quote of the week

“Here it is in a nutshell. Going up is like going north.”
(Th. R. Pynchon, Against The Day (2006))

my list of best films in 2007

1. Se, jie/Lust, Caution (Ang Lee, USA/China/Taiwan/Hong Kong (2007))
2. Bushi no ichibun/Love And Honor (Yamada Yoji, Japan (2006))
3. The Queen (Stephen Frears, UK/France/Italy (2006))
4. Geuk jang jeon/Tale of Cinema (Hong Sang-soo, South Korea (2005))
5. Auf der anderen Seite/The Edge of Heaven (Fatih Akin, Germany (2007))
6. Sanxia haoren/Still Life (Jia Zhang-ke, China (2006))
7. Kain no matsuei/Cain's Descendant (Oku Shutaro, Japan (2006))
8. Sang sattawat/Syndromes and a Century (Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Thailand/France/Austria (2006))
9. Strange Culture (Lynn Hershman-Leeson, USA (2007))
10. Takva/A Man's Fear of God (Özer Kiziltan, Turkey (2006))

One true image, at last!

(pic©ming)

quote of the week

Miranda: 'What is't, a spirit? - Lord, how it looks about. Believe me, sir, - It carries a brave form. But 'tis a spirit.'
(W. Shakespeare, The Tempest (1611/1623))

HU-Japanologie: Screenings in December

At the end of the year we’ve been let down, it seems – and I apologize. But there’s nothing I can do, really, other than hope for the best and inform you as soon as the Japan Film-AG decides to put up their programming for public viewing once more.
You’ll catch it all here(, then).

(pic©hu-berlin.de)

“the torch” #22 – in the crux: poetry in a movie

The artist’s mind is an exclave of reason and the rules of utility, and as such it is a liberated combat zone where the fight is fought between the hidden and the obvious as a stratagem of winning-over. Truly anyone is free to do it, though not everyone may be real able to, in equal measure at least. What is poetic in whichever medium – it is a semblance of some higher order; some might even dare to call it a part of the divine. In any case, it is a quality most elusive and rare, to be attained only by the talented few, with luck and patience and the right skills without doubt. So when we are being treated to its cinematic equivalent, we will hardly suffer any substitute for wonder, want to be spared of such embarrassment but catch the real thing only, a glimpse of truth unveiled. One could argue, then, that our just too common tedium total of failed attempts at art-house glory should by now have done the job of getting us to the point where enough is way too much already and we’ve simply had it, dead-alive and little else?
Well, alternatively, you might want to think the ultimate best still possible, if worth aspiring to no matter what – and join that biweekly debate on all things impossible (or so), aka: The Torch, right here.

(pic©mo)

quote of the week

“It seemed as if there was too much light shining in on his empty life.”
(Ardashir Vakil, Beach Boy (1997))

quote of the week

“Perhaps the book, like God, is an idea some men will cling to.”
(John Updike, More Matter (1999))

Berlin Watch redefined

I’ve said it all along but no-one would listen: how Singapore is set to transform my beloved city of Berlin! Now watch out for a new watch-out, as Singapore-based firm Great Wheel Corporation is beginning construction on Europe’s biggest Ferris wheel, due to be completed by late 2009. The facts are okay, but certainly the spirit counts for more, don’t you think? Accordingly, the Great Berlin Wheel will be huge, rising to a total height of 185 metres, as those in charge know: size does matter! That’s easily more than the London Eye and beats even the Singapore Flyer’s 165 metres (currently under construction) to 20 metres – who would have thought?
Now this should set us reeling for sure, offering a whole new perspective on all that’s not there: like foreign investors, a positive attitude, break-through thinking, and money actually…

(pic©DDP)

“4:30“ screens next…

…this Saturday, 18:00h @ Museum Ludwig, Cologne, as part of that little extra the CineAsia is treating us to with its special programming of movie gems from the South East Asia region (you can check out the full program: here). I hereby would like to warmly recommend and softly urge all of you movie-lovers to not let this very rare opportunity pass you by and catch this brilliantly shining crown jewel of Singapore film (4:30). And don’t forget to bring your friends along, too – they’ll be ever so thankful…
So everybody: don’t let the winter mood get to you and escape to pictureland!

(pic©www.cineasia-filmfestival.de)

“the torch” #21 – Distinguishing features – a comparative reading of Eric Khoo’s “Mee Pok Man” and “12 Storeys”

Heralded the godfather of that Singapore cinema renaissance currently in full swing, Eric Khoo has won due recognition both, at home and abroad, for his many merits in building a sustainable filmmaking scene in his country. Working tirelessly on the field’s many fronts, as producer, talent scout and facilitator for the already famous “2^nd generation”, there can be little doubting the man’s abilities. Yet almost, it seems, have those other time-consuming activities overshadowed his no less noteworthy achievements as a prolific director of short films and three features. To remedy this noted ill (or if only to keep it from developing any further), you can now rediscover what groundbreaking contributions Mr. Khoo has to his name by re-visiting and -assessing his films; as done already for our common good by: The Torch.

(pic©mo)

quote of the week

“All art is quite useless.”
(Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891))

World AIDS Day

we are aware...

...there's a ribbon!