The past few decades has seen the surge of fame of several Asian languages, particularly Korean, Chinese and Japanese. Once largely confined only to their respective borders and mainly used as a tool of nation-building, they are now studied all around the globe in schools and universities as well as language institutions. This trend can be attributed to the shifting of the world’s economic and geopolitics hotspot to the Indo-Pacific region, as well as the growing global appeal of East Asian cultural exports ranging from K-Pop to anime.
Category: Weaving the SEA
The Bond between A Migrant Domestic Worker and A Kid in Singaporean Film Ilo Ilo
Ilo Ilo is a 2013 Singaporean drama film. It is written and directed by Anthony Chen. In this debut film, Chen explored the relationship between Teresa, a domestic worker; and Jiale, a 10 years old child cared for by Teresa. Ilo Ilo premiered in Cannes Film Festival 2013 and won Camera D’Or. The Award set a new record as the first Singaporean film to win a category in the festival.
Female Otherness and Social Expectations in Malaysian Film Tiger Stripes
Tiger Stripes is a 2023 Malaysian body horror and coming-of-age picture. Directed by first-feature-director Amanda Nell Eu, the story revolves around an 11-years-old Zaffan who is faced with bodily change as she goes through puberty. The film received several accolades, most notably the 2023 Cannes’ Critics Week Grand Prize which made Amanda the first female Malaysian filmmaker to ever win the award. Tiger Stripes was also invited to the 29th Busan International Film Festival and served as the closing film for 2023 Jakarta Film Week.
Metacinema and The Subvertion of Expectations in Philippine Film Leonor Will Never Die
Leonor Will Never Dieis a 2022 psychological comedy drama film from the Philippines. It is written and directed by Martika Ramirez Escobar as her directorial debut. The film is supported by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) through CreatePHFilms funding programme and Full Circle Lab. The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2022 and won a Special Jury Prize for Innovative Spirit. It also won Amplify Voices in Toronto International Film Festival 2022.
Reincarnation and The Fluid Boundaries of Reality in Thai Film Uncle Boonme Who Can Recall His Past Lives
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives is a 2010 fantasy drama film produced, written and directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul. It is inspired by a book titled “A Man Who Can Recall His Past Lives” by Phra Sripariyattiweti. The sixth film directed by Apichatpong, Uncle Boonmee is the first Thai film that won Palm D’Or in Cannes Film Festival 2010, regarded as one of the highest accolades in film circuit.
Deconstructing Masculinity in Indonesian Film Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash
Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash is a dark action comedy-drama film set in the 1980s. Directed by Edwin, the film is an adaptation of the novel by Eka Kurniawan with the same title. The movie premiered at the Locarno Film Festival 2021 and became the first Indonesian film to win the Golden Leopard, the festival’s highest award. Besides Locarno, the film was also screened at several other prestigious film events, such as the Toronto International Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival.