Film Festival

[Anonymous]

Comparing the Coming of Age Journeys of Chihiro in Spirited Away and Telemachus in The Odyssey

It may come of no surprise to most of you that I am yet again drawing a reference to Homer’s The Odyssey. It is a text that I picked up solely because I was going to teach it, and determined to find a way to get my students excited about it, found myself falling in love with its tales of adventure, adversity, and morality. I had to love it before I could teach it, but I found that even that was not enough. I had to find a way to make my kids relate to it, to connect it to their lives. And therefore, because I have researched it so thoroughly, and because I have spent so many hours finding ways in which it connected to today’s youth, it is only second nature for me to relate what I experience to it.

My favorite lesson with The Odyssey deals with the first four books. In the first four books, Athena finds Telemachus hopeless and depressed with the current suitor situation at his father’s palace. He cannot stand up to them as his father would have, and because he lacks the strength and courage to get rid of them, they are eating he and his mother out of house and home, while destroying this home in the process. You see, Odysseus was a great and powerful man, quick of wit and swift in battle. As far as Telemachus has heard, there wasn’t anything that Odysseus couldn’t do. And shoes like that are pretty hard to fill, especially for a young boy who is all alone.

But, with Athena’s help, Telemachus sets off in search of his father, knowing that if he can find him and bring him home alive, then there might be a chance to finally save his mother from a forced marriage and be rid of the suitors. What Telemachus finds on his journey is not his father, but himself. He gains courage and strength in character. And most importantly, he gains the respect of those he encounters along his way. It is this journey that allows Telemachus to pass his father’s test and help fight off the suitors.

Just as Athena helps Telemachus on his journey, Haku helps Chihiro on her journey. When the film begins, Chihiro is lost and incapable of helping her family return home. She too lacks courage and belief in herself. But step by step she finds the strength inside her to do what she must in order to save her family and her home. And just as Telemachus gains the respect of those around him, so too does Chihiro gain the respect of everyone she encounters.

Clearly there are parallels between the two stories that would easily allow for the inclusion of Spirited Away in a unit on The Odyssey. What might also be fun would be to look at the cultural uses of mythology and fantasy. There may be similarities in how the Greeks understood Gods and how the Japanese understand spirits.

I think students would really have some fun with these two stories and exploring the transformations each character makes. They also could get out a lot of good writing in the process.

[Anonymous]

http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/ab3219/fulltime_killer_lg.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.lovehkfilm.com/reviews/ab3219/fulltime_killer_lg.jpg

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Fulltime Killer by Johnnie To & Wai Ka Fai

In Hong Kong’s 2002 Academy Award Submission, Fulltime Killer written by Wai Ka Fai and Joey O’Brien and directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka Fai, Andy Lau plays China’s almost-first-time-gold-medal-winner-in-target-shooting-turned-professional-killer Tok who is out to avenge his failed medal attempt by killing China’s number one assassin, O, played by Takashi Sorimachi. Following the two criminals are investigators Lee and Gigi, played by Simon Yam and Cherrie Ying. While O, or Ono, is a quiet killer who prefers to do his business in stealth, Tok is flamboyant, choosing antics and circus act moves to get attention. Tying the two together is house cleaner Chin, played by Kelly Li. Chin, who takes care of O’s flat, becomes romantically involved with Tok after he regularly visits the Japanese video store where she works. On each visit Tok wears a different mask of an American president. Finally he asks her out to the movies and she accepts. When he tells her he is a professional killer she does not believe him, until finally after saying he needs to kill some people, he leaves the café where they are having drinks and his return is marked by a scream of police cars and ambulances. She is intrigued, if not excited by his line of work and it is then that we discover that Chin knows that O is a professional killer as well, for she has been tracking his work since she was hired two years previous.

Both assassins are both haunted and driven by episodes of the past. O by the death of his previous house cleaner, Nancy, who we later learn also happened to be Chin’s best friend, and Tok by his failed attempt at the gold medal. O could not reach Nancy in time to save her from the men who barged into his apartment looking to gun him down. Tok could not hit the target on his last round at the Olympics, collapsing just like his brother had years earlier. Both of these nightmares will play a roll in the two assassins attempts to remain alive and on top.

Battling for the last Snoopy in the collection, Hong Kong Snoopy, O and Tok enter a warehouse set to simulate the popular video game, Metal Slug, which the two know by heart. After the search for weapons and gear, the two battle through exploding fireworks for the girl, the gold and the title, #1 Killer.

