HONG KONG CINEMA SHOWCASE

ROB N ROLL
(臨時劫案) 

MIDWEST PREMIERE
Hong Kong | Drama | 2023 | 95 minutes | In Cantonese w/English subtitles

DIRECTOR: Albert Mak

STARRING: Aaron Kwok, Lam Ka Tung, Richie Jen, Maggie Cheung Ho Yee, Lam Suet, Nina Paw, Lo Hoi Pang, Nancy Wu Ting Yan, Leung Chun Hang

SYNOPSIS:

ROB N ROLL is a Hong Kong action-comedy film produced by Derek Yee and directed by Albert Mak.  The film stars Aaron Kwok as a robber who forces two dispirited, middle-aged men, played by Gordon Lam and Richie Jen, to participate in a heist.  

“[Director Albert Mak] successfully navigates each character’s predicaments and parallel storytelling with a mix of gritty and quirky crime-comedy tones.” - Screen HK.

“An exhilarating, funny and gripping crime thriller.” - NYC Movie Guru.

“The performances of Aaron Kwok, asa unstable bandit, Lam Ka-tung, as a put-upon taxi driver, and Richie Jen as an indebted business owner, are the draw here.” - South China Morning Post. 

Sunday, April 21, 2024
7:00 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

AMC NEWCITY 14
1500 N. Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL 60610

HONG KONG CINEMA SHOWCASE

TIME STILL TURNS THE PAGES
(年少日記) 

MIDWEST PREMIERE
Hong Kong | Drama | 2023 | 95 minutes | In Cantonese w/English subtitles

Director & Writer: Nick Cheuk
Starring: Lo Chun Yip, Ronald Cheng, Hanna Chan, Rosa Maria Velasco, Sean Wong

SYNOPSIS:

High school teacher Cheng looks back to his repressed childhood memories as he finds an anonymous suicide note in the classroom. He strives hard to prevent another tragedy from happening, while facing a series of family problems: his wife is divorcing him, and his father is dying.  

“TIME STILL TURNS THE PAGE” is a poignant tale of emotional tortune, regret and redemption told through a student contemplating ending his own life. Writer-director Nick Cheeks gem of a film is relatively short at 95 minutes, but full of feeling - watch out for the third act’s emotional gut punch.” - South China Morning Post.

The film won the Audience Choice Award and the Best New Director for Nick Cheuk at the 60th Golden Horse Awards. It has now received 12 nomination at the upcoming Hong Kong Film Awards that includes the Best film, Best New Director, Best Actor, Best Screenplay. Winners will be announced on April 14. The film is a good example how a new generation of filmmakers in Hong Kong reflect on their city, its land, space, edge and people.

Sunday, April 21, 2024
5:30 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

AMC NEWCITY 14
1500 N. Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL 60610

HONG KONG CINEMA SHOWCASE

ELEGIES
(詩) 

MIDWEST PREMIERE
Hong Kong | Documentary | 2023 | 101 minutes | In Cantonese w/English subtitles

DIRECTOR: Ann Hui

SYNOPSIS:

Venice Career Golden Lion-winning auteur Ann Hui finally films a topic she holds most dear - poetry as she is always the most literarily inclined of the great directors of her generation, the Hong Kong New Wave.  Through her personal encounters with some of Hong Kong’s most notable poets, Hui shows the topography of contemporary poetry of the city.

Here is an audience member’s review with the penance “smile” who says, “A love letter to Hong Kong, Taiwan and China, comprised of poems that are individual love letters to the same. Interviews with and profiles of the poets contextualize their work and enrich one’s understanding of their respective cultures. I know this probably sounds dry and boring, but it’s really a quietly beautiful movie.”

Ann Hui, Director
Hui is one of the most critically acclaimed filmmakers of the Hong Kong New Wave. She is known for her films about social issues in Hong Kong which include literary adaptations, martial arts, semi-autobiographical works, women's issues, social phenomena, political changes, and thrillers. She served as the president of the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild from 2004 to 2006. Hui has won numerous awards. She won Best Director at the Golden Horse Awards three times (1999, 2011, 2014); Best Film at the Asia Pacific Film Festival; and Best Director at the Hong Kong Film Awards six times (1983, 1996, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018). Only two films have won a Grand Slam (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Actress) at the Hong Kong Film Awards; they are SUMMER SNOW and A SIMPLE LIFE, both directed by Hui. In 2020, Hui was awarded an Honorary Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 77th Venice International Film Festival.

