Asian Drama

After a deadly forest fire sweeps the earth and fills the air with pollutants, society is on the brink of collapse and riddled with disease. The only hope seems to be in a legend come to life: that of the Slyth, a reptilian species that can disguise themselves as humans and possesses blood that can cure disease. The hunt is on.

This work is a human drama that revolves around two individuals: a doctor troubled by life’s challenges and a patient who has been given a terminal diagnosis. As they journey through various places, they seek the answer to the eternal question of why people live and what they leave behind.

A reporter discovers the existence of a "comment unit" while reporting on online public opinion manipulation and encounters a shocking reality while covering them.

(Source: Daum)

Adapted from the novel "Daetkkeulbudae" (댓글부대) by Jang Kang Myung (장강명).

Set in a coastal city in Brazil, Kai arrives from Taiwan for a holiday with a broken heart. She meets Fu Ang, who could become a friend, but then disappears.

While looking for him, Kai discovers the story of Xiao Xin and a group of Chinese workers living in a skyscraper. Kai finds her own experience strangely mirrors that of Xiao Xin’s story. Over the course of a hot, slow summer, delicate bonds grow between them.

(Source: variety.com)

Co-production with Argentina, Brazil, and Germany.

Release dates: Feb 17, 2024 (Festival)

Duration: 1 hr. 37 min.

The story itself is pretty straightforward. It follows a typical boy-girl romance who met in their teens and meet again as adults, telling the story of their past in flashbacks. Ken (Edward Ma) and Bobo (Angel Chiang) are the protagonists, and it is their love story that Kong focuses on. Unfortunately, their characters are not developed well throughout the majority of the storyline. Bobo retains a sense of naïve innocence, even when she decides to turn to prostitution in order to fund her mother’s health treatment, the gritty characters such as her pimp and later her violent clients seem more real than Bobo herself, who just continues along as the sweet girl trying her best. She does not change at all as a character despite such harrowing and life changing experiences that she goes through.

Arirang is a 2011 South Korean documentary film by Kim Ki Duk. The film addresses a personal crisis Kim went through, sparked by an incident during the filming of his previous film, Dream, where the lead actress nearly died by hanging, and by the departure of a couple of close colleagues, including the director Jang Hoon. The title comes from a Korean folk song with the same title. In a heavily line-broken text released about the film, Kim writes that "Through Arirang I understand human beings, thank the nature, and accept my life as it is now."

The story of two kung fu masters: he comes from China's south; she is from the north. His name is Ip Man, the futur trainer of Bruce Lee; hers is Gong Er. Their paths cross in his hometown of Foshan on the eve of the Japanese invasion in 1936. China is in turmoil and the country's south teeters on the brink of partition from the north. Gong Er's father is a renowned grandmaster. He too travels to Foshan. The legendary brothel The Golden Pavilion, where the country's best martial artists converge, is to be the venue for his retirement ceremony.

Due to a road rage between two buses, an accident occurs which puts the lives of its passengers in jeopardy. But the ones greatly affected by such event are a middle-aged woman named Fiesta (Eugene Domingo), an old and retired family patriarch Tonio (Leo Martinez), and a lad named Caloy (Enchong Dee). These three people are pierced through a single steel bar – a dangerous situation that even their doctors find hard to solve. But even before this unfortunate circumstance, these three have their share of ill-fated lives.

The flamboyant Simon Yam heads up a daring gang of speedboat pirates who attack freighters destined for Hong Kong, while perky perpetual policewoman Cynthia Khan plots to put a stop to his swashbuckling criminal antics.

A wistful romance and action comedy all in one, I Love How You Love Me (a.k.a. The Love Winner) is a small and entertaining affair bringing together stars from Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong. Taiwan pop idol Jimmy Lin and Mainland starlet Crystal Liu Yifei pair up again after the period drama Tian Long Ba Bu, while idol drama heartthrob Ambrose Hsu (Lavender) sparks romance with Hong Kong actress Kristy Yang (Storm Riders). First released in 2004, I Love How You Love Me is helmed by popular Taiwan director Kevin Chu (Kung Fu Dunk), who brings the film the kind of winning popcorn sensibility typical of previous works like School Days.Martial arts enthusiast Hang Wen (Ambrose Hsu) hails from a wealthy Taiwanese family, an asset that immediately attracts teacher Yue Shan (Kristy Yang) who decides to pursue him. The cool and apathetic Heng Feng (Jimmy Lin) has always been a loner and drifter because of his father’s line of business – smuggling. He doesn’t dare to get attached to anyone or anything, that is until the he meets Qiao Li (Liu Yifei) who thinks the same way as he does. Looking for love and life on their own terms, these four young people cross paths at the same school, along with a bumbling pair of undercover cops.

In the small village of Yamakoshi, a dog named Mari gives birth to three puppies, much to the joy of young owners Ryota (Hiroto Ryohei) and Aya (Sasaki Mao). Soon after on October 23, 2004, a major earthquake hits the area, and entire sections of Yamakoshi are reduced to rubble. Away from home, Ryota and father Yuichi (Funakoshi Eichiro) escape the worst of it, but Aya and Grandfather Yuzo (Utsui Ken) are trapped in their collapsed house. A rescue team arrives in time to save them, but there is no room for Mari and her newborn pups on the helicopter. With the entire village evacuated and blocked off, Mari and her puppies are left to their own means in the desolate village. Inspired by a true story of canine heroism, A Tale of Mari and Three Puppies is a touching story of love and resilience starring some seriously adorable dogs that could give Quill a run for his money. Mari's tale of survival against all odds became a symbol of hope for the people of Yamakoshi in the aftermath of the earthquake, and was later turned into a best-selling illustrated book from which the film is adapted. A Tale of Mari and Three Puppies is helmed by television director Inomata Ryuichi (Golden Bowl) and features music from renowned composer Hisaishi Joe.

Haru (Toyoshima Hana) is a rather cool fifth-grade elementary school student who shares the same tastes as her mother’s younger sister Yuko (Kaho) and can tell Yuko what she really feels.

On the first day of the summer vacation, Haru is kidnapped. The culprit is her free-spirited father Takashi (Tsumabuki Satoshi) who disappeared from home two months ago. He is scruffy, pathetic, poor and unemployed. Her dependable mother Kyoko (Kinami Haruka) has given up on him and they have been living apart. While Haru neither likes nor dislikes her good-for-nothing father, she gets excited about the kidnapping which will take her where she likes. But Takashi seems to have made some bargain with her mother by holding Haru hostage. Haru is in the dark about the details. Her father brings her to the sea, mountains and various places.

During this time, Haru learns how the romance between her parents started, is piggybacked for kilometres and even meets his ex-girlfriend Nori-chan (Mitsushima Hikari). Through this strange yet thrilling summer journey, she gets to know a side of her father that was previously unknown to her. Takashi eventually runs out of money and the “trip” between father and daughter comes to an end.