The Shanghai International Film Festival has long been based on an Asian perspective. Not only did it establish the Asian Newcomer Unit as early as 2004 to continue to support the development of Asian films and newcomers, but this year it also set up a special "Today's Asia" unit in the film festival to sort out well-known Asian film authors, review the latest Asian film masterpieces, and present the diverse face of Asian films. The "Asian Film of the Year" will include all the new films that cannot be missed this year. This list will also introduce the well-received works from the film festivals in various Asian countries in the "Film Festival Highlights" unit.
New photographers use park benches to string together urban portraits; Kimura Takuya reenacts the culinary Warring States period in the kitchen of Paris. There are also graffiti girls in Tehran exploring contemporary lifestyles; Hong Sang-soo uses a fixed camera position to create a Rashomon of academic circles in "By the Stream", and Kim Min-hee's ambiguous eyes are more thrilling than the script - when Asian filmmakers collectively abandon the warm filter, we feel the vigorous heartbeat of new forces.
Asia Now
Asian Film of the Year丨ASIAN COLLECTION
I love today's sky the most, but I can't explain it (2024)
SHE TAUGHT ME SERENDIPITY
Director: Da Jiu Mingzi
Highlights: New generation actor Hagiwara Rikyuu and new Japanese and Austrian actress Kawai Yumi compose a youth story together
Konishi Toru's university life is very different from what he had imagined, until one day he is deeply attracted by Hana Sakurada, who has a bun and elegant manners. Sakurada casually said, "I hope to be happy every day, and I hope to say 'Today's sky is the most beautiful' every day." This sentence is exactly what Konishi's late grandmother once said. The two gradually developed a relationship, but an event that could change their fate suddenly occurred. This film is adapted from the debut novel of comedian Fukudashi Shusuke. Director Daiku Akiko is known for her ability to portray distinctive female protagonists. This is the first time she has challenged a love story centered on a male protagonist. The new generation actor Hagiwara Rikyu, who became famous for starring in "The Beautiful Him", and Kawai Yumi, who won the Japanese Oscar for Best Actress for "Apricot Luck", co-starred. The song "First Love Fever" by the legendary band Spitz adds a strong color to the emotional outburst in the play, delicately presenting the true face of contemporary young people.
On the Bench (2024)
AT THE BENCH
Director: Yoshiyuki Okuyama
Highlights: The first feature film by emerging photographer Yoshiyuki Okuyama
There is a lonely bench in the middle of the riverside park. One evening, a pair of childhood sweethearts met again on this bench. Although their words were a little unfamiliar, they still exchanged tender feelings in a low voice. As time passed, people of all kinds gathered on this bench: an uncle interrupted a couple who were talking about breaking up; a sister who ran away from home and her sister who came to find her; city government employees who planned to demolish the bench... Japanese emerging photographer Yoshiyuki Okuyama used the small stage of the bench to connect people's moments of memory in Tokyo, a city that is constantly changing. "On the Bench" is a group portrait short film with "dialogue" as the core. With the purest shooting concept, the director gathered well-known actors such as Hirose Suzu, Nakano Taiga, Kishii Yukino, and Imada Mio to depict a city landscape full of love.
The Story of Sato's Wife and Husband (2025)
SATO AND SATO
Director: Chihiro Amano
Highlights: Breaking the "traditional" family structure, same-surname couples face life difficulties
Sato Bao and Sato Yuki have completely different personalities but they are inexplicably compatible. They get along well with each other from knowing each other to getting married and having children. Bao had taken the judicial examination many times but failed repeatedly. Unexpectedly, Yuki, who accompanied him to prepare for the exam, passed the exam first and became a professional lawyer. On one side is the sloppy lawyer wife, and on the other side is the failed husband who is overwhelmed by childcare - the couple maintains a delicate balance, outlining a true love story in laughter and sadness. The film stars Yukino Kishii, who won the 77th Daily Movie Best Actress for "Keiko, Gaze", and Miyazawa Hyou, who won the 78th Daily Movie Best Supporting Actor for "The Egoist". The tacit interpretation of the two injects real emotional tension into the film, reflecting the communication dilemma between people in modern society, and exploring the understanding and compromise between people and "others".
