Asian Sci-Fi
Asian Sci-Fi is a psychedelic trip in which Japan and China face each other in a symbolic duel. It is a clash of two giants, showcasing different genre strategies – from the dystopian experiments of Chinese cinema to Japanese games with time and postmodern fantasies.
Nowhere else does science fiction have such a long and powerful tradition – it was in Japan and China that stories about the fears of the future and technological dystopias were born. Placed side by side, Chinese and Japanese cinema reveal the full spectrum of the genre: from epic spectacles to intimate lo–fi experiments. It’s not only entertainment but also a stylish, multidimensional journey that expands the imagination.
The Asian Sci-Fi program includes “Transcending Dimensions”, the latest project by Toshiaki Toyoda, the last of Japan’s independent punk filmmakers, who for years has been expanding the boundaries of his artistic expression with elements of science fiction, blending genres and styles in a way that is entirely his own. Those longing for a total spectacle will have the chance to immerse themselves in the world of Bi Gan. His “Resurrection” proved that cinema is far from dead – and neither is Sci-Fi. As a counterpoint, “Journey to the West” offers a lo–fi mockumentary about fans of extraterrestrial civilisations, whose humour, honesty and heartwarming love for UFOs will make you want to leave this planet behind. During the 19th Five Flavours Film Festival, that will be entirely possible – we guarantee it!
