It doesn't matter whether we're talking about Marvel or DC: Hollywood comic book movies, especially in recent years, have given us a ton of superheroines. Beautiful, powerful and iconic, from Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman, Sophie Turner's Dark Phoenix and Halle Berry's Tempest to Brie Larson's Captain Marvel, Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow and Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman, obviously without forgetting Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch (aka Wanda Maximoff). But what about the "made-in-Asia" superheroines? Never fear: Indonesian director Upi has got it all in hand with Sri Asih, one of the many surprises of the Far East Film Festival 25! Based on a 1954 comic and written by Upi herself together with an old friend of the FEFF, Joko Anwar (whose Satan's Slaves: Communion will also be showing today at 11.40 pm), the film is the second episode of a series set in the BCU - the Cinematographic universe of Indonesian comic book company Bumilangit. In the role (or rather: the costume) of superhumanly powerful Sri Asih is magnificent actress and model Pevita Pearce, whom Fareasters will have already glimpsed in 2020 in Gundala (there's Joko Anwar again). Adrenaline-fuelled, mythological and volcanic, Sri Asih is an explosive cocktail of breathtaking action and solid storytelling!
In addition to the European preview of Fu Tien-Yu's touching Day Off, the other unmissable appointments of this fourth day include the eagerly awaited return of some old friends who definitely merit a mention: the Far East Cosplay Contest, and Giulia Pompili (Il Foglio) and Francesco Radicioni (Radio Radicale) with the international press review in the morning and the brand new Bambù Talks in the afternoon. The two journalists will be chatting with writers, experts and other journalists about the big issues in today's Asia, from politics and technology to spirituality. An exciting daily journey into the heart of today's East.
All the fourth day, minute by minute!
TEATRO NUOVO
09.00
PRESS REVIEW
News from Asia with Giulia Pompili (Il Foglio) and Francesco Radicioni (Radio
Radicale).
09.00
SRI ASIH
Directed by UPI
(Indonesia, 2022)
Ready for a blast of adrenaline with this unmissable comic book movie? Well hold on tight, because here comes explosive Indonesian superheroine Sri Asih!
11.00
INCONTRI/TALKS
Two talks this morning: one dedicated to Malaysian cinema and the other to the new Korean cinema.
11.25
SHE IS ME, I AM HER
Directed by NAKAMURA Mayu
(Japan, 2022)
Nakamura's creative response to the impact of the pandemic on common and less common existences.
14.30
A LIGHT NEVER GOES OUT
Directed by Anastasia TSANG
(Hong Kong, 2022)
Since 2013, a government law has restricted the use of the neon signs that were once an iconic symbol of Hong Kong. And that's where the bittersweet
story of Heung begins…
16.00 – Loggia di San Giovanni
FAR EAST COSPLAY CONTEST
16.30
ABANG ADIK
Directed by Jin ONG
(Malaysia, 2023)
Abang is a mute with no identity papers to give him the possibility of a legal job. He accepts his fate, unlike his younger brother Adi, who nurses an aggressive determination to improve his lot.
17.45
BAMBU TALKS
Tech war: the US and China, microchips and quantum physics.
19.30
DAY OFF
Directed by FU Tien-Yu
(Taiwan, 2023)
The touching portrait of A-Rui, a men's hairdresser with over forty years of work behind her… Directed by Taiwanese director Fu Tien-yu, who was born in the same working-class neighbourhood where A-Rui runs her small salon, the film is a tribute to a normal woman who, through little gestures of daily kindness, reveals herself to be absolutely extraordinary.
21.30
THE NIGHT OWL
Directed by AN Tae-jin
(South Korea, 2022)
A dark veil of mystery hangs over the royal palace. Which, in fact, is where the murder of the crown prince takes place. The death of his son throws the king into a state of paranoia and madness. But how to find out who is behind the conspiracy?
23.40
SATAN’S SLAVES: COMMUNION
Directed by Joko ANWAR
(Indonesia, 2022)
After an accident that claimed the life of her mother, Rini and her brothers live with their father in a huge apartment building. They think they're safe, but they are about to learn how dangerous it can be not to know your neighbours…
***
VISIONARIO – Retrospectives, restorations, homages
14.00
LIES
Directed by JANG Sun-woo
(South Korea, 1999)
17.30
DUST OF ANGELS
Directed by HSU Hsiao-ming
(Taiwan, 1992/Restored: 2021)
19.30
2/DUO
Directed by SUWA Nobuhiro
(Japan, 1997)