Who wins? How will the story end? That is what once-detective-now-crazed writer Lee hopes to uncover as he holds a final interview with Chin. It was his fate to tell the story of China’s two most brilliant assassins, and it had to have an ending. As Chin’s car pulls away Lee starts to wonder. “How much of what she said was the truth and how much was fiction?”

But, “does it matter? [Everyone got what they wanted: Tok his fame, Chin her love, and O his peace.] Who [was he] to argue with them?” The story just needed an ending, right?

Brilliantly executed, Fulltime Killer fulfills your thirst for action while pulling at your heartstrings. Piece by piece the plot comes together as you’re taken through the journey of one man’s search for fame, one man’s search for peace and one woman’s search for love and adventure.

Filmed in Cantonese with English subtitles, Fulltime Killer demands your attention. Shots of subway stations and crowded streets, small shops, libraries, coffee shops and apartment buildings help make Hong Kong come to life for foreign viewers. The city remains free from the filming that could have made it exotic, and instead exists as a relatable backdrop for an exciting film.

For many, the success of a film depends largely on its ability to take the viewer to a place, show them the intricate details of that place and yet leave the subject of place open enough that almost anyone could have been there before or could go there in the future. It is an effort to create a film that is timeless and perhaps placeless in its simplicity. This is not to discount the effect of place on the film, but rather to emphasize that the exquisite simplicity by which it is delivered allows the film to be more accessible, and therefore more successful. Add to this a combination of action and popular themes, those of competition, honor and love, and you have a successful movie. Thus Fulltime Killer to a T.

[Anonymous]

I would show this movie to my World History class--when teaching WWII. It gives another perspective to the War--different from an American perspective.

You are correct, one would have to preface this movie because of the heavy topics involved--it is a very serious movie regardless of the fact it is anime.

[Anonymous]

Asian films has been popularized these days and I want to make couple of points of interest as we teach them.
Not only does it have content that is specific in what we teach but also it carries aesthetic beauty throughout the film but also drama that is not so 'American.'
Many of the films ends tragically.
Not all films leave us feeling good at the end.
One recent film was the House of Flying Daggers.
As I was leaving the theatre, I heard a couple complaing about how it didn't end in the way they anticipated or another group of guys complaining about how it was love story rather than a simple display of martial art.
Mainstream asian film has brought many areas we need to also highlight to our students about asia - culturally.
Here are some observations:

1. That life doesn't always end happily. In life there are tragedies and suffering, that is what makes us so human.
2. Asian films is not only about the story line (plot, climax, etc...) it incorporates the beauty of nature and it dictates the mood of the characters and scenes. Many of the scenes are breath-taking and beautiful.
3. The cinemotography of the film. The differences between "American" perspective to "Asian" perspective.
4. The muscial score is unlike any instruments we heard.

I will show some film to my students that pertain to the content area I teach but will also point out the wonderful aesthetic beauty of the cinemotography of the film as it graceful and elegant.
Asian films are great ways to show artistic qualities of color, contrast and character's mood.
What do you think?

lc[Edit by="lchoi on Jan 16, 8:51:45 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Hopefully I don't get any flak over this movie review. I am reviewing the old "Drunken Master" (I think it's from 1979 or 1980. While this is a Jackie Chan kung-fu comedy, it is interesting that a lot of things discussed in our sessions, were present in the movie.
On Saturday the 15th for example, one of the lecturers (Prof. Pietlka I believe) mentioned how in some Asian movies there was an older woman who was powerful or did whatever she wanted. This is true in Drunken Master. In one scene of the movie, the protagonist, Freddy Wong (played by Jackie Chan), decides to go and flirt with a girl in the market. He goes on to try to hug and kiss her against her will. The girl is shocked, but all she does is whine. Moments later, her mother steps in. She confronts Freddy, Freddy calls her an indecent name. The mother of the girl goes on to whoop Freddy with some fine kung-fu moves. Onlookers begin to comment "Oh man the old *@&^$ is tough!"
Later on this same character is one who gives wise advice to Freddy's father who is just about to kill his sexual predator son Freddy for the market incident. Freddy's father was about to beat him to death, but the woman interceded (very kindly and not in the form of a challenge) and helped spare Freddy's life.
There is also a lot of Confucian influence in the way that characters roles develop in the movie. In one scene, Freddy runs away from home because his father sent him to train with a hard core kung-fu teacher. He runs across an assasin's hideout. The assasin tells Freddy to split, Freddy refuses, a fight breaks out. Freddy gets his butt kicked (bad). To make matters worse, the assasin tells Freddy that the kung-fu his father taught him was lousy (not in those words) and that perhaps he (Freddy) out to call him (the assasin) father. This drives Freddy off the wall. Because his father had been insulted, he continues to fight even though he had gotten beat bad by the assassin. I have never seen something like this happen in any Latin American, European or American movie. The closest I have seen to this was the infamous "What'd you say about my Momma?!" scene in Menace II Society.
Anyway, if you absolutely hate kung-fu movies or Jackie Chan, then avoid this movie. However, if you can tolerate both or like both and want to laugh hysterically, this is by far one of the funniest movies I have seen. I let my mom borrow it and she was laughing so loud even though she watched the Mandarin version (the DVD only has English, Mandarin and something else- no Spanish- she figured she couldn't understand the English anyway, so Mandarin was good enough for her). If you watch it and you hate it, you can blame my easy amusement on my genes. Last thing, they actually cuss in this movie so be warned.

