[2024.12.18] FOR THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 15 2024

For the week ending Sunday, December 15 2024

10 GLADIATOR II
    d. Ridley Scott
    Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Denzel Washington

  9 DAUGHTER'S DAUGHTER
    d. Huang Xi
    Sylvia Chang (Cheung Ngai Ga), Karena Lam Ka Yan, Eugenia Liu Yi-Er
  Rating : IIA
  Length : 126 mins.
  Opening October 29 2024 at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival
  Opening November 10 2024 at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival
  Opening December 7 2024 (Special Screening)
  Opening December 12 2024
  Site : https://2024.tiff-jp.net/en/lineup/film/37002CMP05
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/BiVfJ-CV1dA

[ 37TH TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ]
    Learning of the death of her daughter, who lived in the US with her same-sex partner, a mother has to confront her own hidden past.

[ 2024 HONG KONG ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL ]
    Now a widow in her sixties, Aixia must become a mother once more when she receives custody of her daughter's daughter - in the form of a fertilized embryo left by Aixia's daughter Zuer, who tragically died in a car accident. However, Aixia already has a second daughter: Emma, who Aixia abandoned as a teenager, and the shame over abandoning Emma has never faded. Featuring a powerhouse teaming of award-winning actresses, this remarkable second feature from director Huang Xi (Missing Johnny)[14th] is executive-produced by Huang's mentor Hou Hsiao-hsien, and is as multi-faceted, morally complex and artistically ambitious as any of Hou's celebrated New Wave works.

  8 FOUR TRAILS
    d. Robin Lee
    Documentary
    Stone Tsang Siu Keung, Nikki Han, Salomon Wettstein,
      Jack Leung Chun Keung, Will Hayward, Law Kai Pong, Tom Robertshaw,
      Sarah Pemberton, Hyun Chang Chung
  Rating : IIA
  Length : 101 mins.
  Opening December 6 2024

[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]

    At the time, they said it couldn't be done. In 2012, Andre Blumberg set off by himself, to run all four of Hong Kong's iconic ultra distance trails in just four days. 298km and over 14,500m of climbing later, one of the hardest ultra marathons in the world - the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge - was born.

    With the 2021 edition of the challenge as the backdrop, 'Four Trails' takes you on a journey from when the concept was first was conceived to it's current format. Under 60 hours to be deemed a 'Finisher' and under 72 hours to be a ‘Survivor’, unsupported and with an ever evolving set of rules. It takes a deep dive into the famous four trails that make up the challenge and you will both laugh and cry as the astonishing stories of those who dare attempt such a feat unfold.

  7 AN ABANDONED TEAM
  Can : Dut Chung Sin Sun
  Lit : Mr. Spoiled
  AKA : Gau Juen Yun Sun
  Lit : Dog Turns Life Upside Down
    d. Thomas Lee Chi Wai, Daniel Ho Ying Ngai
    Lawrence Cheng Tan Shui, Amy Lo Wai Man, LITTLE (Mixed Breed Dog)
      Jay Fung Won Him, Wong Ching Yi (Ah Jeng), Fish Liew Chi Yu,
      Sean Wong Tsz Lok, Fimmy Wong Mei Fun, Belinda Yan Zifei,
      Patra Au Ka Man, Ben Yuen Fu Wa, ANSONBEAN (Chan Ngai Sun)
  Rating : IIA
  Length : 107 mins.
  Opening November 7 2024 at the 21st Hong Kong Asian Film Festival
  Opening November 28 2024
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/f-guYfThImA

[ SCREEN DAILY FILMART 2023 ]
    A feature about a lonely retired man who finds a new purpose in life, rescuing abandoned animals after he befriends a stray dog and an animal shelter volunteer.

[ 2024 HONG KONG ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL ]
    Can human-animal bonding really transcend species? Kai is a curmudgeon living alone and his life is out of order: forced retirement, failed marriage, estranged relationship with his daughter. He decides to end it – but a stray dog named "Roast Piggy" saves him from his suicide. A bond grows between the man and the dog, that leads Kai to finally come out of his defensive shell and make amends with his daughter. First feature drama by two veteran ADs-turned-directors, their experience in the industry pays back in the form of an inspirational and heartwarming cross- species tale.

[ CINEMA CITY ]
    Yam Chun Kai is a 60-year-old curmudgeon living alone. Forced into retirement, Uncle Kai reflects on his failed marriage and strained relationship with his daughter. As the hopelessness prompts him to end his life, a stray dog named Roast Piggy finds Uncle Kai and leads an animal welfare volunteer, Una Tang, to rescue him -- the intelligence and humanity of Roast Piggy change Uncle Kai's attitude towards stray animals. Uncle Kai becomes friends with Una and joins her animal shelter "Warm Home" as a volunteer, helping the abandoned animals. Una hopes Uncle Kai can take this opportunity to clear the air between him and his daughter Zoie. Just as Uncle Kai's life seems to be getting back on track, several dog poisoning incidents occur in the village he lives in..