Sunday, April 21, 2024
2:00 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

AMC NEWCITY 14
1500 N. Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL 60610

CLOSING NIGHT 

WE ARE FAMILY
(出租家人) 

MIDWEST PREMIERE
Hong Kong | Comedy | 2022 | 100 minutes | In Cantonese w/English subtitles

Director: Benny Lau

Scriptwriters: Ashley Cheung Yin Kei, Wong Wing Hong, Benny Lau

Starring: Eric Tsang, Carlos Chan, Catherine Chau, Tien Niu

Director Benny Lau & actor Carlos Chan are scheduled to appear in-person for a film introduction and a post-film Q&A.

Additionally, Chan is the recipient of our BRIGHT STAR AWARD and the award ceremony will take place before the feature presentation.

SYNOPSIS:

RENT-A-FAMILY (出租家人) specializes in offering family and friends for rent. The company consists of Carlos, the founder; Catherine, the drama coach; and Chi Kwong, the passionate small-time actor. Carlos and Catherine disapprove of Chi Kwong's overwhelming care for their clients, but they begin to rethink the meaning of "Rent-a-Family" when they see the results of Chi Kwong's kindness...

Carlos Chan
Hong Kong actor Carlos Chan began his entertainment career in 2003, when he joined the International Chinese New Talent Singing Championship and subsequently signed with Emperor Entertainment Group. In 2008, he made his film acting debut with HAPPILY EVER ACTOR, playing the second male lead. He has since acted in over 40 films and television series. In 2016, his co-starring performance alongside Kara Wai in 2016’s HAPPINESS was praised as a major breakthrough performance for Chan, earning him the Best New Actor of the Year award at the 11th Chinese Young Generation Film Forum and a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 7th Macau International Movie Festival. His performance in the 2018 TV series DADDY COOL made his popularity soar. His most recent performances in films such as READY O/R KNOT, RAGING FIRE, DETECTIVES VS SLEUTHS and THE GOLDFINGER have also been well-received.

Benny Lau
Benny Lau is a film director and screenwriter based in Hong Kong who is best known for exploring love and family relationships in his films. He made his first directorial debut with the feature film WONG KA YAN (2015), winning Lau the Best Director Award at the Mexico International Film Festival. In 2017, Lau made his second feature film WHEN SUN MEETS MOON, continuing the theme of capturing and exploring relationships with realism. The film won the Audience Award in the East Winds Film Festival. In September 2018, Lau filmed YOUR WORLD, WITHOUT ME in Sichuan, which was based on a true love story. The film was selected for the 2019 Hong Kong Asian Film Festival.   In 2020, Lau took up the challenge of directing suspense movie BURNING. Later on, Lau tried his hand at television and directed the TV drama Parents League in 2021.  The drama series, featuring the stories of kindergarten students and their parents in facing various challenges, was a critical and commercial success.  

Saturday, April 20, 2024
7:00 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

AMC NEWCITY 14
1500 N. Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL 60610

HONG KONG CINEMA SHOWCASE

PAI NIANG NIANG: THE LAST OSMANTHUS BLOSSOM

U.S. PREMIERE
Hong Kong | Documentary | 2023 | 65 minutes | In Cantonese/Mandarin & English with Chinese & English Subtitles

DIRECTOR: Isabel Wong

Director Isabel Wong is scheduled to appear in-person for an intro and post-film Q&A.

Additionally, Rebecca Pan will be a virtual recipient of our APUC Lifetime Achievement Award.

SYNOPSIS:

In March 1972, Rebecca Pan self-financed the production of the first ever Mandarin musical, PAI NIANG NIANG (1972) and performed for 60 times at Princess Theatre, Tsim Sha Tsui. This is not only a piece of history of Hong Kong art and culture, but also the most important milestone of Rebecca’s oeuvre. This work used the Broadway musical model to adapt the famous Chinese myth Legend of the White Snake. Bringing together Eastern and Western theatrical styles, the production combined Chinese traditional music, dance, costume and stage design with modern Western concepts. Despite this bold attempt, the resulting work was ahead of its time and was not a commercial success. Also, it was thought to have not been captured on film and faded into obscurity. In April, 2024, however, a partial film record of the performance was miraculously discovered. The restored surviving footage has become the finale of this documentary, PAI NIANG NIANG: THE LAST OSMANTHUS BLOSSOM. 

This documentary is directed by director Wong Tsui-Wah, Isabel. During the years of observation and excavation, Isabel has been looking for various aspects of PAI NIANG NIANG, and through this documentary, she recorded every detail of PAI NIANG NIANG.