[Anonymous]

Chunhyang is a great film directed by Im Kwon Taek.
It is Im Kwon Taek's 97th film and he is a very popular director in Korea who have won almost every possible film awards in that region not to mention numerous other international film festival awards/recognitions.

Chunhyang is a beautiful folktale of love, loyalty and trust.
The story takes place in 18th century Korea.
Upon watching the first few minutes you might wonder what is going on.
There is a gentlemen singing to the a modern audience with his partner playing the Korean drum.
The story then unfolds in a opera style (pansori) to tell the tale of Chunhyang.
Chunhyang is a beautiful daughter of a courtesan mistress.
The Governor's son, Mongryong, of Namwon is studying and waiting for his invitation to Seoul to become a royal official.
As he is studying, he finds the stunning Chunhyang to be witty and beautiful.
The son is torn between following in the footsteps of his father or to follow his heart.
Eventually, they are secretly married and must remain secret until he has passed the exam and proved himself as a royal official.
As he is away from his secret bride, Chunhyang is called to be the new Governor's courtesan, but she refuses because of her love Mongryong.
Refusing the Governor's wishes is punishable by death.
As she is going through tremendous pain and agony, she remains steadfast of her love, Mongryong who is nowhere to be found.

Im Kwon Taek infuses the beautiful sounds of Pansori, one Korean singer (soriggun) and percussion (drum) instrumentalist (gosu).

One ways this film can be used in the classroom aside from reading the story of Chunhyang is learning Pansori and the process in state examination.

Information:
Chunhyang
Director: Im Kwon Taek
Actors: Lee Hyo-Jung, Cho Seung Woo, Kim Sung Nyu

lc

[Anonymous]

I agree with Catherine and others who have watched this movie, it is so dang depressing.
I had to watch this film in segments, 3 to be quite exact.
Not only was this film depressing but also upsetting at the level of disrespect for his parents.
Maybe it is my Confucius' filial piety coming out but I couldn't stand for this loser if he was in my household.
This film has shown the side of parents we rarely see.
Their fears, lost in counsel, wondering what they missed or did not do but most importantly their loyalty to their children.
This film also showed the modernization of China and one man's struggle to make a claim for himself.
To see that he is valuable.

I was tremendously impressed how this story is based on a true story/events and how it weaves in and out of the theatre.
But most importantly was the triumpet that the main character, Jia Hongsheng, makes into the modern world.

lc

[Anonymous]

Raise the Red Lantern
Dirctor: Zhang Yimou
Casts: Gong Li, Cao Ciufen, He Caifei, Jin Shuyuan, Kong Liu, Ma Jingwu, Zhao Qi

This film takes place in the 1920's in China.
19 year old, Songlian, becomes the fourth wife of the wealthy Chen.
They share one husband who they vie for attention.
The wealthy Chen picks whom he will spend the night with by presenting the red lantern at dusk.
The red lantern is a symbol of power and prestige and brings forth its priveleges.
As the new Songlian gets accustomed to the conflict and deception of each wife, she learns to join in to win Chen's affection.

This film is quite disturbing but reading and teaching about Sun Tzu's Art of War might make it interesting.
One of my colleagues has given me the Art of War desktop calendar and I have found that many principals can be shown through this film.
This film might be a great companion to Sun Tzu's Art of War.

