German Film Week at Asia Europe Institute, University Malaya is back

THE Asia-Europe Institute (AEI) of Universiti Malaya (UM) and Goethe Institute Malaysia are organising the annual German Film Week once again.

I was at the event last year. Thanks to Nux for reminding me about this even or I'm going to miss it this year.

Supposed there will be 5 films shown at AEI. However, the first film 'The Fisherman and His Wife' was shown yesterday, Sunday, 27th January between 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac), Sentul instead.

Anyway, there's another 4 more award-winning films to come:

30 Jan: The Lives of Others
13 Feb: Schultze gets the Blues
20 Feb: The Miracle of Bern
27 Feb: Kebab Connection

The venue for the above films is: AEI, UM
Date: Every Wednesday, 30 Jan - 27 Feb, 2008
Time: 8.30 onwards
For direction go to: map

You know why I love so much about this event? Free movies and free refreshment. And it's open for all. Where can you get that in KL, please tell me.

German Film Week @ AEI

The international movie screening at the Asia-Europe Institute (AEI), University of Malaya is back. I'm sure those of you who read papers already know the screening will be from today until this Friday.

A few years ago, AEI and ATMA-UKM (Institute of the Malay World and Civilization, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) used to collaborate and had regular screening of international movies here in UM. My friends and I loved it very much because it's free entertainment on every Wednesday and not to mention the generous refreshment after the show.

Later, the fellow researcher at AEI who run the programme left UM and formed Kaki Kino. Together with Dr Wan Zawawi, they brought the weekly international movie screening to FINAS. I was very disappointed by the move. Not long after that move to FINAS, Kaki Kino landed themselves in trouble when one of the films screened had explicit scenes.

Anyway, I'm just glad that this programme is back at AEI with new management. Hopefully they will make it a regular event.

Date/Time: 5 - 9 February 2007, 8.30 pm Venue: Auditorium, Asia-Europe Institute Organiser: Asia-Europe Institute, UM and Goethe Institute Contact Person: Puan Joharah (+603-79674645)

Movie Title: Mostly Martha Date: 5 Feb 2007 (Monday) Time: 8.30-10.30 p.m.

Movie Title: Comedian Harmonists Date: 6 Feb 2007 (Tuesday) Time: 8.30 -11.00 p.m.

Movie Title: Good Bye, Lenin Date: 7 Feb 2007 (Wednesday) Time: 8.30-11.00 p.m.

Movie Title: Run Lola Run Date: 8 Feb 2007 (Thursday) Time: 8.30-10.00 p.m.

Movie Title: Nowhere In Africa Date: 9 Feb 2007 (Friday) Time: 8.30-11.30 p.m.

international film screenings

Starting in February the new home for the film screenings (used to take place in AEI, University of Malaya) will be the National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) which is located next to Zoo Negara in Ampang.

The film screenings will take the same format as before. International films will be shown every Wednesday evening at 8.30 pm, while the last Saturday of each month will be used to showcase the best of Malaysian filmmakers.

As usual, they will be providing a short introductory talk, programme notes and refreshments (hurray!). Admission to all films is FREE.

The programme for February will be as follows:



Thursday 2 February at 8.30 pm
THE SEA INSIDE
Spain 2004, 125 mins, Dir. Alejandro Amenabar
Winner of Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards 2005

Wednesday 8 February at 8.30 pm
RAY
United States 2004, 152 mins, Dir. Taylor Hackford
Winner of Best Actor, Academy Awards 2005

Wednesday 15 February at 8.30 pm
THE PIANIST
France/Germany 2002, 150 mins, Dir. Roman Polanski
Winner of Best Director and Best Actor, Academy Awards 2002

Wednesday 22 February at 8.30 pm
DOWNFALL
Germany 2005, 156 mins, Dir. Oliver Hirschbiegel
Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, AcademyAwards 2005

Saturday 25 February at 3.30 pm
MONDAY MORNING GLORY
Malaysia 2005, 87 mins, Dir. Woo Ming Jin

If you know anyone who is interested in the film screenings please get them to send an email to:kaki.kino@yahoo.com

For further information contact:
KAKI KINO (Film Consultants)
Tel: 012 225 1179 (Gareth)
Tel: 019 817 1947 (Wan Zawawi)

film schedule: UNHCR & ICRC film showcase in UM

Probably you have heard and read about the film showcase, themed "War and Flight: The Need for Humanitarian Action" which will feature three movies and documentaries beginning from today to Sunday.

It is organised by UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross). The movies and documentaries will be screened at the Asia Europe Institute, University of Malaya (click for map). Admission is free.

Friday (Dec 9, 2005)
8.30 p.m. Hotel Rwanda (Refreshment and performances after the movie)

Saturday (Dec 10, 2005)
11.00 a.m. Women Facing War: Palestine
11.10 a.m. To Be a Refugee
11.20 a.m. Children of Ibdaa
2.00 p.m. The Killing Fields
5.00 p.m. Moderated discussion with ICRC
8.30 p.m. Women Facing War: Yugoslavia
8.35 p.m. Refugee Women: Don't Look Back
8.40 p.m. Molly and Mobarak



Sunday (Dec 11, 2005)
11.00 a.m. Women Facing War: Afghanistan
11.05 p.m. The Boy Who Played on the Buddhas of Bamiyan
2.00 p.m. A Safe Place
2.15 p.m. The Lost Boys of Sudan
3.45 p.m. Moderated discussion with UNHCR
8.30 p.m. War and Dignity
8.35 p.m. Marooned in Iraq

The Emperor's Journey: a must-see

I've never had interest for animals documentary. But The Emperor's Journey is no ordinary ducumentary. In fact, I think it is more like a love story. Such an extraordinary and touching story by the French director Luc Jacquet.