Isabel Wong, Director

Wong Tsui-Wah, Isabel is a screenwriter, director, multi-media producer, and curator. 

She has worked in television as a script reviewer for drama content and as a programme producer for variety shows. She has written more than 20 drama series, and she has produced music programmes and award ceremonies. In 2021, she was appointed Content Director of TVB Music Group, with a focus on album and concert production. She founded the studio Artcanteen and is passionate about documentary filmmaking. In 2022, she curated a photo exhibition of Ms Rebecca Pan - Rebecca Pan Wan Ching Will The Orange Blossom Smile Photo Journey. She is working on a documentary celebrating the achievements of Filipino musicians in Hong Kong.

Saturday, April 20, 2024
5:00 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

AMC NEWCITY 14
1500 N. Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL 60610

HONG KONG CINEMA SHOWCASE

BAND FOUR
(4拍4家族) 

U.S. PREMIERE
Hong Kong | Drama, Family, Music | 2023 | 107 minutes | In Cantonese w/English subtitles

DIRECTOR: Lai Yan Chi
STARRING: Kay Tse, Teddy Robin, Rondi Chan, Anny

Director Lai Yan Chi is scheduled to appear in-person for a film introduction and a post-film Q&A.

SYNOPSIS:

Cat admired her father King, who left home when she was ten.  Years later, they meet again in a crematorium, where Cat is with her nine-year-old son Riley. King is with Cat’s half-blooded sister Lok Yin. After a period, the four of them decide to live together. This newly formed family has four different voices, each with their past lives, secrets, and fears. As the once-broken family members begin to set aside their differences and support one another, they will face even greater hardships with Cat’s genetic disease.

Directed by the celebrated theater actress and playwright, Mo Lai Yan-chi, “BAND FOUR is an amiable Hong Kong music drama that is far more comfortable costing on the natural charisma of its fresh-faced performers. Lai’s story may be fanciful in multiple ways, but the emotions she evokes with this music-driven film do mostly feel genuine.” - South China Morning Post.

Saturday, April 20, 2024
2:00 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

AMC NEWCITY 14
1500 N. Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL 60610

HONG KONG CINEMA SHOWCASE

IT REMAINS
(釀魂) 

U.S. PREMIERE
Hong Kong | Suspense, Drama | 2022 | 100 minutes | In Cantonese w/English subtitles

DIRECTOR: Kelvin Shum
STARRING: Anson Lo, Summer Chan, Chui-Yi Kwok, Siu Hin Ng, David Chiang, Pak Hon Chu, Yiu-Sing Lam, Angela Yuen

Director Kelvin Shum is scheduled to appear in-person for a film introduction and post-film Q&A.

SYNOPSIS:

Four colleagues reunite after the tragic death of a friend and set out to hike on a remote island. On this trip, they come across an ancient evil that exists and stalks them at every turn. The four friends are forced to revisit the past that haunts them.

Anson Lo Hon-ting of the popular Cantopop boy band Mirror acquits himself more convincingly in IT REMAINS, playing a guilt-ridden boyfriend trapped in a sinister dreamscape.

APUC has previously shown DELIVERANCE, director Kelvin Shum’s first feature that clearly demonstrated his strength at “creating strikingly stylized imagery.” With his second feature, “Shum transcends this by creating an atmosphere of sustained spookiness, as well as some of the most beautifully staged images and montages seen in Hong Kong horror cinema in many a long year.” - South China Morning Post.

Kelvin Shum, Director
Kelvin Shum, since early 2011 he has been involved in multiple theatre productions in Melbourne, taking up roles as actor & director.

In 2020 Kelvin returned to Hong Kong and in the following year of 2021 he directed his first cinema feature film “Deliverance” with Asia renowned actors Simon Yam, Ron Ng, Kenneth Tseng, Nina Paw etc. This film marked his debut as a feature film Director in the Hong Kong and Asia Film Industry. The film went on showcasing and winning multiple awards around the world entering esteem festival of 28th Minsk International Film Festival, Chicago, San Francisco Festival for “Best Director”, “Best Film” , “Best Actor” (Simon Yam) and “Best Actress”, also best screenplay of Macau International Film Festival.

In early 2022, he directed his second feature, a fantasy thriller “It Remains”, winning him “Critics’ Award for Best Directing” in Italy’s renowned fantastic film festival, Ravenna Nightmare FilmFest.

