Posted on: Friday, April 18, 2008
MOVIE SCENE
Strong lineup awaits filmgoers at Spring Showcase
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
Ah, spring — a time of renewal, rebirth, to look forward.
For the Hawaii International Film Festival's spring fling, now dubbed the Spring Showcase, it's the start of its second decade. The event, today through April 24 at the Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 theaters, is in its 11th year.
"I think we've really got strong films this year — particularly from Japan and China," said Anderson Le, HIFF programmer based in Los Angeles, the crossroads of cinema life and bookings. "We're also lucky to be able to get some recent hits from Sundance (the January film fest), which is rare."
In all, 28 titles have been assembled from 15 countries.
As the film fest comes of age, so are some of the prevailing themes of some entries.
Le's must-sees — and his comments:
"A Gentle Breeze in the Village," at noon today and again at 1 p.m. Saturday. "This is one of my favorites, from Japan. I think it's very much a coming-of-age film. It's all about small-town life, sort of the hanabata days like growing up in Hawai'i." Directed by Nobuhiro Yamashita; a U.S. premiere. In Japanese with English subtitles.
"American Teen," at 3 p.m. Sunday. "This is a documentary, from Sundance, that's really well made. The filmmaker (director Nanette Burstein) follows four teens in a Midwest high school, and filmed for four years — almost like a record of growing up in America today. It's a reality show meets 'The Breakfast Club,' not slight by any means, which shows the psyche of growing up today."
"Mister Foe," at 9:30 p.m. today and 3:30 p.m. Saturday. "This is a really great film from Ireland, starring Jamie Bell, who was 'Billy Elliott,' which captures the fun of 'Billy Elliott' — kind of 'The Graduate' meets 'Juno.' He's kind of an off-kilter character, but he's going into adulthood, is seduced by an older woman, so it's an adventure into adulthood — in an Irish way, with that sense of humor. Jamie Bell is amazing; with so many films from Asia, it's great to have something wonderful from Europe." A British film, directed by David Mackenzie.
"Wonderful Town," at 6 p.m. Sunday and 3:15 p.m. Monday. "This is highly recommended; a love story from Thailand, set in a village that was ravaged in the 2004 tsunami; it's an apocalypse, yet at the same time uplifting and hopeful. It's beautifully directed (by Aditya Assarat), a young Thai director from USC." In Thai, with English subtitles.
"Young@Heart," at 7:15 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Monday. "This is another great film from Sundance, a documentary that chronicles a singing choir in New England. What's unique is that the Young@Heart group — senior citizens — sing contemporary songs, rock stuff by Nirvana and Coldplay, '70s and '80s music by The Bee Gees, and the film chronicles them getting ready for a concert. It's very touching; it shows their new sense of life, a sense of vigor, over a few months. During the project, some members of the group passed away, and some were terminally ill; yet they want to push forward, with a sense of purpose. It all seems incongruent, and at the same time really good; it might be jarring, but in the end, it feels right. It shows the power of music, the power of community."
HIFF SPRING SHOWCASE
Today through Thursday
Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18
Showtimes: vary; see www.hiff.org for full schedule and updates.
Opening-night film: "Always: Sunset on Third Street 2," 6:30 p.m. today. A Japanese entry, about a serious writer, his girlfriend and an adopted child; archival '50s footage of Tokyo is as much a character. In Japanese with English titles. A North American premiere.
Closing-night film: "Mongol," 6:30 p.m. Thursday. A Kazakh-stan feature, recounting the life of Genghis Khan, who was a slave before his worldly conquests, featuring Tadanobu Asano as the title figure; was a best-foreign-film nominee in this year's Academy Awards. In Mongolian, with English titles.
Tickets: $10 general, $9 students, seniors, children and military
Charge by phone: 550-8457
In person: HIFF lobby box office, Regal Dole theaters
Rush line: If all available tickets have been distributed, rush lines are formed one hour before showtime; five minutes before showtime, tickets for empty seats will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis for $10 (cash only).
Will-call tickets: available one hour before first screening, until the start of the day's last screening
Printed schedule: available at all Starbucks locations
Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.