I've just watched the Mandarin version and I really enjoy every minute of it. Go watch it with your loved ones!

Highly recommended.

raya movies: tentang dia (thumbs up), gol & gincu (thumbs down)

This Raya holiday was the perfect time for me to catch up with some of the local movies (and Indonesian as well) on tv. I'm glad I was able to watch Sepet (again after attending the screening & conversation with the director, Yasmin Ahmad in UM), Tentang Dia and Gol & Gincu.

No doubt Sepet is a great movie (no need further mention). So does Tentang Dia. I wanted to watch this Indonesian movie but couldn't find any friend who is interested when it was in the local cinema. I particularly love the songs and the storyline. Not to mention the creative and emotionally-driven scenes. I especially like the scene when Rudi was on the other side of the busy street trying to tell Gadis that she loves her as a sister. There was also countless raining scenes which added to the emotion of the movie. And I love the rooftop scene as well, the place where Rudi and Gadis always meet up and share their thoughts and feelings. However, I find the poetry written by Rudi was a bit lame though.

Then there was this latest movie, Gol & Gincu, by the same producer who brings us the successful 3R infotainment show. Gol & Gincu is not so successful though. It was badly-scripted (the attempt to tackle the various social issues is definitely not working), mediocre performance by the actors (except Sharifah Amani and J's mother) and for one very obvious reason, it was very local MTV-styled (if I'm not wrong, the director Bernard Chauly is the one who directed one of Siti Nurhaliza's mtv Debaran Cinta). On the positive side, I love the diversity in this movie. So, I'm looking forward for more movies from the producer.

malays are lazy - from the movie Sepet

I was supposed to post this blog last Saturday but had been busy with other stuff.

Yasmin Ahmad, a reputable director, was in UM for the screening of the movie Sepet. Actress Sharifah Amani was present as well. It was my first time watching the movie and I would say that it's just mediocre. Perhaps I had a high expectation on this movie. After all the movie did win at the International Festival of Women’s Films in France and a couple of other special mention at international film festivals.

It's not really the movie that I want to talk about but rather the reaction from the audiences. As quoted from the movie itself, the character Orked (played by Sharifah Amani) said that Malays are lazy. Of course, it puts the Malay audiences into a very uncomfortable situation during the show. Even myself as a Chinese was a bit shock and I was hoping there was no big reaction from a couple of Malays sitting in front of me. To be honest, it is pretty normal for other races to label Malays that way but we definitely won't say that in front of them.

After the show, the Malay girls sitting in front of me left and did not came back for the conversation between Dr. Wan Zawawi and Yasmin Ahmad. So, there was this Malay guy taking over the seat. During the Q&A session, this Malay guy was so fired up and he expressed his dissatisfaction about the remark that Malays are lazy to Yasmin.

Dr Wan Zawawi mentioned that the movie was debated in the Dewan Negara and was labelled as unpatriotic. From my perspective, I believe this movie can be improved through better scriptwriting. The racism issue in this movie was not well addressed and tackled. However, I hope to see more of her movies in the future.

goddess jolie

Finally I went to watch Mr and Mrs Smith last night. I have to admit that I'm a big fan of Angelina Jolie (and I used to like Brad Pitt a lot when he was first featured in the movie Thelma and Louise many many years ago).

Mr and Mrs Smith was indeed a movie with a simple story line that intend to sell the two sexy hot stars. However, the real star in this movie is Jolie. She simply outshine Pitt himself. She again proves herself as one of the Hollywood A-list action star. Mr and Mrs Smith is indeed a Jolie movie.

However, I still miss the old Jolie. Remember her movies such as Foxfire, Hackers and Gia whereby her characters are much deeper (and often androgynous which is simply nice to watch). Nowadays her films are too commercialise. I wish to see her in dramatic movies that will show more of her acting skills (which she has) and of course earn her an Oscar.

Mr and Mrs Smith is not really my cup of tea although the movie done fairly well. The night before I was at the AEI, UM to watch a rather moving movie called Central Station. It was a 1998 Brazilian movie by the director Water Salles. The best things about watching this movie was I don't have to pay a cent and don't even have to line up to get a ticket (there's even refreshment provided). Central Station was an award winning movie that express the triumph of the human spirit.

The story is about Dora, a single and lonely elderly woman who earns her living by writing letters for illiterate customers at the Rio de Janeiro's Central Station. Things however begin to change when she reluctantly befriend a homeless orphan, Josue. She agrees to help Josue search for the father that he never known. The journey becomes a quest for their own identities, a boy who search for his father and a woman who search for her heart. Indeed a movie with a big heart!

Think I will spend every Wednesday watching movie at AEI rather than trying hard to get tickets at TGV (and M-Cinema doesn't even work at all).

Hotel Rwanda - a beautiful film that touches the soul

Last night I attended the week's international film screening at the Asia-Europe Institute in University of Malaya. This beautiful film directed by Terry George was nominated for three Academy Awards recently.

This story is about an ordinary family man and yet a heroic figure who summons extraordinary courage to save livesof over a thousand helpless refugess by granting them shelter in the hotel he manages.

Ten years ago, some of the worst atrocities in the history of mankind took place in the country of Rwanda. And in an era of high-speed communication and round-the-clock news, the events went almost unnoticed by the rest of the world. In only three months, almost 1 million people were brutally murdered.

This is truly an unforgettable and deeply moving film. Certainly the best film I've watched so far.