A Hearty Beginning of the Lunar New Year: Four Days of Asian Film Valentine's
This season, the Asian Lunar New Year meets the Valentine's Day aura – our special holiday program invites you to explore five unique films about the different faces of love.
All films are shown with Polish and English subtitles. All screenings are accompanied by introductions prepared by the Five Flavours team, familiarizing the audiences with the themes of the film, as well as with its production and cultural context.
The Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays in Asia, celebrated in Chinese-language countries, as well as in Japan, Vietnam, and in Asian diasporas around the world. Thang Long Do, the actor playing the Vietnamese cook in "The Taste of Pho," shared his memories of celebrating this holiday with us.
New Year Premiere: "Chasing Dream"
The crazy whirlwind of the first love, the secretive, hidden glances of unfulfilled lovers, the absurd humor of the avant-garde Japanese erotic movies, and the unexpected bonding of two hearts in the glittery, sequined world of the Chinese pop culture – Asian cinema can play with conventional love stories in new and unexpected ways.
Films presented during the Lunar New Year include titles valued and appreciated by the audiences of the previous editions of the Festival, and a special premiere – the newest production by Johnnie To. The filmography of the director, whom the Western audiences know mostly from his refined gangster cinema, also includes romantic comedies created for the local market. In "Chasing Dream," he combines those two worlds, creating a dynamic journey through the world of Chinese pop culture, and a larger than life story of two young people fighting hand in hand to make their dreams come true.
Films in the program
- Love Exposure, dir. Sion Sono, Japan
- Song Lang, dir. Leon Quang Le, Vietnam
- Chasing Dream, dir. Johnnie To, Hong Kong, China (PREMIERE!)
- Wet Woman in the Wind, dir. Akihiko Shiota, Japan
- A Bride for Rip Van Winkle, dir. Shunji Iwai, Japan
All films are shown with Polish and English subtitles. All screenings are accompanied by introductions prepared by the Five Flavours team, familiarizing the audiences with the themes of the film, as well as with its production and cultural context.
We invite you to talk about the films and share your experiences in our group Pięć Smaków - kino Azji.
How to watch?
The five films of the New Year/Valentine's Day program are available from Thursday, February 11, 10:00 am till Sunday, February 14, 11:59 pm.
All you need to do to watch the films is log in and buy a Pass for the full program for 75 PLN or an Access for a single film for 26 PLN and click "play." Passes and Access will be available till the very end of the event.
If you have any doubts or technical issues, check out our FAQ page or contact us on Facebook and at info@piecsmakow.pl.
Radio Asia Playlist: Mood for Love
If you need help creating a New Year/Valentine's Day atmosphere at home, the super romantic music playlist prepared by Radio Asia is here to help. It includes over 70 pieces from Japan, Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. From 1960s songs by the king of Khmer music Sinn Sisamouth, through Japanese and Korean hits of the 1980s, to contemporary pieces preformed by our favorite Radio Asia artists: Rasmee, Hyunjin Bek, and Jeong Cha-sik. The playlist also includes songs from the films presented at the Lunar New Year – "Song Lang" and "Love Exposure."
