Asia

Best Asian films

If you’re looking for the best Asian films, there’s plenty to choose from. Asia holds approximately 60% of the world’s population, so it’s no surprise the continent has a wealth of great films. The continent hosts one of the world’s largest (if not the largest) film industries in India’s Bollywood, the most famous animation studio outside the U.S. in Japan’s Studio Ghibli, as well as the second largest film market in the world by box office receipts in China (second only to the U.S.).

But that’s not all. The Iranian art-house cinema scene is still booming despite government bans. Southeast Asia holds two of the most famous torch-bearers of the transcendental film movement in Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Lav Diaz. Plus, there’s South Korean, Bong Joon-ho, whose Parasite became the first foreign language film to win the Best Picture. And we haven’t even mentioned the growing film presence of the countries in Central Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, and the Caucasus.

So scroll down to see some of the best Asian films. Or, if you know where you want to go, pick a country from the links below.

Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, East Timor, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon,Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

*We’re still looking for the best Asian films from countries without links. Send us your recommendations.

Big Fish and Begonia – China’s Answer to Studio Ghibli?

Big Fish and Begonia Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

When a film is described as a combination of Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away you should pay attention. Visually Big Fish and Begonia deserves the recognition. It is China’s biggest animation of all time and definitely matches the scope of the biggest animation films from around the world. If you’re a fan of the art of animation, this is for you – just don’t pay too much attention to the storyline!

Why Watch Big Fish & Begonia?

You’re a big fan of animation and the fantasy worlds it can create
To see China’s biggest animation ever!
You like the films of Studio Ghibli (see Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away) and Disney (The Little Mermaid)
For some strong allegories of the perils of global warming

The Breakdown

We don’t care about the important questions any more. This is how a narrator opens Big Fish and Begonia. We sleep, we commute, we work, we eat, we sleep, and before long, we die.

Unfortunately, the dreamy philosophical musings didn’t last long. Or at least, they got lost in the confusing story-line. Instead, you should focus on the incredible visuals and appreciate the sheer scope of the animation. It also matches the scope of the great Studio Ghibli and dominant Disney.

You’ll also notice the very strong allegories to the importance of mother nature and the threats of global warming (there’s human trees and great floods). In fact, with no evil villain, the imagery of global warming is the main threat to the human characters. Global warming and nature have been themes of many of Disney and Studio Ghibli’s films. s this a first in Chinese animation?

Image result for big fish and begonia

Conclusion

You’ll see the strange creatures and beautiful landscapes you expect to find in Studio Ghibli films. You’ll also see the magical animals you often see in the Disney classics. However, unfortunately the story-line doesn’t match the beautiful visuals.

If you’re a fan of the art of animation you’ll appreciate this film but if you’re all about the storytelling you may find this hard to watch.

Sepet – A Rom Com that Exposes Class and Race Dynamics in Malaysia

Sepet Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

If you like rom-coms you’ll love Sepet. But even if you don’t there is much more to this film then a cheesy romance. Sepet exposes the class and race dynamics of Malaysia of a society that evidently still hasn’t recovered from the effects of colonialism.

Why Watch Sepet?

It’s a chick flick with substance
You’ll learn a bit about the legacy of colonialism on Malaysia
Watch it here on YouTube
Learn about social and racial discrimination in Malaysia

The Breakdown

The romance between Jason and Orked starts after a chance encounter at Jason’s VHS stall on a busy Malay street. However, they are both from opposite ends of Malay society, Jason (or Ah-loong) is ethnically Chinese whilst Orked is ethnically Malay. As you’ll learn, this is a problem. Chinese-Malays are seen as inferior to ethnic Malays and therefore relationships between Malays and Chinese is taboo.

In case that isn’t enough to emulate Romeo and Juliet, Jason also has a much lower social standing than Orked. You might notice this from seeing each of their respective houses. Orked walks around in a big bedroom with big closets, walks up and down stairs to show that her house has two floors, and has a maid. In contrast, Jason’s house appears open to the elements with concrete floors. His family all crowd around a small table for dinner.

However, what does Jason do to help his chances of getting with Orked? He tells her his name is Jason, a ‘nice name from London.’By associating himself with Britain, he associates himself with the old rulers: British colonists. Orked doesn’t fall for this trick. She later brings up the issue of colonialism with her friend and references French colonists in Algeria. They instituted a belief that whites were superior and that the darker you were, the more inferior you were. It’s obvious that Malaysia has shared this colonial legacy the way the lighter skinned Malays treat the ‘slit-eyed’ Chinese.

Image result for sepet film

Conclusion

Sepet is a great example of a chick flick that has layers. Behind the cheesy romance is a country still dealing with the legacy of colonialism. Jason and Orked are two sweet teens trying to navigate the race and social boundaries of Malaysia.

Will they stay together? Watch it here on YouTube (although some sound is missing).

Mardan (Iraq) – A Sombre Film Set in Kurdish Iraq

Mardan Film Difficulty Ranking: 4

Most of you know that Iraq has had one of the most traumatic modern histories. But when you think of why, you’d probably think of the Iraq War. So when I tell you this is a sombre Iraqi film you’d also probably think that it is about the Iraq War. But you’d be wrong. Unlike Ahlaam, Mardan is set in Kurdish Iraq, and follows the traumatic life of a border patrol guard.

