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Programme Title: S-Express: Chinese
Tickets at $5 / 7 (conc. for students, NSFs, SFS members and Friends of The Substation)
20th September, Sunday, 8 – 9.30pm
Venue: The Substation Theatre
Total runtime: 72min
Session is rated M18
Curated by: Maggie Lee
Maggie Lee is Asia Head Reviewer for The Hollywood Reporter. She is also associate curator for Singapore’s film and arts organization Substation, and curator of independent Chinese films for S Express - a touring festival of Asian films. She worked for the editorial and programming sections of Tokyo International Film Festival (Winds of Asia), Shorts Shorts Film Festival Asia in Japan, Hong Kong International Film Festival and Hong Kong Film Archive. |
1) Spallation of Ardour
2008 / 3min / Chen Xuegang / China / NC16 (Some Nudity)
Synopsis:
The creator uses pop-art-inspired absurdist and surrealist collage as the main visual basis for a 2-D animated and digital stop-motion short film that draws inspiration from Chinese revolutionary art imageries from the 1960s and 1970s, but re-interprets revolutionary ideals within a modern context characterized by monetary concerns, urbanization, social issues including migrant workers, prostitution, illegal industries and the influx of foreign consumer products. In the past, Chinese society was filled with revolutionary ideals, and even though such vision was often fuzzy and indistinct, people never wavered in the passionate pursuit of their beliefs. However, in the harsh reality of modern China, many of us are lost and confused. Faced with temptations in various forms—monetary, material and desire—our ideals are rapidly eroded. Has our passions fed the flames of consumerism, or did our dreams get washed away in the polluted currents? We don’t have the answers, and cannot hope to find any. When our hopeful eyes are dimmed, our zealous cries silenced and our sharp minds dulled, the world will still carry on even though it does not know where it is gong. War, disasters, sickness, deceit, corruption, violence and various temptations have caused the revolutionary hero to stop, to turn back, and force him on his knees; his romantic ideals and iron will are crushed by carelessness and indifference. As the world’s greed keep escalating, passion and determination will shrivel, and the hero’s strong body grows ever more emaciated. What does the future hold? We do not know, for we are ever lost and impotent. We call not only for a strong body, but also a truthful and compassionate mind. We want a healthy and positive way of living rather than a freedom characterized by blind obedience and self indulgence. |
2) Tremble
2008 / 3min / Chen Xuegang / China / NC16 (Some Nudity)
Synopsis:
In the rapid modernization of China and relentless restructuring urbanization, our old traditions are facing destruction. Life is bleeding, and the land is trembling…
Director’s Statement:
The ever expanding selfishness of human beings is gobbling up Chinese civilization like a demon. Please save the Earth. |
3) The End of the Tunnel
2007 / 37min / Chang Rong-ji / Taiwan / PG
Synopsis:
This film portrays a blind boy whose eyesight is trapped in the darkness. When he was a child, he imagined the only he couldn’t see were the dark nights; just like a game of hide and seek with his eyes blindfolded; the echoes of countdown still rings in his ear, the only thing that didn’t bore him were the sounds of the world. Music opened another road for him, and with music he was given a miracle that took him out of that closeted space and out into the world.
Director’s Bio:
Born in 1980, Chang Jung-chi received a Master’s Degree at the Graduate School of applied Media Arts at National Taiwan University of Arts. His first documentary film "Harbor" (2001) was a piece that was put together by collecting sounds and images from everyday life. In 2006, "My football summer" was the Best Documentary of Golden Horse and has also been nominated in the Wide Angle program in PUSAN International Film Festival.
Contact:
54 agi@yahoo.com.tw |
4) Yim
2008 / 5min / Chui Chun-yu, Chan Wai-yee / Hong Kong / PG
Synopsis:
The head of a reconstruction project falls into another realm while repossessing a tea restaurant. In this submerged city, anachronistic objects that bear the vestige of local culture and traces of historic past come into sight. After a massive destruction, the man is touched by his recollection and he awakes. He returns to reality with seeds of hope and attempts to preserve the relics, just to find out that he is unable to put a halt to the raging reconstruction plan.
Director’s Statement:
The submerged city portrays the fading characteristics, history and reminiscence of Hong Kong. We pay tribute to the misplaced items that have sunk back into oblivion, hoping audiences who have gone through such a stage in life will relate and reflect. We grieve over reconstructions that mold every district and turn life monotonous, leaving us with no options.
Film Festivals:
- Silver Award of Animation Category in 14th ifva
Contact:
Wilson Chui Chun-yu - wilson@c-majorstudio.com
Chan Wai-yee - ime622@hgcbroadband.com |
5) The Empty Body
2008 / 4min / Wong Sze-ming / Hong Kong / PG
Synopsis:
In my school days, the feeling of being chained up in life evokes discomfort.My school uniform is the embodiment of pressure, leaving me breathless.The uniform can confine my body, but not my soul.
Director’s Statement:
The camera is my pair of eyes.
Film Festivals:
- Special Mentioned Award of Youth Category in 14th ifva |
6) Life Must Go On
2008 / 20min / Sham Ka-ki / Hong Kong / M18 (Coarse Language)
Synopsis:
I’m soon to be 18. What am I doing? My life is the same every day, and I see the same people and do similar things. Why am I so ordinary? No matter what, life must go on.
Director’s Statement:
I decide to record my life with a camera before I turn 18.
I don’t want to change the world, nor do I want to be changed by the world.
Film Festivals:
- Gold Award of Youth Category in 14th ifva |
