Asian American / Asian Research Institute
The City University of New York
Memoirs of a Geisha (USA, 2005) Rob Marshall’s extravaganza, based on Arthur Golden’s novel, is a lush recreation of the life and times of women trapped in the geisha culture of an imaginary by-gone era, with some of the most alluring pan-Asian stars (including Zhang Ziyi, Gong Li, and Michelle Yeoh) turning Japanese. Workshop Instructor: … Read more
Oldboy (South Korea, 2003) Chan-wook Park’s legend of revenge begins with Dae-Su (played by Min-sik Choi) being released from his imprisonment. Gradually, he finds himself consumed by revenge, just as he finds out that freedom for him is as elusive as ever. Workshop Instructor: Daryl Chin Workshop Coordinator: Antony Wong
Beautiful Boxer (Thailand, 2005) Ekachi Uekrongtham’s biographical drama is about Nong Toom (played by Asanee Suwan), a championship kick-boxer in Thailand. But Nong Toom has a secret: he is saving his prize money for his hoped-for sex change operation. His endurance and his amazing prowess are testimony to his remarkable courage. Workshop Instructor: Daryl Chin … Read more
Shall We Dance? (Japan, 1995) A salaried man (played by Koji Yakusho) finds renewed meaning to his life once he starts taking dance lessons from an elegant, remote dance teacher (played by Tamiyo Kusakari). Masayuki Suo’s crowdpleasing comedy is always surprising and genuinely touching; perhaps most surprisingly, it’s not a typical romance. Workshop Instructor: Daryl … Read more
Monsoon Wedding (India, 2002) MONSOON WEDDING. The hurly-burly of a large scale wedding party amongst the gentry in Delhi provides the backdrop for a multi-character investigation into tradition and new attitudes. Filled with music, songs and dances, and vibrant color, this is a fast-paced movie which uses many Bollywood conventions as ironic commentary. Workshop Instructor: … Read more
Happy Together (Hong Kong, 1997) Wong Kar-Wai’s romantic elegy about two men (played by Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Leslie Cheung) whose relationship falls apart during an extended stay in Buenos Aires. Filled with Wong’s typically inventive visual style and an eclectic, seductive array of music, this is one of the most directly emotional of … Read more