Friday, April 19, 2024
7:00 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

AMC NEWCITY 14
1500 N. Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL 60610

JAPAN CINEMA SHOWCASE

TAKANO TOFU
(⾼野⾖腐店)

U.S. CONTINENT PREMIERE
Japan | Drama | 2023 | 120 minutes | In Japanese w/ English subtitles

DIRECTOR: Mitsuhiro Mihara

PRODUCER(S): Shoji Masui, Takao Tsuchimoto, Masahiko Yamakawa

STARRING: Tatsuya Fuji, Kumiko Aso, Kumi Nakamura, Yu Tokui, Sugawara Daaikichi

SYNOPSIS:

Tatsuo and his daughter Haru run the Takano Tofu Store in Onomichi, Japan. They begin their work before dawn every day, carefully selecting beans to make their tofu. While the days are peaceful, Tatsuo learns he is in poor health and worries about Haru, who has returned home after a divorce, being alone after his death. With the help of some friends, he sets about planning a secret matchmaking strategy to find Haru a partner. At the same time, as Tatsuo prepares for the inevitable, he gets friendly with Fumie, who he bumps into during a hospital visit. TAKANO TOFU is a father-daughter story, a heartfelt drama about lifelong old friends, and a love letter to the bucolic Japanese ‘small town’ life.”- Excerpt from Hawaii International Film Festival.

“Played by Tatsuya Fuji, star of Nagisa Oshima’s notorious X-rated drama IN THE REALM OF SENSES, has made a late-career speciality of playing grumpy old men. At 82, Fuji “adds layers and nuances that set Tstsuo apart from the cinematic elderly crowd, just as his tofu, which we see Tatsuo lovingly make in mouthwatering details, is a cut above the rest.” - Japan Times, Mark Schilling.

OFFICIAL TRAILER

Saturday, April 13, 2024
5:00 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

AMC NEWCITY 14
1500 N. Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL 60610

CENTERPIECE FILM

Good Autumn, Mommy
(寻她)

MIDWEST PREMIERE
China | Drama | 2023 | 107 minutes | In Cantonese with English subtitles

DIRECTOR & SCRIPTWRITER: Shizhong Chen
STARRING: Shu Qi, White K, Lang Yueting, Zhang Benyu, Tian Niu, Yuan Xiangren, Shao Weitong

SYNOPSIS

Set in a quiet southern cane village, Fong-tai's (played by award-winning actress Shu Qi (舒淇) is heavily pregnant, and together with her husband their first daughter,, they are waiting in earnest to welcome a new family member. But, when their newborn daughter disappears without a trace, Fang-tai embarks on a transformative journey of awakening to find her family and herself. The film was honored with the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award at the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival in 2023.

As a prolific actress who successfully transitioned from a model to a film star, Shu Qi has made over 80 films and 5 TV series in 20 years. Shu Qi, who has not starred in a film for four years, has changed her fashionable and beautiful image this time, playing the role of a rural woman in a Southern China town, showing another kind of resolute and simple feminist beauty.

DIRECTOR CHEN SHIZONG

Chen Shizhong is a director, screenwriter, cinematographer, and a Guangdong native. He  graduated from Shenzhen University in 2017. He obtained a full scholarship to attend Shanghai  Vancouver Film School, majoring in cinematography. He was selected as one of the top five  directors of CFDG Young Director Support Program in 2020. GOOD AUTUMN, MOMMY is his first feature film. The film entered the main competition of the  Golden Goblet Award at the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival and won the Outstanding Artistic Achievement.

Saturday, April 13, 2024
2:30 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

AMC NEWCITY 14
1500 N. Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL 60610

Asian Pop-Up Cinema at the Block Museum

THE COFFIN PAINTER
(异乡来客)

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
China | Fiction | 2021 | 95 minutes | In Mandarin w/ English subtitles

DIRECTOR & SCREENWRITER: Da Fei
STARRING: Luosangqunpei, Zimu Zhang, Lu Liu 

SYNOPSIS:

In his second feature film, director Da Fei tells a warm story of the cross-generational friendship between two strangers: Jia, an older man who has lost his son, and Seven, a middle school girl who runs from debt with her mother. As a coffin painter, the traditional Chinese craftsman who draws religious symbols on coffins, Jia observes people’s different attitudes towards their families living and dead. As time passes, the three characters with distinct personalities drift closer and bring company and warmth to each other. By depicting the mundane daily life in a remote town, Da Fei embodies people’s loneliness in an indifferent world. The sincere and gloomy tone of the film drives us to feel the characters’ burdens and sorrow. As Jia and Seven understand and heal each other with their kindness, their lives begin to turn around…

“While the majority of the Chinese Mainland films that screen in festivals are rather bleak, both in their main subject and in their overall presentation, with this film Da Fei tries to tone it down a bit by including some elements of European cinema in his narrative.” - The Asian Movie Pulse. 

