Byun Sung-hyun’s latest endeavour, the black comedy Good News, starts with a line you might recognise โ at least partially: “Inspired by real events but all characters and events portrayed are fictional.” After a beat, the film offers us a question: “What’s the truth then?“ The answer to that might never come, but the mad…
Film
Wall to Wall Review: An Average Joe in an Average (Yet Socially Critical) Thriller
Some films prove that real life can be scarier than any fiction. Endless debt, rising interest rates, undue blame, terrible bosses, desperate decisions, noisy neighbours. If you put all of these elements together, you can easily draw a nightmarish scenario that might shake even the most stoic of us. That’s where we might find Netflix’s…
Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes Review: This Is Clever, Genuine Storytelling
From The Girl Who Leapt Through Time to Summer Time Machine Blues, Japanese time travel stories are well-known around the world. There are so many of them โ and most of them are just so fascinating โ that it is difficult to keep track. For instance, just last year, we had the release of the…
Studio Ghibli Turns 40: 18 Books from the Studio’s History
Studio Ghibli is turning 40! From My Neighbour Totoro to Spirited Away, it’s almost impossible to find someone who hasn’t heard of the legendary Studio Ghibli. Founded on June 15th, 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki, Studio Ghibli has released dozens of unforgettable, unique, and universally resonant films that have changed the course…
Bullet Train Explosion: The Bullet Train Sequel Seems Familiar But Has Personality
Japanese train culture is renowned around the world for its efficiency, precision, and neatness. The Shinkansen (or “bullet train”) was invented by the Japanese, the very first line โ taking people from Tokyo to Osaka (and vice-versa) โ setting off in 1964. Sixty years later and still working like clockwork, Japan’s high-speed rail network stretches…
Revelations (Netflix) Review: A Timely Message… But Does It Stick the Landing?
To promote his most recent Netflix feature Revelations, director and co-screenwriter Yeon Sang-ho (of Train to Busan fame) gave an interview to The Korea Times in which he shared: Nowadays, people only want to see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe. (โฆ) Like everyone else, I’m curious about my…
Late Spring, After Life & Evil Does Not Exist: Diving Into Japanese Cinema
Japan has one of the oldest and largest film industries in the world. Throughout its more than a hundred years of history, Japanese filmmakers have created stories that changed the course of cinema itself. Kurosawa Akira, Ozu Yasujiro, Mizoguchi Kenji, Sakane Tazuko, Honda Ishiro, Miyazaki Hayao, Satoshi Kon, Takashi Miike, Nishikawa Miwa, Koreeda Hirokazu are…
Little Forest: A Soothing Ode to Nature, Food & Identity
You know that sort of film that makes you feel warm and happy inside? That kind of story that seems to embrace you, give you room to breathe and a pat on your back? If you’re looking for that kind of movie, let me introduce you to Little Forest. My mother is a huge fan…
A Year-End Medley & New Year Blues: A Joyous Celebration of the New Year
Asian cinema isn’t particularly well-known for its Christmas movies. We discussed some extraordinary options in our newsletter this week but it’s not like we’re spoilt for choice. While the New Year season as a cinematic subject isn’t nearly as popular as its Christmas counterpart (in any country), there are still some excellent Korean films that…
Hayao Miyazaki and The Heron Review: How Do You Live?
Everyone knows Hayao Miyazaki. And even if you found someone (how?!) who didn’t, they would surely know one of his works โ be it the Oscar-winning Spirited Away (2001), the fairy-tale-like Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), or the iconic My Neighbour Totoro (1988). The Miyazaki we all know is an endlessly talented genius: a man who…
