YNOT at the Movies

Starting March 12, Asians cinema enthusiasts will flock to Sundance Kabuki, Castro Theater, and other venues in Berkeley and San Jose.

With 108 films and 47 programs, this year's lineup contains a little less films compared to the past. That translates to more furious competition among the submissions and better films in the festival. Actually, I like this size better because I feel less overwhelmed and much easier to schedule the screenings during the festival.

I have written about some films at this year's SFIAAFF, including:

• Chinese Cinema at SFIAAFF 2009
• Japanese Cinema at SFIAAFF 2009
• Korean Cinema at SFIAAFF 2009

Of course, shorts programs are NOT to be missed at all cost at the SFIAAFF. They never fail to be refreshing, rewarding, entertaining, and amusing. Even a film might not be my cup of tea, a few minutes later, a new one will appear on the big screen.

Among all the shorts, I have only seen one — the delightful "The Postcard" playing in the program "It's Easy Because You're Beautiful."

After the charming "Police Box" (SFIAAFF 2007, Frameline31), director Josh Kim returns to SFIAAFF with his new short film "The Postcard" (South Korea 2007 | in Korean | 15 Min.). The film brilliantly tells a story about how a boy conveys his crush on a postman — he writes messages on postcards.

When I can see great Asian cinema with film lovers, who cares how much the Dow is falling. When the festival is over, things will be back to normal. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the festival. That's what I am going to do beginning next Thursday.

Asra Nomani is a feminist Muslim who is a single mom out of her wed lock. That doesn't prevent her from challenging the mosque — she wants to pray side by side with men in the mosque, instead of being in the back of the room. That stirs a big controversy when CNN comes into this small town to cover the story. Brittany Huckabee's new documentary "The Mosque in Morgantown" (USA 2009 | 75 min.) follows the development of the conflict between Asra Nomani and the mosque, and gives us a rare look at the life inside the mosque in America.

After 9/11, Islam takes some heat from the American public. But how much do people actually know about Islam, or Muslims in America? What's the teaching of Islam? How should we understand the conflicts between the Islamic culture and the social norm in the western society? Should America Muslims follow the Islamic rules rigorously, such as how and where men and women should pray in a mosque, or should they bend the rules to accommodate the social norm in the America?

Although this film will not answer all of these questions, but it tells an interesting story with these inquires in the background, and the film is thought provoking if nothing else.

Is praying next to a man that important to Asra Nomani? Or is she just using this issue as a breaking point to challenge the mosque? Or is she using this for publicity to sell her book as many mosque members accuse of her? Different people will come up different answers after viewing this film, which makes this film even more fascinating.

However, whether we should apply social norm to a religious practice will be even a bigger and harder question to ponder. Viewing this film could be a starting point to explore this subject.

Director Brittany Huckabee and journalist Asra Nomani will appear in person for Q&A at the the screenings at the 27th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF).

Talented filmmaker Kimberlee Bassford does a great job to bring Patsy Mink back to life in her new documentary "Patsy Mink: Ahead of the Majority" (USA 2008 | 57 min.).

Patsy Mink is a celebrated figure, especially for Asian Americans and women. She has been an important voice for the right of women and minorities, and she is an inspiration and a role model for many.

She stood up for what she believes in, even political defeats would be the consequences. She represents changes, progressive, and equality.

Her enormous contributions to the US politics, woman's rights, and social justices in general will be forever remembered. Her story should be and must be told.

This is her story — meet Patsy Mink in "Patsy Mink: Ahead of the Majority," an informative, inspiring, and interesting film about this colorful woman who was full of life and passion.

Director Kimberlee Bassford will appear in person for Q&A at the screenings at the 27th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF).

From Academy Award winner Ang Lee (李安), to Chinese independent filmmaker veteran Jia Zhang-ke (贾樟柯), to new director Cao Baoping (曹保平), and to rock musician filmmaker Peng Lei (彭磊), festival goers will have plenty to choose from if they are in the mood for some Chinese.

• 24 City (二十四城记 | China/Hong Kong/Japan 2008 | in Mandarin | 107 min.)

  Although I own a few films on DVD by critically acclaimed director Jia Zhang-ke (贾樟柯), I admit that I have not watched any of his film more than once. However, I never miss any opportunity to see his new work. Therefore, I have not yet seen Jia's latest film "24 City" which competed for Palme d'Or at 2008 Cannes Film Festival, staring Joan Chen (陈冲) — I will catch this film at the festival.

  

• The Panda Candy (熊猫奶糖 | China 2007 | in Mandarin | 85 min.)

  After premiered two years ago in China, a stylish Chinese independent film "The Panda Candy" finally meets the American audience at this year's SFIAAFF. Director Peng Lei (彭磊) is the lead singer of a Chinese rock band called "Red Pants" (新裤子). During the band's tour in China, Peng picks concert goers to join the protagonist of his film to tell a story about the love and dating of the young generation in the rapidly changing China. I found the film's music and visual are quite refreshing. However, those who must rely on subtitles might face a challenge when viewing the film, unless at the screening time, the subtitles are refurbished. Perhaps, the plot is not that important after all.

  

• The Equation of Love and Death (李米的猜想 | China 2008 | in Mandarin | 92 min.)