OFFICIAL TRAILER

Ticketing Note: For free screening ticket holders, seats on the day of the screening are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis. Seats can be guaranteed with a suggested donation of $5 or more. Any guaranteed seats unclaimed 15 minutes prior to showtime will be released.

Thursday, April 11, 2024
5:30 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

BLOCK MUSEUM OF ART
(AUDITORIUM)
40 Arts Circle Drive
Evanston, IL 60208

Asian Pop-Up Cinema at the Block Museum

SHANKAR’S FAIRIES

SPECIAL ENCORE
India | Fiction | 2021 | 93 minutes | In Hindi w/ English subtitles

DIRECTOR: Irfana Majumdar 

SCREENWRITER: Nita Kumar 

STARRING: Jaihind Kumar, Shreeja Mishra, Gaurav Saini, Irfana Majumdar, Adwik Mathur

Director Irfana Majumdar is scheduled to appear in-person for a film introduction and post-film Q&A moderated by Ron Falzone.

SYNOPSIS:

India, 1962. Shankar is the indispensable servant on the estate of the parents of little Anjana and her brother. The little girl loves the brother’s fantastical stories and follows him around. Newly independent India is still class bound and exploitative. The mother manages the servants with a tough hand and the father commands his force with authority. Meanwhile, in the village, Shankar’s daughter gets sick .…

“SHANKAR’S FAIRIES is an absolutely stunning piece of filmmaking, a detailed and beautiful ode to the art of telling stories and the value of learning about the world through these small but significant encounters.” - International Cinephile Society. 

Irfana Majumdar, Director
Irfana Majumdar is the founding Artistic Director of the NIRMAN Theatre and Film Studio in Varanasi, India. She studied Performance at the University of Chicago, and has been awarded fellowships for her commitment to themes of social justice and process of collaborative creation. She now directs and teaches, creates solo performances, and program annual arts events, residencies, and internships. At NIRMAN’s International Education Program, she teaches and mentors undergraduate and post-graduate students. She also leads the vision committee for the development of NIRMAN’s riverside campus, which is a site of arts, education, research, and environmental change. She has directed three documentaries.

SHANKAR’S FAIRIES is her debut film.

FILM EXCERPT

Ticketing Note: For free screening ticket holders, seats on the day of the screening are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis. Seats can be guaranteed with a suggested donation of $5 or more. Any guaranteed seats unclaimed 15 minutes prior to showtime will be released.

Wednesday, April 10, 2024
5:30 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

BLOCK MUSEUM OF ART
(AUDITORIUM)
40 Arts Circle Drive
Evanston, IL 60208

JAPAN CINEMA SHOWCASE

OUT
(アウト)

U.S. CONTINENT PREMIERE
Japan | Drama, Action | 2023 | 129 minutes | In Japanese w/ English subtitles

DIRECTOR & SCREENPLAY: Hiroshi Shinagawa 
STARRING: Yuki Kura, Koshi

SYNOPSIS:

Released from a juvenile reformatory and taken in by a relative who runs a barbecue restaurant in Chiba, Tatsuya Iguchi begins life with high hopes for rehabilitation. But on his first day of  release, he gets into a one-on-one fight with Kaname Abe, the vice president of a motorcycle gang, Kilihito. Tatsuya wins the fight but does not want to go back to the reformatory. Kaname does not want his defeat to be known, and they agree to keep the fight secret, and the two deepen their relationship.

OUT is a Japanese manga series written by Tatsuya Iguchi and drawn by Mizuta Makoto. It has been serialized in Young Champion since 2012 and is currently ongoing. As of June 2023, the series has exceeded a cumulative circulation of 6.5 million copies. The story is based on Tatsuya Iguchi’s real experiences as a young delinquent. However, the setting was updated for more modern times, and events were exaggerated for entertainment purposes.

Hiroshi Shinagawa, Director
In 1995, he formed the duo Shinagawa Shoji with fellow comedian Tomoharu Shoji, and became popular for their speedy, orthodox manzai and storytelling comedy. In 2006, his novel "Drop," based on his own experiences, was published, and the following year it was made into a comic book. In 2009, he directed his own movie, "Drop," which was highly acclaimed despite being his first feature film. In the same year, his second novel, "Manzai Gang," was published, and in 2011, he again took the director's chair and made it into a movie, which was a huge hit as an exhilarating coming-of-age movie.