Why Watch Mardan?

To see a Kurdish Iraqi film (for an Arabic Iraqi film, check out Ahlaam)
If you are up for a solemn (but well made) movie
To see the beautiful and wild mountain scenery of Iraq
For another story with a traumatic childhood (which reminded me of the Kosovan short film Shok)

The Breakdown

Mardan starts with an extreme close up of half a man’s face. The camera is focused on one of the man’s watery eyes. He is crying.

A traumatic flashback to his childhood shows us why he is crying. It should be an innocent memory of him and his brother playing by the river. But some military men raped and killed his brother, giving him a burden he has had to carry for his whole life.

Surprisingly, the introduction is the only place where the military is shown, apart from the border patrol. Instead, the film focuses on Mardan and how he deals with his harrowing childhood memory. He doesn’t seem like the nicest guy – he accepts bribes and appears pretty grumpy, but the film implies that his background is to blame for this.

His only shot at redemption is by helping a family find their relative. But don’t expect a Hollywood ending. This film is more about the journey and character development than any climactic ending.

Conclusion

Mardan is not the film you want to watch after a long day at work. It is solemn and does not offer any respite. It is a well made film, but you’d only want to watch it if you want to see a bit of life in Kurdish Iraq, some Iraqi scenery, or if you are into sombre films.

Death of Nintendo – Berlinale 2020

Death of Nintendo feels a lot like your typical nostalgic American middle school coming of age story. It has a group of friends that are desperate to become more popular than they are and a lot of pop culture references. However, there are a few unique Filipino elements in Death of Nintendo that you’re unlikely to see in American productions: a volcano, a body eating monster, and circumcision. These help the film to stand out in a pretty crowded genre.

A strong nostalgia for the early 1990’s is what hits you at the start of Death of Nintendo. It starts with two kids slotting colorful Nintendo games into their Nintendo, something that many 90’s kids will happily remember doing. Then in the following 15 minutes, you’ll hear hip hop and dancehall, and see them skateboarding and playing basketball in Nike shoes. The combination of visual and aural references quickly sets the film within the 1990’s. The way it’s presented, lit up in vibrant colors under the Filipino sun and with a few slow motion takes, makes sure it looks good enough to evoke a warm nostalgia for the era. If you’re a 90’s kid, this opening will make you want to be back in your happy childhood memories.

We’re knocked out of the nostalgic 1990’s childhood opening by a bully and love. The American bully disrupts their love for all things American, whilst their young love prompts a quick quest to grow up and become men. Being men = being popular and being popular = girls and no bullies. However, to become men, they have to embrace their Filipino identity. They have to come to terms with the volcano which threatens their neighborhood, their fear of the Manananggal (a Filipino man-eating mythical creature), and finally, they have to get circumcised (to help them grow and turn into men). Plus, they have to figure this all out on their own. Neither of the three boys have a fatherly role model to guide them through puberty, which perhaps leads to their strange idea of how to become men.

The 1990’s references and coming-of-age tropes are all taken from American culture. Without the Filipino references (volcano, Manananggal, and circumcision) and Tagalog, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was a U.S. film. Whilst every international film shouldn’t have to set out cultural identifiers to situate it within the country it was made, they should try and differentiate themselves from existing films and make something new. Whilst Death of Nintendo is an enjoyable coming of age film from the Philippines, there’s not too much to help it stand out from an already crowded genre of nostalgic coming of age films.

However, don’t let that stop you from watching more films from Raya Martin. Manila, a film he co-directed with Adolfo Alix Jr. is much darker and intriguing. Read our review here.

Lebanon Factory – A Kaleidoscopic View of Lebanon

Lebanon Factory Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

How much do you know about Lebanon? Lebanon Factory will give you a taster of life across the country. From Beirut to the Lebanese countryside watching this film is your cheap ticket to seeing Lebanon.

Why Watch The Lebanon Factory?

To experience Lebanon from a collection of 4 different perspectives in 4 short films
See what kind of films are made by pairs of native and foreign directors (each of these 4 films were made by pairs of directors – one from Lebanon and another from elsewhere)
For an Octupus cruelty scene that matches that famous one in Oldboy

The Breakdown

Lebanon Factory is made up of 4 short films. First up was a dark comedy featuring a rookie cop on his first shift under a bridge late at night. It doesn’t look like an area you’d pick to hang out. There’s some shady deals going on between motorbike owners, there’s a few gang members, and one old man that keeps jumping off the bridge (unsuccessfully trying to commit suicide).

The next three films were about a conman, a group of guys trying to emigrate to the EU, and a crazy middle aged man living in rural Lebanon. It’s a good mix of films and will give you a bit of a feel for life in Lebanon.

Although each film was made by different directors, there are still a few things in common with the four movies. Firstly, you’ll notice the stubbornness and loudness of the main characters. Secondly you’ll also see that most of the characters hate Lebanon and their lives. This is reflected in the old man that keeps jumping off the bridge and cursing God and the country when he survives. In the other films there’s the guys trying to emigrate and also the hotel owner that curses the bigger hotel owner that is destroying his hotel.

Conclusion

Through the four short stories you get an idea of life in Lebanon. There’s a lot of passion, but not the romantic passion you’ll see in Hollywood movies. But even though the characters are not enjoying life in Lebanon there’s obviously a lot of life in the country.