Apart from the films in competition, another section of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival that is filled with gems but is often overlooked is the Visions of Asia. For the past few years, not only do audiences get to see quality films from different Asian countries, but they also get to engage with some of the film makers as well. And this year is no exception.
Leading the lineup for Visions of Asia is the Japanese film Lying to Mom, a drama mixed with humor depicting a family attempting to recover from sorrow. Father Sachio and daughter Fumi lie on the spur of moment to mother Yuko about the death of son Koichi, who has committed suicide. Not wanting to endanger Yuko's recovery and concerned for her delicate condition, the father and the daughter told Yuko that their son has found work overseas. But how long can father and daughter continue to deceive Yuko? What lies behind the brother's suicide? Treating the emotions of grief, suffering, absurdity, happiness, familial love and interspersed with moments of laughter, the film presents a soulfully meticulous portrayal of how one ordinary family deals with the loss of one of its members.
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| Director Katsumi Nojiri |
The movie's director Katsumi Nojiri will be flying to the country for a Director's Talk following the Philippine premiere screening of his film during the Cinemalaya. This film is presented in partnership with the Japan Foundation Manila as part of the Eiga Sai, Japanese Film Festival which has been an allied festival of the Cinemalaya since 2016.
From Thailand comes the screening of the comedy Brother of the Year starring Thai actor Sunny Suwanmethanont and Thai actress Urassaya Sperbund, and 2PM member Nichkhun. In the film, siblings Chut and Jane have fought over everything ever since they were kids. The only time Chut acts like an older brother is when he bullies Jane’s admirers into leaving her alone. When he finds out that Jane has a boyfriend, a great brother like Chut will do everything in his power to put a stop to anything that makes his little sister happy. It remains to be seen if director Vithaya "Bon Thongyuyong, as well as two of the actors will be able to grace the Gala screening of the film presented by the Royal Embassy of Thailand. This marks the third time that the Thai Embassy has participated with the Cinemalaya following the screenings of A Gift in 2017 and Bad Genius in 2018.
Hong Kong based Filipina actress Crisel Consunji is also scheduled to attend the screening of her film Still Human. The film is about a paralyzed and hopeless man and his new Filipino domestic helper as they live under the same roof learning to face the different seasons of life.
Directed by Nima Yar (Salehiyar), Kejal, from Iran, is about Kejal, a 26-year-old university student from Kurdistan in the west of Iran. When her brother, who is a smuggler, was killed at the border, Kejal begins doing the same work, smuggling goods at the Iran-Iraq border, to provide for her mother and younger brother.
Initially inspired by an incident that happened in September 2001 on the Nangpa-La Pass on the Tibet-Nepal border where Chinese border guards opened fire on a group of escaping Tibetans, killing a 17-year-old nun, The Sweet Requiem follows the story of a young, exile Tibetan woman who unexpectedly sees a man from her past. Her long-suppressed memories of her traumatic escape across the Himalayas are reignited, and she is propelled on an obsessive search for reconciliation and closure. This offering from Tibet is directed by Tenzing Sonam and Ritu Sarin.
The Third Wife from Vietnam and directed by directed by Ash Mayfair, is a coming-of-age story, a tale of love and self-discovery in a time when women were rarely given a voice. Set in the late 19th century in rural Vietnam, 14-year-old May is given away in an arranged marriage and becomes the third wife to her older husband. May learns that she can gain status and security if she gives birth to a male child. This becomes a real possibility when she gets pregnant. However, her path is fraught with danger when May starts to develop an attraction for Xuan, the second wife. As May observes the unfolding tragedy of forbidden love and its devastating consequences, she must make a choice, to either carry on in silence and safety, or forge a way towards personal freedom.
From Korea comes A Tiger in Winter, directed by Lee Kwang-kuk. One winter day, a tiger escapes from the zoo. Gyeong-yu, who has been living off of his girlfriend, is suddenly abandoned by her for reasons he can't understand. Having nowhere to go, Gyeong-yu finds himself on the street with a suitcase. Working for a designated driver service, he drifts this and that way, and happens to come across his former girlfriend Yoo-jung who has become a novelist, as Gyeong-yu once dreamed of doing. However being in a tailspin, Yoo-jung is unable to write, and proposes Gyeong-yu a weird offer. The film stars Korean actor Lee Jin-uk and actress Ko Hyun-joung.
Visions of Asia is part of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival, a project of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Cinemalaya Foundation, Inc. Established in 2005, Cinemalaya is an all-digital film festival and competition that aims to discover, encourage and honor cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers. This year’s Cinemalaya will be held on August 2 to 11, 2019 at the CCP theaters, and August 7 to 13, 2019 at selected Ayala Malls Cinemas and Vista Malls in Metro Manila, Pampanga, Naga, Legaspi, Bacolod, Iloilo and Davao.
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