OFFICIAL TRAILER

Saturday, April 6, 2024
7:00 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

AMC NEWCITY 14
1500 N. Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL 60610

JAPAN CINEMA SHOWCASE

TAKANO TOFU
(⾼野⾖腐店)

U.S. CONTINENT PREMIERE
Japan | Drama | 2023 | 120 minutes | In Japanese w/ English subtitles

DIRECTOR: Mitsuhiro Mihara

PRODUCER(S): Shoji Masui, Takao Tsuchimoto, Masahiko Yamakawa

STARRING: Tatsuya Fuji, Kumiko Aso, Kumi Nakamura, Yu Tokui, Sugawara Daaikichi

SYNOPSIS:

Tatsuo and his daughter Haru run the Takano Tofu Store in Onomichi, Japan. They begin their work before dawn every day, carefully selecting beans to make their tofu. While the days are peaceful, Tatsuo learns he is in poor health and worries about Haru, who has returned home after a divorce, being alone after his death. With the help of some friends, he sets about planning a secret matchmaking strategy to find Haru a partner. At the same time, as Tatsuo prepares for the inevitable, he gets friendly with Fumie, who he bumps into during a hospital visit. TAKANO TOFU is a father-daughter story, a heartfelt drama about lifelong old friends, and a love letter to the bucolic Japanese ‘small town’ life.”- Excerpt from Hawaii International Film Festival.

“Played by Tatsuya Fuji, star of Nagisa Oshima’s notorious X-rated drama IN THE REALM OF SENSES, has made a late-career speciality of playing grumpy old men. At 82, Fuji “adds layers and nuances that set Tstsuo apart from the cinematic elderly crowd, just as his tofu, which we see Tatsuo lovingly make in mouthwatering details, is a cut above the rest.” - Japan Times, Mark Schilling.

OFFICIAL TRAILER

Saturday, April 6, 2024
2:30 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

AMC NEWCITY 14
1500 N. Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL 60610

Asian Pop-Up Cinema at the Block Museum

DRIFTING FLOWERS, FLOWING DAYS
(この日々が凪いだら)

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Japan | Drama | 2022 | 85 minutes | In Japanese w/ English subtitles

DIRECTOR: Yutaka Tsunemachi 
STARRING: Kaho Seto, Hiroki Sato

First-time feature director Yutaka Tsunemachi is scheduled to appear in-person for a film introduction and post-film Q&A.

SYNOPSIS:

The film follows the daily lives of Hiroto, Futaba and Daigo in Tokyo. Hiroto works at a construction site, Futaba at a flower shop, Daigo in a design studio. Things gradually begin to change when they start questioning the here and now and what’s next. When Hiroto and Futaba learn they must move out of their apartment because it will be torn down, more doubts arise than just where to search for a new place. What will the future be like?

Wearing multiple hats as the scriptwriter, director, editor and producer of the film, first time feature director Yutaka tries to capture the “feelings” of young people that are stuck in a daily “mundane” life with questions about whether or not there is a different type of future ahead. 

OFFICIAL TRAILER

Ticketing Note: For free screening ticket holders, seats on the day of the screening are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis. Seats can be guaranteed with a suggested donation of $5 or more. Any guaranteed seats unclaimed 15 minutes prior to showtime will be released.

Thursday, April 4, 2024
5:30 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

BLOCK MUSEUM OF ART
(AUDITORIUM)
40 Arts Circle Drive
Evanston, IL 60208

Asian Pop-Up Cinema at the Block Museum

MY FAVORITE LOVE STORY

INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE
S. Korea | Musical, Romance, Science Fiction | 2023 | 96 minutes | In Korean w/English subtitles

DIRECTOR: Lee Won-Hoi
STARRING: Shin Joo-Hyup, Kang Hye-In

SYNOPSIS:

In the near future in Seoul, Oliver and Claire are abandoned helper robots stuck in a rut. One day, Claire knocks on Oliver’s door to borrow a charger and they’ve grown closer ever since. Oliver, hoping to meet his former owner again, and Claire dreaming of seeing fireflies, decide to leave for Jeju Island and travel like the humans. During the unexpected journey, they end up falling in love.

MY FAVORITE LOVE STORY is a whimsical Broadway-style musical created by a filmmaker who is daring to experiment a “sci-fi-musical”.  Audiences in America will find familiarity in the melodies even without knowing the lyrics!  The two lead actors’ performances are deliberately "robotic” but with a hint of "sweetness” and before you know it you’re falling in love with these "simple-minded” robots! 

