Spring Fling brings in hot foreign films

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

The thing: Spring Fling, the Hawaii International Film Festival's spring event, opening tonight at Signature Dole Cannery Theatres.

"Singles" is a South Korean film dealing with young professional women who enjoy sex, friendship, fun and laughter. The opening-night feature plays at 8:45 p.m. today and 3:45 p.m. Saturday.

A warrior is shown from the film "Legend of the Evil Lake." Both titles are part of the Hawaii International Film Festival's Spring Fling. Photos courtesy Hawaii International Film Festival

The fare: 20 titles from about a dozen countries, including two features with Hawai'i ties.

The outlook: a real reel deal.

"It's our seventh annual festival, and the first time we have a presenting sponsor, Commercial Data System," said Chuck Boller, HIFF executive director. He's thrilled that CDS, which already is a HIFF backer, has taken the role of title sponsor.

"I don't know if the title or the image came first," Boller said about Spring Fling. "The truth is, some folks get the fall festival confused with the spring festival. So Spring Fling is easier. Besides, the spring festival is more fun and upbeat than the fall."

The spring event has learned a clue or two from its fall big sister, said Boller.

"One of the fall's biggest successes was our Sunset on the Beach attraction, 'The Ride,' " said Boller. "We know by showing one feature free, to a wide audience, we might earn a little awareness among residents who may not know about HIFF, or visitors who happen to stop by, too. We hope to bring in new people."

So Spring Fling is showing — free — a Hawai'i-related documentary, "Sumo East and West," which features locals in the quest to become sumotori champions (see review).

And a freebie screening does not affect a later pay-admission viewing, said Boller, if last year's "The Ride" is a barometer. "We were able to sell out the paid screenings, too, after the free showing."

The other Hawai'i-ties film is "The Land Has Eyes," a film produced by Jeannette Paulson Hereniko and directed by her husband, Vilsoni Hereniko, in a Hawai'i-Fiji presentation that earlier screened at the Sundance and Rotterdam film festivals. It will close the festival at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

"We were going to save 'The Land Has Eyes' for the fall festival because it's so hot, but it's not fair to hold it back. There's a lot of interest in it — the Tehran, Iran festivals want it, even Berlin — so there's a good buzz.

The assembled titles don't have a recurring theme, said Boller, but certain ones will stand out.

Like:

• "Touching the Void," the opening-night attraction, at 6:30 p.m. today. It's about two British mountain climbers who challenge the Andes — a gripping tale of survival and battling the odds.
• "Dogville," at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Tuesday. It's a like-it-it-or-loathe-it feature by director Lars von Trier, starring Nicole Kidman and Paul Bettany, and it explores the concept of goodness in a Colorado town.
• "Singles," another opening- night feature, at 8:45 p.m. today and 3:45 p.m. Saturday. It's a South Korea entry dealing with young professional women who enjoy sex, friendship, fun and laughter.
• "Undead," at 9 p.m. Saturday and 8:45 p.m. Tuesday. It's an Australian entry from Peter and Michael Spierig, with ghouls, slashers, zombies and more creeps from the night.
• "Warriors of Heaven and Earth," at 9:15 p.m. today. It's a Chinese drama, set in the Tang dynasty, which was a nominee this year for Best Foreign Film.

Boller said the Spring Fling will be virtually without stardust. "We don't bring people in," he said, "mostly because we don't have enough money. ... But Maui, with its resorts, is perfect for the Hollywood-oriented, more so than our international event. In the fall, though, we anticipate having a star from China."

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.