Asian Film Festival of Dallas retrospective- Part 1
Wherein Elizabeth learns a little something about China, men, and classic Indian cinema. Because she already knows a lot about cats.
Last weekend I attended the 23rd Asian Film Festival of Dallas, which I’ve attended at least six times, possibly more. This was the first year I was able to take off work for the whole thing and I wanted to keep riding the high by sharing some of the movies that were screened in the last three years that you can also easily watch in the US. I’ll cap off this series with a movie that debuted at the festival this year and should be hitting theaters in late August.
This festival has seen a lot of changes, even since I’ve been attending. Audience numbers haven’t rebounded since COVID and the variety of countries represented has gone down. I suspect this is because countries who have smaller film industries have suffered the same slump as everyone else, and few have the luxury to make movies that appeal to the film festival circuit. That being said, everything I saw this year exceeded my expectations, and AFFD has given me the opportunity to see things I would never have seen otherwise. Some showings still sell out, and I’ve had amazing conversations about movies with total strangers. I highly recommend attending and hope that attendance will eventually bounce back.
Some caveats- I will not be rewatching all of these movies, so sometimes you will get less detail about what actually happens and more of what made an impression on me. Many of them will be from the US because those are easily available for streaming. Also because I’m not a fan of horror movies, thrillers, and pure action films I generally don’t see them. But if you are fan, those genres are always included in the festival. I’m told the picks are top-notch entertainment, if nothing else.
I’ll start with a variety pack I’ll call “I Learned Something Today.” Documentaries are always part of the festival as well as occasional classics and fictionalized reflections on historical events.
Ascension (2021)- USA
Directed by Jessica Kingdon
This documentary explores the “Chinese Dream” of economic success by presenting footage of ordinary Chinese citizens learning or performing their job duties in over 50 different locations throughout the country. There is no commentary or context. The viewer is instead passively guided on a meditative journey from the bottom to the top of the social ladder. We all push ourselves toward our goals with whatever opportunities are available to us. If that opportunity is painting facial features on life-like sex dolls, then so be it. It’s also an invitation to examine our own preconceptions about what counts as a worthwhile or good occupation- bodyguard? English-style butler? Technician at an embroidery workshop stitching the words “Keep America Great” on disposable knickknacks? Do you somehow feel differently about the way wealth is flaunted in China versus America? The footage is oddly beautiful at times, and if you can give this film your full attention, you will walk away with something. You just might not know exactly what. This film won a number of awards in its time and is available on the Paramount+ suite of streaming channels.
Cat Daddies (2022)- USA
Directed by Mye Hoang
This is one of many films that featured an in-person Q&A with the director. She spoke about how many of her plans for this documentary had to be changed due to the pandemic. One thing you might notice is that not a single person featured appears to be of Asian heritage; however, the director is Asian-American and she had planned to include more diverse stories. In the end, she shot footage when COVID allowed, and that meant some “daddies” were never filmed as planned. I suspect the film may also be less thematically heavy that was originally intended, but it’s still a sweet romp through the lives of 8 men and their beloved felines. For cat lovers, or those who are on the fence about cats, it’s an easy watch. There is some attempt to explore the idea of masculinity and whether or not that jives with having a cat companion. Some of the cats and their men are social media stars, others are normal guys who had their lives changed when a cat (or two, or four) wandered into it. The most emotionally charged story is about David, a man experiencing homelessness and multiple health issues, who finds purpose by caring for an abandoned kitten. This, in turn, puts David in touch with other animal and people lovers who help him access the resources he needs. It’s a film that may not inspire deep thoughts, but cats have befuddled many great thinkers. Their magic will just have to remain a mystery for a while longer. Cat Daddies is available on many streaming channels including Prime, Peacock, Roku, Vudu, and Tubi.
A New Old Play (2022)- China
Directed by Qiu Jiongjiong
Do you like Wes Anderson and Terry Gilliam? Do you ever wonder what kind of films they would make if they were Chinese, had a real thing for the traditional performing arts, and wanted to talk about China’s many layers of history with a heaping helping of folklore thrown in? Boy, do I have a movie for you. I did really enjoy this movie, but I found it interesting more than entertaining. In this film, inspired by the life of the director’s grandfather, a renowned Chinese opera clown named Quifu finds himself in purgatory where he relives the major turning points of his life with the kind of tragic-comic attitude one must adopt when forced to live through troubled times. If you must live through World War II, the Chinese Civil War, and the Communist Revolution, you may as well make art out of it. At least it will provide enough emotional distance that you can have a laugh about it in the end. Most of the scenes are staged as if they were a play with Quifu commenting on the story. The more you know about Chinese culture and history the more you will get out of this film. As a novice in this area, I definitely felt all three hours of this movie. But it’s just so imaginative, earnest, and full of life that you can’t help but keep watching, even if you don’t know exactly where the journey is taking you. A New Old Play is available for rent or purchase from Amazon and Apple+.
Jalsaghar: The Music Room (1958)- India
Directed by Satyajit Ray
I hadn’t heard of this film before the festival, but apparently it’s regarded as one of the most influential films of all time. The director Satyajit Ray is a renowned film maker and author who won numerous awards during his career. Jalsaghar is based on a short story, and while it is set in Bengal, the theme of social upheaval and the decay of traditional masculine power is easily understood across cultures. It was apparently a flop in India, but was received very positively in international theaters and cemented Ray’s reputation as a masterful director. In Jalsaghar, the once wealthy and influential Biswambhar Roy loves nothing more than putting on concert after concert in his elaborate music room. Even as the expense of this luxury threatens to sink his family and his fortunes, he clings to this symbol of social authority while his enormous mansion falls apart around him. What Roy is refusing to acknowledge is that the social structure of his world has moved on without him, and it’s mostly his own fault that he lost everything truly important. No matter how many lavish parties he gives he will never be able to turn back time and live in the beautiful world we see at the beginning of the film. Keep an eye on the ominous chandelier that reflects Roy’s state of mind and his precarious hold on reality. If you want to understand more about the part that international directors played in crafting the art of film, this is a must watch. This film was re-released by Criterion and is available on their channel, Apple TV+, and a few other streaming channels under the title The Music Room.
In the next installment, I discover mumblecore thanks to the pandemic and AFFD.