CHINESE MOVIES
The Legend is Born - Ip Man (Kung Fu, Drama)
Following hot on the heels of the hugely successful Ip Man series, the explosive, all-action biopic of famed Kung Fu Grandmaster Yip Man, comes the prequel The Legend is Born: Ip Man, starring “World Kung Fu Champion of Hong Kong” Dennis To and award winning action choreographer Sammo Hung.
Eleven-year-old Ip Man attends the Wing Chun Academy of Foshan, where he is a student of the great kung fu Master, Chan Wah Shun (Sammo Hung). Sadly, the elderly Chan is no longer able to teach young Ip Man and passes duty to eldest student, Ng Chung So (Yuan Biao). Ng remains Master until his young protégé reaches adulthood and leaves the academy to study in Hong Kong, bidding farewell to brother Ip Tin Chi (Fan Siu Wong) and beloved classmate Li Mei Wai.
While in Hong Kong, Ip Man persists with his Wing Chun training under the tutelage of Master Leung Bik, learning different techniques and greatly improving his talent that will set him on the path to becoming the “ultimate Master” and a true legend.
After returning to Foshan, Ip Man’s former Master Ng objects to his deviation in style, finding his new skills “unacceptable”. In addition, Ip Man falls in love with Cheung Wing Shing (Crystal Huang), eldest daughter of the Deputy Mayor of Foshan and a union her father profusely objects to. Meanwhile, Tin Chi has married Ip Man’s former classmate Mei Wei and has been appointed Deputy Chairman of Foshan Kung Fu Association but Ip Man suspects his brother has a secret agenda.
Can Ip Man solve the dispute with his former Master? How will he gain the acceptance of Cheung’s father for the hand of Wing Shing? And just what are his brother’s true intentions?
Cast: Dennis To, Sammo Hung, Yuan Biao, Fan Siu Wong, Crystal Huang
Director: Herman Yau
Duration: 100min (tbc), Theatrical
Category: PG-13
Language: Cantonese and Mandarin
Subtitles: Chinese and English
Territory: Worldwide except China
Ocean Heaven (Drama)
Awards:
2010 CCTV Movie Channel Media Awards- Best Film, Best Actor, Best New Director
Nomination:
2010 Shanghai International Film Festival- Golden Goblet Award
Film Festival:
2010 Shanghai International Film Festival- Opening Film
With action hero Jet Li in starring role, this touching drama follows the moving story of a father and his autistic son whose lives are shattered by illness. Cinematographer Chris Doyle, production designer Yee Chung Man and composer Joe Hisaishi also bring their talents to this endearing pic, which opened the 2010 Shanghai Film Festival.
Widowed aquarium assistant, Wang Xingchang (Jet Li), is guardian to 21 year old autistic son, Dafu (Wen Zhang). With the generous help of neighbours, the two live a happy and fulfilled existence. That is, until Wang is diagnosed with cancer. Understanding the time will soon come when he can no longer look after his son, Wang throws himself into finding care for Dafu. And so an emotional journey begins, where a father must find shelter for his son, whilst instilling in him a measure of independence necessary for both to let go.
Cast: Jet Li, Wen Zhang, Kwai Lun Mei
Director: Xue Xiaolu
Duration: 102min (tbc), Theatrical
Category: PG-13
Language: Mandarin
Subtitles: Chinese and English
Territory: Asia & Middle East except China
JAPANESE MOVIES
Here Comes the Bride, My Mom! (Drama)
Based on an award-winning novel by Tsukine Sakuno, Here Comes the Bride, My Mom! stars two of Japan’s most revered actresses as a mother and daughter whose bond is put to the test.
Single mother Yoko (Shinobu Otake) lives with her adult daughter Tsukiko (Aoi Miyazaki) and the two treat each other like friends, rather than family. That is, until one night, a drunk Yoko brings home a much younger man, Kenji (Kenta Kiritani), proclaiming her intention to marry him.
The abrupt announcement and difference in age throws Tsukiko into a state of confusion, filling her with feelings of betrayal as she tries to make sense of this unexpected development in each of their lives. But it appears Kenji’s arrival proves to be not the only thorn in Yoko and Tsukiko’s relationship …..
Cast: Aoi Miyazaki, Shinobu Otake, Kenta Kiritani, Jun Kunimura
Director: Mipo O
Duration: 110min, Theatrical
Category: PG-13
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: Chinese and English/ English
Territory: Worldwide except Japan
Fireworks from the Heart (Drama)
Film Festival:
2010 Shanghai International Film Festival
Based on a true story, Masahiro Kunimoto’s Fireworks from the Heart tells the emotional story of a young recluse as he struggles with his own fears, whilst also trying to bring happiness to his seriously ill sister.
Following six months of treatment for leukemia, Hana (Mitsuki Tanimura) is released from hospital on the day of the annual Katakai Fireworks Festival to learn that her older brother, Taro (Kengo Kora), has become a social recluse.
Attending the festival later that evening, Hana notices the town’s youth group enthusiastically planning for the following year’s event and resolves to get her brother involved. After dragging a reluctant Taro to the youth club office, he is refused membership on the grounds of being an ‘outsider’. Despite the rejection, however, he makes an effort to reintegrate into society by taking on a paper round.
Winter arrives and when Hana’s health declines, she is admitted to hospital. As she recalls fond memories of the festival, Taro swallows his pride and once again approaches the youth group. His tenacity impresses, and this time, his application is accepted.
His sister will be proud of his progress, however, his confidence is overshadowed by Hana’s deteriorating health…
Cast: Kengo Kora, Mitsuki Tanimura
Director: Masahiro Kunimoto
Duration: 119min, Theatrical
Category: PG-13
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: English only
Territory: Worldwide except Japan
KOREAN MOVIES
Miss Staff Sergeant (Comedy)
Although veteran Actors Son Byung-ho and Lim Won-hee have starred in many action movies, such as The Good, The bad, The Weird, Running Wild and Dachinawa Lee, in order to prepare for this film the actors underwent two months of special physical and military training before filming commenced.
Lee Yoo-mi (Lee A-i) is the first female non-commissioned officer to finish top of the Marine Corps training course- an achievement that even most men find difficult. Despite her superiors and colleagues’ objections, she applies for the Force Recon, the Marine Corps’ special operations forces. Being the only female, Yoo-mi is laughed at and her efforts ridiculed by her peers, however, she overcomes these obstacles and gets appointed as the leader if an ill-performing team. Can she turn this team around?
Cast: Lee A-i, Son Byung-ho, Kim Min-ki, Lim Won-hee
Director: Cho Myeong-nam
Duration: 103min (tbc), Edited
Category: PG-13
Language: Korean
Subtitles: English
Territory: Worldwide except Korea