Here is a link to Sun Tzu's Art of War:

Sun Tzu's Art of War

lc

[Anonymous]

Interesting that we have been talking quite a bit about Shamanism in East Asia the past couple of weeks. This week, I just saw a Japanese movie called "Onmyoji" which revolves around Shamanism in Japan.
The movie is based in Japan's Heian period. One of the shamans (Doson, played by that grumpy Japanese guy that beats up Tom Cruise at every opportunity in Prof. Notehelfer's favorite movie "The Last Samurai") that was supposed to protect the emperor ends up betraying the emperor and tries to take power by using evil magic. A good Onmyoji (Seimei) is then recruited by a court noble to battle the evil Onmyoji (Doson) and save the emperor's heir to the throne.
For being a 2001 film I thought the special effects could have been much better. The movie was entertaining, but the special effects could have been more convincing and fluid. Nonethless, if you are interested in seeing a film about Shamanism in Japan, this would be a movie that would fall in this category. I can't recommend a better one, because I don't know of another one, but maybe someone who is actually reading this does know of one.
I read up on the movie to find out more about some of the things I saw (mainly to find out what the heck "Onmyoji" meant . I found out that Onmyoji was the second highest grossing film of 2001 in Japan behind "Spirited Away."
I also found out that there is a sequel in the making. Oh and by the way the word "Onmyoji" means this: "A practitioner and/or master of "Onmyodo," the craft which uses the Yin and Yang principle to interpret between natural and unnatural phenomena and astrological occurrences to foresee the fortunes of humans (in other words a shaman).
After seeing the movie, I was curious as to whether or not the Heian emperors really did have Onmyoji in their courts to protect them from "evil." Was this true back in history or did the filmakers just add it into the film to make it more interesting? If anybody can answer this, please let me know, otherwise I'll have to research it myself.
I did some research, and found out that Seimei (the good Onmyoji) was a real Onmyoji who lived in Kyoto from 921-1005 AD. I still wonder though if it was common for every emperor to have Onmyoji (or more than one).

[Anonymous]

Film Review: Fist of the Red Dragon starring Donnie Yen
A film by Yuen Woo Ping and Chan Chin Chung
Golden Sun Film Co., LTD

From watching the theatrical trailer, one would expect Fist of the Red Dragon to be an exciting, action packed, yet dramatic tale of China’s battle with opium. The film, however, fails to fulfill that expectation.

Action packed, yes. Almost every other scene contains fighting. While the incorporation of fighting insures a lack of dialogue, which is most welcome considering the horrible nature of English dubbed films, after a while these smaller fight scenes begin to detract from the impressiveness of larger, more instrumental scenes.

Aside from its goal of bringing the viewer extensive kung fu footage, Fist of the Red Dragon promises a dramatic retelling of China’s struggle to stop the smuggling of opium that is destroying the country’s economy, let alone its people, and ridding China of its all too precious silver. While the film does incorporate a storyline that follows this premise, it fails to deliver an engaging depiction of the economic hardships brought on by this crisis. Instead, Fist of the Red Dragon attempts to lure viewers into its plot by weaving in a tale of a rich and foolish widower’s struggle to care for his kung fu star son as he battles his own overconfidence, the trickery of others, and an unfortunate addiction to opium.

Unlike other recent martial arts films that go to great lengths to demonstrate superior action, Fist of the Red Dragon lacks a compelling storyline to hold it all together. While it had great promise as a film, the presence of frivolous, and admittedly annoying acting, as is the case with the aunt, and a horrific dubbing of dialogue, ruins Fist of the Red Dragon’s chances of staying on my DVD shelf.

[Anonymous]

Hero by Zhang Yimou is amazing with timeless beauty. Yet, i didn't understand many scenes. Maybe if i take a course in film studies or film making than i would be able to enjoy this movie much more. Everything, from the fight to the clothing, the kung-fu to the language, and etc; everything seemed so magical. Although what made it really confusing was the repeated scenes. When i think i get what is happening, then i get confused again. It seems like Jet LI "Nameless" is on a mission along with his incredible sword to kill the top three assasins to get closer to the king in a war like time.

Through all this confusion, i was able to get a message: Family, friendship, love, and martial arts seem to be above everything. Being loyal to these things is the best way to live and become self-less. Does this lead to happiness? It did, in the third century of China. I somehow believe that some people still abide by this idea, but not as extreme as Nameless.

[Anonymous]

This 1990 film by Kurosawa is one of my favorite films of all time. It touches several different feelings in me. Because of it's short story format, it has also proved to be a valuable resource in the classroom. Kurosawa made this film from 8 of his personal dreams. There are 3 nightmare segments. The stories are seemingly disconnected but I have been able to find at least 2 connecting threads in the film. There are several images that follow my own dreams/nightmares and thoughts. One segment I use a lot in class is "Crows" where a japanese art student enters one of Van Gogh's paintings which hangs in a museum. He looks for and finds Van Gogh (interestingly played by Martin Scorses). There are several folk tale style stories with allegory. A couple of the stories feature young boys ("Peach Orchard" and "Sunshine Through the Rain"). "The Tunnel" deals with soldiers, war, and survival guilt. Nuclear energy is examined in "Mt Fuji in Red". But my most haunting thoughts come from "The Blizzard" about mountain climbers and a spirit who is perhaps the mountain herself luring the climbers into peaceful sleep/death. There are many more moments to this film. I thoroughly enjoy this film each time I watch. It is useful in the classroom because the segments can be used with lessons in one class period -- most films must be shown over several days. There is a website -- free encyclopedia -- at which you can find more information about the film. It is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurosawa's_Dreams.

