions; Sushi Roku; Takami Sushi & Robata, Elevate Lounge; Upstairs 2; Abode, Big Island Candies; Café del Rey; The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills; Citrus at Social; Chunkomunko Cheese Cakes; Paperfish; Pink’s Hot Dogs; Tokyo Table; and Violet’s Cakes. The Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Ave, Santa Monica. Tickets $150 at 310-788-9474.
May 14 - Jun 8 PIPPIN Book by Roger O. Hirson, Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, Directed by Tim Dang. East West Players’ final production of its 42nd Anniversary Season incorporates theatre anime visuals, hip-hop dance influences, and contemporary music arrangements in the story of Charlemagne’s eldest son, Pippin who embarks on a journey to find his true calling in life. Cast members include Marcus Choi, Daniel May, Gedde Watanabe, Jenn Aedo, Kari Lee Cartwright, Ryyn Chua, Cesar Cipriano, Mike Hagiwara, William Jay, Blythe Matsui, Maegan McConnell, Mike Moh and Chloe Stewart. Set designer is Alan Muraoka; costume designer Naomi Yoshida; lighting designer Dan Weingarten; property master Ken Takemoto. David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts at 120 Judge John Aiso St., LA. Tickets 213-625-7000.
Through May 19. Double Edge: Taira Nishizawa and Jean-Philippe Vassal exhibition examines the “edge” conditions between the work of Tokyo-based Taira Nishizawa and Paris-based Jean-Philippe Vassal. Location: Perloff Hall, Perloff Gallery (Room 1308) UCLA Campus. Info: www.newsroom.ucla.edu
June 1 Taiko drummers will entertain at Share Our Strength’s annual TASTE OF THE NATION at Culver City’s Media Park from 1pm to 4pm. Along with Mary Sue Milliken of Border Grill and Ciudad, guests will be able to meet the chefs and enjoy dishes from Providence, Sona, Melisse, Craft, Grace, Katsuya, Fraiche, Foxtail, Water Grill, The Foundry, Patina’s Paperfish, Tiara Café, Table 8, Ford’s Filling Station, Akasha, Citrus at Social and Bar Marmont, to name a few. Wines will be provided by Robery Sisnkey, Paige 23, Lioco, Havens, Ruston, White Rock, Qupe, and Martellotto as well as Vignette Wine Country Sodas and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jonathan Gold will man an “Ask Mr Gold” booth and VIP guests will receive a gift bag. Tickets 1-877-26-TASTE or www.tasteofthenation.org.
BABY Set in South and East L.A. in the ‘80s and ‘90s, this drama follows a motherless, poverty-stricken young Asian man called Baby who lives with his alcoholic father. His life gets worse when he becomes mixed up with neighborhood gangsters and goes to prison for manslaughter at the age of eleven. Once he’s released, his goals in life are simple: rekindle his first love, gain control of his life, and kill anyone who stands in his way.
BIGGER, STRONGER, FASTER In America, we define ourselves in the superlative: we are the biggest, strongest, fastest country in the world. We reward speed, size and above all else: winning – at sport, at business and at war. Metaphorically we are a nation on steroids. Is it any wonder that so many of our heroes are on performance enhancing drugs? From the producers of Bowling For Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11 comes a new film that unflinchingly explores our win-at-all-cost culture through the lens of a personal journey. This is the story of director Christopher Bell and his two brothers, who grew up idolizing muscular giants like Hulk Hogan, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and who went on to become members of the steroid-subculture in an effort to realize their American dream. When you discover that your heroes have all broken the rules, do you follow the rules, or do you follow your heroes?
BLIND MOUNTAIN A film by Li Yang begins April 25th at the downtown Grande 4-Plex. A poignant drama about human trafficking based on the true stories of hundred of thousands of kidnapped ‘brides’ sold off as sex slaves and child bearers in contemporary China. Twenty-two-year old university graduate Bai Xuemei meets a warm and helpful young woman, Hu, when she is looking for work. Tempted by the prospects of a job and money, Bai decides to go with Hu and her boss to buy medicinal herbs in the mountains. After a long and arduous journey, they arrive at a small village, where she realizes that she has been tricked by human traffickers. The villagers’ apathy and selfishness, together with the indifference of the local officials and police, make her a prisoner – together with other ‘wives’ living like her. When she manages to get in contact with her family with the help of a small boy, help finally arrives but it is only the beginning of another tragedy…
Shot on location in China, THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM marks the historic onscreen pairing of martial arts superstars Jackie Chan (the RUSH HOUR series) and Jet Li (FEARLESS, ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA), and features the action choreography of Woo-Ping Yuen (THE MATRIX, CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON). While hunting down bootleg kung-fu DVDs in a Chinatown pawnshop, Jason Tripitikas (Michael Angarano - “24”, “Will and Grace,” LORDS OF DOGTOWN, SEABISCUIT) makes an extraordinary discovery that sends him hurtling back in time to ancient China. There, Jason is charged with a monumental task: he must free the fabled warrior the Monkey King, who has been imprisoned by the powerful Jade War Lord. Jason is joined by kung fu master Lu Yan (Jackie Chan) and a band of misfit warriors including Silent Monk (Jet Li). But only by learning the true precepts of kung fu can Jason hope to succeed - and find a way to get back home. Directed by Rob Minkoff (STUART LITTLE, THE LION KING). The original screenplay by John Fusco (YOUNG GUNS, HIDALGO) is based on the traditional Chinese legend of the Monkey King.
REDBELT Written and directed by David Mamet. Set in the west-side Los Angeles fight world, a world inhabited by bouncers, cage-fighters, cops, and special forces types, REDBELT is the story of Mike Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a Jiu-jitsu master who has avoided the prize fighting circuit, choosing to instead pursue an honorable life by operating a self defense studio with a samurai’s code. Terry and his wife Sondra (Alice Braga) struggle to keep the business running to make ends meet. An accident on a dark, rainy night at the Academy between an off duty officer (Max Martini) and a distraught lawyer (Emily Mortimer) puts in motion a series of events that will change Terry’s life dramatically introducing him to a world of promoters (Ricky Jay, Joe Mantegna) and movie stars (Tim Allen). Faced with this, in order to pay off his debts and regain his honor, Terry must step into the ring for the first time in his life.
THE FALL Los Angeles, circa 1920’s, a little immigrant girl (Catinca Untaru) finds herself in a hospital recovering from a fall. She strikes up a friendship with a bedridden man (Lee Pace) who captivates her with a whimsical story that removes her far from the hospital doldrums into the exotic landscapes of her imagination. Making sure he keeps the girl interested in the story he interweaves her family and people she likes from the hospital into his tale.
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