Welcome to Subway Cinema News – Asian flavor without the summer monsoons. Newsworthy Asian events in New York City, rounded up and linked with pretty pictures. Every week!

This Week

The New York Korean Film Festival kicks off with an opening reception on August 21 at the New York Times Building, 242 West 41st Street at 6 pm. The reception will include special guests: director Chang Youn-hyun and actor Yoo Ji-tae, the hunky leading male of the movie HWANG JIN-YI that will be screened that evening. It’ll continue from August 22 – 31 at Cinema Village and BAM. There’ll be an Ahn Sung-Ki retro (he’s the most iconic living Korean actor) and a bunch of other stuff.

(More info)

(Cinema Village screenings)

(BAM screenings)

Some of the titles to watch for:

Brother directors, Jeong Sik and Beom-sik’s EPITAPH is spine chilling and visually perfect collection of stories that take place at Ansaeng Hospital. The remains of the hospital are haunted by the tragedy that occurred there during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Dr. Jung Nam visits the site of his former internship and his memories supply the fodder for the interwoven tales to unfold. Despite the confusion that sometimes arises, this film is worth seeing for the technical and visual execution.

Kwon Chil-in’s HELLCATS revolves around the household of three compelling women, each of a different decade. The power of this film lies in its ability to dramatically portray the challenges each woman faces around her sexuality and potency while keeping it grounded in nitty gritty details. Beautifully written and acted without the typical gender stereotypes that one finds in an all female lead film.

Hwang Dong-hyuk’s MY FATHER stars Korean American actor Daniel Henney. An adopted Korean man decides to trace his parental roots when he is stationed in Korea. Shocked to find that his father is in prison and far from the ideal that he imagined. As they find their way together through language and cultural barriers, you become deeply invested in their limited amount of time together. This bold film gave Henney a chance to play a noteworthy character who struggles with racism and identity unlike the pretty boy roles he is usually assigned.

At Anthology Film Archives, Lee Myung-Se’s FIRST LOVE is playing on Thursday, August 21. A drama that espouses the painful virtue of facing reality through the one-sided love a student has for her drama teacher. Her idea of the perfect man burns to the ground while she discovers the truth can set her free or at least wake her up.

(More info)

Coming Thursday, August 22 to ImaginAsian, Siddarth Haseeno’s BACHNA AE HASEENO centered on the hot throb Raj who falls in love three times over. He is the man that friends and family warn you about but are unable to resist. With Cupid is his sidekick, Raj discovers lessons about himself and life through the women that fall prey to his charms. (More info)

Comments (0) Aug 21 2008