The vibrant screen culture of the Asia Pacific region will be on show at the Mercury Cinema as the Adelaide Festival Centre’s OzAsia Festival and the Media Resource Centre present OzAsia on Screen (15 September – 2 October). OzAsia on Screen returns in 2010 with a stellar program of intimate documentaries, challenging dramas and cinematic gems encompassing films from India, Iran, Australia, China, Japan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Korea and Thailand. The season is jam-packed with Australian and Adelaide premieres and several must-see sessions featuring introductions and Q & A sessions with the filmmakers themselves.
This year’s program features a retrospective of the internationally acclaimed films of Macau-born, Australia-based director Clara Law. One of the modern masters of Hong Kong cinema, Law’s films blend poetic story-telling and stunning cinematic sequences to capture the richness of life in Hong Kong today. Law will be in Adelaide for the duration of her retrospective (direct from Italy, where she will screen her short, Red Earth, at the Venice Film Festival). Film enthusiasts will have the opportunity to participate in Q & A sessions with Law following Autumn Moon (16 September), Temptation of a Monk (18 September), Floating Life (19 September) and Like a Dream (20 September).
Like a Dream, Law’s triumphant return to cinema and the opening film of the 2010 Hong Kong Film Festival, will have its South Australian premiere as part of OzAsia on Screen, whilst her short, Red Earth, will make its Australian debut.
Also showing at OzAsia on Screen is City of Life and Death (18 September and 1 October), a modern masterpiece presented in austere black and white by Chinese director Lu Chuan. This unforgettable and not-to-be-missed war film portrays the Nanking Massacre of 1937. OzAsia on Screen will present the South Australian premiere of this epic film.
Seven films in total will make their South Australian debut as part of OzAsia on Screen, including Road, Movie (a journey across the mythic landscape of India), Japanese director Nishikawa Miwa’s compelling drama Dear Doctor, Oscar-nominated and AFI winner David Bradbury’s documentary My Asian Heart and Young Australian of the Year winner Khao Do’s film, Mother Fish (the story of two sisters who brave the ocean as they flee Vietnam in a fishing boat).
This year’s OzAsia on Screen program includes special focuses upon Hong Kong and Korea – two of the world’s major filmmaking centres – as well as a series of short films.
Tickets to all screenings are just $12 for adults and $10 concession. To view the full program, visit http://www.mercurycinema.org.au/ or http://www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/ozasia/. The Mercury Cinema is located at 13 Morphett Street, Adelaide (between Hindley Street and North Terrace – within the Lion Arts Centre). For bookings, phone 8410 0979.
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