  Riding the wave of its commercial success at the box offices in China, director Cao Baoping's (曹保平) second feature "The Equation of Love and Death" comes to SFIAAFF. In a style similar to "Crash," this film tells a story of a cab driver Li Mi's quest looking for her suddenly vanished boyfriend. Zhou Xun (周迅), One of the hottest actresses in China, is the center of this film playing Li Mi, who fights kidnapping, extortion, and mostly, desperation.

  

• Lust, Caution - Ang Lee in Conversation with Linda Williams (色, 戒 | China 2007 | 158 min.)

  Academy Award winning director Ang Lee's (李安) "Lust, Caution" tells a remarkable story about a woman's courage and sacrifice during the fight against Japanese's occupation during World War II. Followed the screening at the festival, an intimate conversation with Ang Lee will take place on stage led by UC Berkeley professor Linda Williams. This special screening and on-stage conversation will take place at Wheeler Auditorium in Berkeley.

  

Seven(!) of Kiyoshi Kurosawa's films will be screened at the festival, including his newest "Tokyo Sonata" and his J-Horror flick "Pulse" (回路). It's a great opportunity to watch these films in theaters, especially with Kiyoshi Kurosawa in person at some of the screenings for Q&A.

Perhaps I should add San Francisco Public Library as an extra venues for the festival, because the library has more Kiyoshi Kurosawa's films that are not showing during the festival.

Other must see Japanese films at this year's festival include Ryosuke Hashiguchi's "All Around Us." To be able to see films like "All Around Us" is part of the reason why I love SFIAAFF dearly.

• All Around Us (ぐるりのこと。 | Japan 2008 | in Japanese | 140 min.)

  I am quite confident that "All Around Us" will easily become my top ten films of 2009. This is Japanese director Ryosuke Hashiguchi's (橋口亮輔) first film after a seven-year hiatus. The film is funny, touching, and observant.

  The film's protagonist is Kanao, a soft mannered shoe repair man turning into a court room sketch artist, who deals with his own marriage with humor, gentleness, and love. Through the eyes of Kanao, the film quietly observes the major events in Japanese society over the span of a decade. Japanese bestselling novelist Lily Franky (リリー・フランキー) gives a great performance as Kanao.

  

• Tokyo Sonata (Japan 2008 | in Japanese | 119 min.)

  Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa's latest film "Tokyo Sonata" looks deeply inside an ordinary Japanese family. It tells a heartfelt story about their struggle to survive, to communicate, and to realize their places in the fast moving modern society.

  Renowned Japanese actor Teruyuki Kagawa (香川照之) plays a middle aged salaryman who is recently laid off (does that sound familiar for folks in the US?), but he doesn't have the courage to tell his family. Everyone in the family wish that it would be wonderful if their whole lives are a dream, and when they wake up, they are somewhere completely different.

  

  The festival goers can also catch Teruyuki Kagawa's other performances in "Tokyo!" and "Serpent's Path" (蛇の道) at the festival.

• License to Live (ニンゲン合格 | Japan 1998 | 109 min.)

  In Ryosuke Hashiguchi's "License to Live", 24-year-old Yutaka wakes up from a 10-year-old coma and finds out that his family and the world around him are no longer the same. His efforts to bring the family back together and to validate his own existence are both poignant and intriguing.

  

Korean actor Ha Jung-woo (하정우) is perhaps one of the mostly sought actors these days. While his terrific performance in "Time" (시간) and "Never Forever" (두 번째 사랑, SFIAAFF 2008) are still fresh to many, he appears in two new films playing completely different characters at this year's festival.

• My Dear Enemy (멋진 하루 | South Korea 2008 | in Korea | 123 min.)

  This year's opening night film is the delightful and talkative "My Dear Enemy." Ha Jung-woo ("Time," "Breath," "Never Forever") plays an insouciant and charming ex-boyfriend, who owns money to his ex-girlfriend, played by Jeon Do-yeon ("Secret Sunshine," "My Mother the Mermaid"). The film follows the couple around in Seoul to get some money and explores the fascinating complexity in human relationship.

  

• Treeless Mountain (USA/South Korea 2008 | in Korea | 89 min.)

  After "In Between Days" (SFIAAFF 2007), director So Yong Kim returns to SFIAAFF with her second feature "Treeless Mountain," this year's closing night film. "Treeless Mountain" intimately tells a story of two young girls who longing for their mom who left them, when they are not preoccupied by their own children's daily activities. The two young actors give a wonderful performance as the young sisters. This film reminds me of the heartbroken Japanese film "Nobody Knows," one of my all time favorites.

  

• The Chaser (추격자 | South Korea 2008 | in Korean | 123 min.)

  The third Korean film "The Chaser" is an impressive feature debut from director Na Hong-jin (나홍진). In this engrossing, unpredictable, and exciting thriller, Ha Jung-woo plays a completely different character from the happy-go-lucky guy in the opening night film "My Dear Enemy." This time, he is chased as a murder by an ex-cop who turns into a pimp. Although the film is not the same as "Oldboy," but the hammer definitely brings chill in the neck, keeps the audiences on the edge of their seats, and chases the Hollywood out to remake it.

  

• Tokyo! (France/Japan/Germany/South Korea 2008 | in Japanese and French | 110 min.)

  "Tokyo!" consists of three stories from two French directors Leos Carax and Michel Gondry, and a Korean director Bong Joon-ho (봉준호), who made the sci-fi blockbuster "The Host." They offer an unique perspective about the lives in the most crowed and exciting city — Tokyo!