OFFICIAL TRAILER

Ticketing Note: For free screening ticket holders, seats on the day of the screening are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis. Seats can be guaranteed with a suggested donation of $5 or more. Any guaranteed seats unclaimed 15 minutes prior to showtime will be released.

Wednesday, April 3, 2024
5:30 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

BLOCK MUSEUM OF ART
(AUDITORIUM)
40 Arts Circle Drive
Evanston, IL 60208

SOUTH KOREA CINEMA SHOWCASE

CAT KISS

N. AMERICAN PREMIERE
S. Korea | Fiction | 2022 | 121 minutes | In Korean w/English subtitles

DIRECTOR & WRITER: Hwang Soo-bin 
STARRING: Oh Dong-min, Ryu A-bel 

SYNOPSIS:

A fairytale writer Yong-hee is living a soulless life after losing his wife. He’s been unable to enter the room where his wife used to paint without hyperventilating.  One day, he hears strange sounds from the room, and discovers a kitten inside. It turns out that his son Jane had secretly hidden the kitten in the room! Yong-hee struggles with both entering the room itself and catching the cat. Meanwhile Ro-an, a neighbor and carpenter, suggests making this abandoned room into a cat room.

OFFICIAL TRAILER

Saturday, March 30, 2024
2:30 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

AMC NEWCITY 14
1500 N. Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL 60610

Bonus Screening!

EXHUMA

Note: Tickets to EXHUMA are free with purchase of ticket to CAT KISS. Purchase a ticket to CAT KISS and we will add a ticket to EXHUMA to your account. Limit first 40 ticket buyers.

S. Korea | Horror, Thriller/Mystery | 2024 | 134 minutes | In Korean (with some Japanese and English dialogue) w/ English subtitles

DIRECTOR: Jang Jae-Hyun
STARRING: Choi Min-Sik, Kim Go-Eun, Yoo Hai-Jin, Lee Do-Hyun

SYNOPSIS:

After tracing the origin of a disturbing supernatural affliction to a wealthy family’s ancestral gravesite, a team of paranormal experts relocates the remains—and soon discovers what happens to those who dare to mess with the wrong grave.

Jang Jae-Hyun, Director
Director Jang Jae-hyun made his debut in feature films with THE PRIESTS, achieving significant success at the box office. Recognized for his high level of craftsmanship and robust storytelling, Jang continued to make his mark in the occult genre by directing the film SVAHA: THE SIXTH FINGER.

Through each film he helmed, he consistently delivered astonishing immersion and suspense.

Now, with the occult mystery EXHUMA, Jang is ready to captivate the audience once again. "There are moments when you find yourself immersed without any conscious thought. EXHUMA is a film that allows for a deep sense of immersion." Known for maximizing mystery elements in his direction, Jang is set to deliver powerful genre enjoyment.

Describing EXHUMA as a "Korean and folkloric film with a direct approach," Jang hinted at opening up a new occult world through this film. With the top-tier cast of Choi Min-sik, Kim Go-eun, Yoo Hai-jin, and Lee Do-hyun, EXHUMA is poised to showcase the epitome of the Korean occult genre, offering the audience an unparalleled cinematic experience.

OFFICIAL TRAILER

Note: Tickets to EXHUMA are free with purchase of ticket to CAT KISS. Purchase a ticket to CAT KISS and we will add a ticket to EXHUMA to your account. Limit first 40 ticket buyers.

Wednesday, March 27, 2024
7:00 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

AMC RIVER EAST 21
322 E Illinois St
Chicago, IL

TAIWAN CINEMA SHOWCASE

AFTER SCHOOL
(成功補習班) 

U.S. PREMIERE
Taiwan | Drama | 2023 | 124 minutes | In Mandarin w/English subtitles

DIRECTOR & SCREENWRITER: Blue Lan

STARRING: Zhan Huai-Yun, Yi Tai Chiu, Phil Hou, Charlize Lamb, Wu Chien Ho 

SYNOPSIS:

In 1994, three troublesome students navigate forbidden love and evolving friendships at a strict cram school. Their lives take a transformative turn when they meet their unconventional English teacher, Mickey, and embark on a journey of self-discovery. Will they find love, understanding, and their true place in youth before the end of their last summer together?

“AFTER SCHOOL is a cheeky coming-of-age story about growing up in the 1990’s. It successfully captures the nostalgia of adolescence, from playful pranks to silly misadventures. The teenage protagonists may be involved in wild shenanigans, but these scenes feel oddly comforting. I enjoy experiencing the carefree joy that is associated with youth. My favorite moments in this movie are whenever the characters behave goofily. AFTER SCHOOL excels in being cheerful, lighthearted, and whimsical.” - BLWATCHER.com

*A “cram school” trains the students to pass specific entrance examinations for selective high schools or universities.

