I do hope Melbourne readers are getting stuck into MIFF this year — there’s a lot on show, and they’ve filled out their schedule with a bunch more Asian films since I wrote up our little summary of their First Glance list. You can see the full program at the MIFF site, but there are a few films of interest that I thought I’d make particular mention of.
Firstly, for those who want a chance to catch some bona fide classics on the big screen, they’ve brought back some old favourites from seasons past:
Happy Together
An Autumn Afternoon, venerated Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu’s final film from 1962. Screens tomorrow (Tuesday 26th), so you’ll want to get in quick.
Barking Dogs Never Bite, the first feature film from prominent South Korean director Bong Joon-ho, who’s since given us Memories of Murder, The Host and Mother.
Happy Together, directed by Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar Wai in 1997, and the one that got him Best Director at Cannes. The film follows the turbulent love affair between two men — played by Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Leslie Cheung, no less — in Argentina, beautifully lensed as always by Christopher Doyle.
From the slate of brand-new films, there are a few we’ve already written reviews of:
End of Animal
The Unjust and The Yellow Sea, both recent South Korean action/crime films from directors who definitely have serious form in that direction.
There’s lots more, of course, and we’re hoping to have reviews of a few more up soon. I’m particularly jealous of anyone who’s managed to get in to see Takashi Miike’s 13 Assassins, which I missed out on at SIFF. Enjoy the festival!