Hotel de Paris (2024)
GRAND MAISON PARIS
Director: Ayuko Tsukahara
Highlights: Kimura Takuya's Michelin breakthrough! Cooking legendary foreign cuisine with Ok Taec-yeon
The film continues the "culinary craftsman spirit" of "Grand Hotel Tokyo", moving the battlefield from Ginza, Tokyo to the French food mecca of Paris. Natsuki Obana (played by Takuya Kimura) leads the team to bet on "Asia's first Michelin three-star restaurant" and face the hegemonic system of French cuisine. Director Ayuko Tsukahara uses almost paranoid lens language to dissect the cultural undercurrents in French cuisine - from the barriers of the food supply chain to the collision of the evolution of French cuisine and Japanese craftsmanship in culinary aesthetics. The film elevates the cooking competition to an identity politics game in the contemporary context. The combination of Takuya Kimura and Kyoka Suzuki continues to exude charm, and the newly joined Taek Yeon is even more eye-catching. When the theme song "Santé" composed by Tatsuro Yamashita sounded, this summer you can experience the passion and touching brought by the original creative team in the cinema.
Have a nice trip (2024)
GOOD LUCK
Director: Adachi Shin
Highlights: Two interesting souls embark on a journey without asking for the result
Taro Yoshiyama is an independent film director in his late twenties who relies on his live-in girlfriend for financial support. One day, his film is selected for an independent film competition, and he goes to Beppu to attend the film festival with great expectations, but the film screening is not well received, which makes him very depressed. The next day, he strolls to a neighboring town, and a woman who claims to have seen his film takes the initiative to find him. The two of them embark on a two-day short trip, and a vague feeling grows between them... Adachi Shin originally planned to shoot only a short film, but it later evolved into a feature film showing the scenery of Oita Prefecture. The film is part travel experience and part self-reflection. The interaction between the shy Hiroki Sano and the radiant Hana Amano is natural and interesting. Two thoughtful souls wander around the mysterious Beppu, exploring the meaning of life.
Official recommendation: SIFF HIGHLIGHTS
Film Festival Highlights丨VIVA LA FESTIVAL
Tehran Stories (2024)
BOOMERANG
Directed by: Shehab Fortouhi
Highlights: Using the family as a starting point to dissect Iran’s contemporary lifestyle
The film depicts a social landscape of contemporary Tehran, Iran: Sima's marriage to her husband Behzad is deadlocked, and she leaves home with her 13-year-old daughter Minu. After the breakdown of his marriage, Behzad tries to reconcile with his ex, and carefully plans encounters to rebuild the relationship. Minu, the daughter, takes the initiative to get to know a stranger, Kevan, and explores the city and love through rebellious expressions such as street graffiti and underground music.
As Shehab Fortouhi's first feature film, Tehran Story was shortlisted for the Venice Days section of the 2024 Venice Film Festival. The film breaks down family conflicts into three independent yet intertwined chapters, presenting the dual face of Tehran with a cold lens. The film continues the Iranian film's focus on individual destiny, and has achieved a breakthrough in aesthetic style - abandoning Abbas's poetic allegory and outlining the complex picture of contemporary Iranian society with a more realistic brushstroke.
By the Creek (2024)
BY THE STREAM
Director: Hong Sang-soo
Highlights: Hong Sang-soo's masterpiece is shortlisted for the main competition unit of the 77th Locarno Film Festival
A female lecturer invites her uncle to direct a short play at a women's university, but a scandal breaks out during the rehearsal and the two are accidentally involved in the scandal. This is Hong Sang-soo's most approachable work in recent years. As always, the long-shot dialogue under a fixed camera position, occasionally with a slight zoom or pan, adds a bit of agility to the scene. The actors strengthen an awkward naturalistic style through long pauses and subtle emotional responses. Even the most ordinary dialogues contain dramatic tension. With her light and agile performance, Kim Min-hee wanders on the edge but exudes core charm, and finally won the Best Performance Award at the 77th Locarno Film Festival.
Note: If the film list changes, please refer to the actual schedule.