  6 KRAVEN THE HUNTER
    d. J.C. Chandor
    Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ariana DeBose, Fred Hechinger,
      Alessandro Nivola, Chrstopher Abbott, Russell Crowe,

  5 CESIUM FALLOUT
  Can : Fun Sing
  Lit : Burnt City
    d. Anthony Pun (Poon Yiu Ming)
    Andy Lau Tak Wa, Bai Yu, Karen Mok Man Wai,
      Gardner Tse Kwan Ho, Ivana Wong Yuen Chi, Louise Wong Dan Nei,
      Fish Liew Chi Yu, Michael Wong Man Tak, Kent Cheng Juk Si,
      Bowie Lam Bo Yi, Kenny Wong Tak Bun, Jeffrey Ngai Chun Sun,
      Dee Ho Kai Wa, Leung Chung Hang,
      Locker Lam Ka Hei, Wesley Wong Hoi Kit
      John Chiang Dai Wai, Patra Au Ka Man, Michael Chow Man Kin,
      Natalie Hsu (Hui Yan Yi), Eric Kwok Wai Leung, Cheung Tat Ming,
      Wu Yanshu, Tanya Tong Yao, Pak Yiu Chan,
      Max Cheung Tat Lun, Deon Cheung Chun Chi
  Rating : IIB
  Length : 138 mins.
  Opening November 1 2024 in mainland China
  Teaser 1 : https://youtu.be/Cq0-flEXqew
  Teaser 2 : https://youtu.be/_ftyxHQFpQc

[ BROADWAY CIRCUIT ]
    Hong Kong's historic first radiation disaster blockbuster!

    After a fire accident triggers a radiation leakage, the entire city suddenly finds its survival hanging by a thread. In order to tackle the impending catastrophe, expert Simon Fan joins the emergency crisis response team led by Acting Chief Executive Cecilia to tackle this catastrophic disaster. With the lives of 7 million people on the line, the fire brigade is tasked with stopping the spread at all costs by entering the radiation zone. Facing this unprecedented calamity, will Hong Kong wake up to an overnight annihilation?

  4 WICKED
    d. Jon M. Chu
    Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande

  3 MOANA 2
    d. David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller
    Disney Animation
    English Voices: Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson
    Cantonese Voice: Louis Cheung Kai Chung,
      Kakaball Cheung Ching, Sinnie Ng Sin Yee@Lolly Talk

  2 PAPA
    d. Philip Yung Tsz Kwong
    Sean Lau Ching Wan, Jo Koo Cho Lam,
      Dylan So Man To, Lainey Hung Lok Yi
  Rating : IIB
  Length : 130 mins.
  Opening October 31 2024 at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival
  Opening November 10 2024 at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival
  Opening December 5 2024
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/aBUtM2eodBk
  Site : https://2024.tiff-jp.net/en/lineup/film/37002CMP10
  fb : https://www.facebook.com/people/%E7%88%B8%E7%88%B8-PAPA/61566260245857/

[ SCREEN DAILY ]
    A family drama about a cafe owner who leads a pedestrian existence after a family tragedy. His only wish is to have his 15 year old son return home, but the boy is locked up in a psychiatric prison for the murder of his mother and sister

[ 2024 BUSAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ASIAN COTENTS AND FILM MARKET ]
    Café owner Nin’s mundane but contented life is shattered forever when his fifteen-year-old son Ming slashes his mother and younger sister to death one evening. Diagnosed with acute schizophrenia, Ming is remanded to a psychiatric prison indefinitely until full recovery. Aside from visiting his son twice a month, Nin continues to lead a pedestrian existence, while memories of his wife, daughter, and son keep flooding into his head. As time passes, Nin has given up on knowing the reason behind the misfortune. He only wishes that one fine day, Ming, his sole remaining family but also the murderer of his family, will come home again.

  1 THE LAST DANCE
  Can : Por. Dei Yuk
  Lit : Breaking. Hell
    d. Anselm Chan Mau Yin
    Dayo Wong Tsz Wah, Michael Hui Koon Man,
      Michelle Wai Sze Nga, Tommy Chu Pak Hong,
      Catherine Chau Ka Yee, Paul Chun Pui,
      Elaine Jin (Kam Yin Ling), Rachel Leung Yung Ting,
      Rosa Maria Velasco (Wai Law Sha), Chung Suet Ying
  Rating : IIB
  Length : 126 mins.
  Opening October 10 2024 at the Hawaii International Film Festival
  Opening November 14 2024
  Trailer : https://youtu.be/om4lN8N-TIc
  Site : https://hiff.org/events/thelastdance/

[ HAWAII INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ]
    Hong Kong's historic first radiation disaster blockbuster! Starring current Hong Kong comedy king Dayo Wong and comedy legend Michael Hui, THE LAST DANCE is the story of a debt-ridden wedding planner who finds unexpected success as a funeral planner, but he has to win over a traditional Taoist priest to stay in the business...The pandemic has sent most industries into recession. Mired in debt, wedding planner Dominic gets a miraculous chance to turn things around when a funeral planner retires and passes the baton to him. Planning weddings and funerals are polar opposites, but Dominic puts his all into his new job, from opening graves, digging coffins, to handling the deceased. No matter how unpleasant it gets, he takes on everything with gusto. However, the biggest obstacle is getting the approval of respected Taoist priest, Master Man. In his 70s, Master Man is a traditional man who has devoted his life to his Taoist faith. He wants to pass the mantle to his son, Ben, but Ben is more devoted to his wife and kids than to Taoism. Master Man's daughter, Yuet, respects her father greatly. However, since her ancestors dictated that women are filthy by nature, Yuet doesn't take romantic relationships seriously.