Blue Lan, Director
Blue Lan is a Taiwanese actor and film director. As an actor, he is known for his work on NIGHT MARKET HERO and THE WONDERFUL WEDDING. In 2015, he won at the 50th Golden Bell Awards for Best Leading Actor in a Television Series for his work on APPLE IN YOUR EYE. In 2019, he directed A FOOL IN LOVE, LOVE LIKE A FOOL.

Sunday, March 24, 2024
2:30 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

AMC NEWCITY 14
1500 N. Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL 60610

TAIWAN CINEMA SHOWCASE

THE YOUNG HOODLUM
(壞男孩) 

INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE
Taiwan | Drama, Crime | 2023 | 79 minutes | In Mandarin w/English subtitles

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Yu Jhi-han
STARRING: Wu Chien-He, Joseph Huang, Si pangoyod, Pan Chin-Yu, Sharon Huang

Director Yu Jhi-Han and actor Joseph Huang are scheduled to appear in-person for a film introduction and post-film Q&A moderated by Pat McDonald.

SYNOPSIS:

Following four youngsters from dysfunctional families who meet a rich runaway girl, their innocent and fun relationship leads to a shocking crime that pushes all of them to the point of no return.

Director Yu Jhi-Han made this first feature debut to expose the truth about youth crimes that occur today in Taiwan. Through this story, he also shows what “brotherhood” means among the four youngsters.

OFFICIAL TRAILER

Saturday, March 23, 2024
7:00 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

AMC NEWCITY 14
1500 N. Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL 60610

TAIWAN CINEMA SHOWCASE

A BOY AND A GIRL
(少男少女) 

N. AMERICAN PREMIERE
Taiwan | Crime, Family | 2023 | 140 minutes | In Mandarin w/English subtitles

Director/Screenwriter: Hsu Li-Da

Starring: Travis Hu, Kira Skelly, Kris Kuan, Frederick Lee, Yao Chun Yao, Harry Chang

Director Hsu Li-Da, producer Tang Tsai-Yang and actress Kira Skelly are scheduled to appear in-person for a film introduction and post-film Q&A moderated by Pat McDonald.

SYNOPSIS:

In a declining small town, an idle boy encounters a heartbroken girl. Seeking to leave their town behind, they organize a plan to pay for their escape.

A BOY AND A GIRL is director/screenwriter Hsu Li-Da’s story of “raw” and “simple” emotions about the experience of teenagers. The film examines the struggle and fear to be independent while their personalities are being shaped, the unclear logic between good and evil, and the hazy process of understanding love and sex.

OFFICIAL TRAILER

Saturday, March 23, 2024
2:30 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

AMC NEWCITY 14
1500 N. Clybourn Avenue Chicago, IL 60610

OPENING NIGHT FILM

RU

CHICAGO PREMIERE
Canada | Drama | 2024 | 116 minutes | In French w/English subtitles

DIRECTOR: Charles-Olivier Michaud 

SCRIPT AND DIALOGUE: Jacques Davidts 

STARRING: Chloé Djandji, Chantal Thuy, Jean Bui, Olivier Dinh,  Xavier Nguyen, Patrice Robitaille, Karine Vanasse, Mali Corbeil Gauvreau, Marie-Thérèse Fortin

Special Guest: Vietnamese Canadian actor Jean Bui is scheduled to appear in-person for a film introduction and post-film Q&A.

Stay for a post-film wine & cheese reception at the gallery, hosted by Alliance Française de Chicago & the Quebec Government Office in Chicago.

SYNOPSIS

ru is inspired by the story of the arrival of Kim Thúy (Tinh) in Quebec and Thúy’s award-winning novel. After a dangerous sea crossing and a stay in a Malaysian refugee camp, a young Vietnamese girl named Tinh and her family arrive in Quebec where they begin a new life. Thanks to the warm welcome from all, including their sponsor family, she slowly adapts to her new reality. Tinh will  overcome her shyness to learn a new language, discover a new culture and adjust to a new life in Quebec. 

Ticketing Note: For free screening ticket holders, seats on the day of the screening are subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis. Seats can be guaranteed with a suggested donation of $5 or more. Any guaranteed seats unclaimed 15 minutes prior to showtime will be released.

Wednesday, March 20
6:30PM

Doors open 30 minutes before screening.

Alliance Française de Chicago

54 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60610