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The 2019 NYAFF Filmleaf Festival Coverage reviews begin with:
SAMURAI MARATHON (Bernard Rose 2018)
A Japanese samurai movie directed by a Brit known for horror and Russian-themed films is based on a fanciful story about Japan in the 1850's when Commodore Perry's arrival had disrupted the country's long isolation. An oddball feudal lord stages a marathon to inspire readiness. A spy for the shogun misinterprets this as a rebellion and mayhem ensues. A good cast, beautiful settings, and a score by Philip Glass save this from seeming just chaotic and nutty. NYAFF Opening Night Film.
Friday, June 28, 7 pm at the Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center.
Last edited by Chris Knipp; 06-22-2019 at 11:56 PM.
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THE GUN 銃 (Masaharu Take 2018)
This psychological thriller from Japan about an aimless university student who finds a pistol and becomes unhinged won several awards at the Tokyo Film Festival last year and is notable for the elegance of its emotionless young protagonist, played by Nijirô Murakami. The always excellent Lily Franky (Shoplifters)) plays the key role of a detective.
Sunday, June 30, 6:15 pm at the Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center.
Last edited by Chris Knipp; 06-27-2019 at 10:12 PM.
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WUSHU ORPHAN 武林孤儿 (Huang Huang 2018)
A first film set in rural China in the Nineties. A naive young man with not much in the way of teaching credentials goes to a rural martial arts boarding school to be the instructor in Chinese, a thankless task. There is a gallery of odd characters, and one good student who hates martial arts.
Sunday, June 30, 8:30 pm at the Walter Reade Theater, Lincoln Center.
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THE SCOUNDRELS 狂徒 (Huing Tzu-hsuan 2018)
From Taiwan, a brutal, tempestuous actioner in which a basketball star enters a life of crime after he is disgraced for attacking a spectator at a game. He becomes involved with a man who robs armored trucks carrying money. The director previously made only short films. It debuted at Busan and got a review in Hollywood Reporter.
Showtime, NYAFF"
Monday, July 1
6:00 PM
Walter Reade Theater
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COMPLICITY (Ken Chikaura 2018)
Complicity is a touching, intimate study of illegal immigration - of a young Chinese man into Japan. He takes a false identity for work and becomes like family at a rural soba shop. But his status is continually in danger. Actor Lu Yulai is excellent in the lead, and ably backed by the veteran Japanese actor Tatsuya Fuji.
NYAFF showtime:
Saturday, June 29
1:00 PM
Walter Reade Theater
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THE FABLE (Ken Ebuchi 2019)
A film from manga about a legendary hit man, Sato, whose boss puts him on furlough for a year to learn to "act normal." This of course could never work. A pretty woman menaced by an egotistical young ex-con (played by the extraordinary Yūya Yagira, who won Best Actor at Cannes at the age of 14 for Koreeda's Nobody Knows), forces Sato to act.
NYFF showtime
Tuesday, July 2
6:00 PM
Walter Reade Theater
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IF YOU ARE HAPPY 学区房72小时 (Chen Xiaoming 2019) (2019)
Social ambition and real estate maneuvering in contemporary Shanghai. A man is willing to stop at nothing to get his little girl into a better school. A film permeated by soullessness.
NYFF showtime
Wednesday, July 3
7:30 PM
Walter Reade Theater
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