[Anonymous]

"Spirited Away" is one of my favorite films because it appeals to students with its universal themes and distinctive storytelling style. Many of its passages are lyrical and subtle. Watching the film is a strong sensory experience. One is hypnotized by the sounds and visuals of a strange and magical story. At first, I was hesitant to show it to my students because I thought they would be bored by the slow pace of the film, but they identified with the plight of the heroine who must confront her own demons and a few special entities to free her parents from the magic spell.

This film is amusing, beautiful, very cinematic, and challenging. It moves slow, but it never bores anyone. It charms with its many delights and originality. It takes you to worlds one has never seen, and it successfully integrates reality and imaginary situations. It teaches its audience to look inside to understand how we are all connected. One of its wonderful scenes show how the river spirit must be cleansed with the use of magic tokens. It is an amazing piece of animation and philosophy. My students had no problem understanding how this was a thinly disguised appeal to save our environments. The biggest revelation for me was to see that my students were an audience that was willing to be challenged, and I had an opportunity to learn everytime a new batch of kids saw it.

When I use it in my class, I ask students to take notes and narrate the tale in their own words. It is exciting to see how many interpretations of the same scenes I get. A fascinating animated tale for the ages.

[Anonymous]

The movie "Hero" uses colors to create a feeling of vastness, tragedy, power, and depth representational of the country China.
Grey the color of Qin is the first color that the audience is introduced to. The movie opens as the nameless soldier is progressing towards Qin’s Royal Court. The colors initially became blurred with hundreds of soldiers dressed in gray. The color gray also blurs into the walls of the forbidden palace and there appears to be a powerful gray blanket of thousand of unknown soldiers willing to give their life for Qin.
Hundreds of Nobles are wearing black long robes, which also seem to accent the gray uniforms and physical structure of the palace. There seems to be a merging of not only colors, but also individuals that in turn create a sense of uniformity that is artistically created on a grandiose scale in the opening scenes of "Hero."
At the Tea House where Nameless fights and defeats Sky, the colors black, white, and gray are used as black and white are spliced into the otherwise color narrative to help create a more dramatic effect. As the combat unfolds the black and white scenes are set inbetween color splices of the narrative story. Gray the color initially associated with the emperor Qin is also used through out the martial arts scenes. Even the water drops appear in slow motion to emulate variations of the color gray.
Red is another color that is used to display change and difference in the movie "Hero." At the calligraphy school all students are wearing the color red, the color of the Zhou people. Broken Sword is commissioned to create a piece of calligraphy artwork with the Chinese character sword in red ink.
There is a scene in the movie where yellow leaves are falling all around as Flying Snow and Moon fight in red dresses after Broken Sword has supposedly been killed. The movie details drops of red blue slowly dripping off a sword, then all the leaves change from yellow to red. Color and magical realism are used to display the attitudes, emotions, and feelings of individual characters within the movie. As death or tragedy effect the lives of Flying Snow and Moon, the colors change in sharp contrast to create a dramatic feeling that ties to physical sorrow.

In "Hero" there is a feeling of depth through the use of colors and how they are used to fill the screen. This not only creates a sense of vastness, but also allows the viewer to understand how colors can be used to help expound on the emotions of the characters.
[Edit by="ldriscoll on Mar 15, 1:12:04 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

spirited away- great movie!

Story is about a girl and a family who are moving to a new place.
Immigrant students can relate to this movie. They can relate to the main character Chihiro and what she must endure in order to survive in a new society that plays by different rules. I feel that many of my immigrant students (Asian and Latino) can relate to what Chihiro is going through. In the story Chihiro can only survive if she works for a witch and losses her name. I find that the film mirrors the reality of my Asian immigrant students who must sometimes loose their names and essentially their language in order to assimilate and feel accepted into the dominant culture. Attached to a persons name is a person’s identity and culture. The witch represents and oppressive society that wants to reduce newcomers to a less than human condition.

Uses in the classroom: I am now working on a unit that has the overarching theme of “identity” I feel that this film would be easy to incorporate to talk about the oppressive conditions many immigrants have had to endure throughout History . I can talk about the thousands of Chinese immigrants who worked and died while building our American railroads in the early 20th century.

berenice moreno clark

[Author]

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