Alternative theaters to present Wong Kar-Wai films

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta might not be Cannes, but this doesn't necessarily mean that its residents cannot enjoy quality, award- winning movies, thanks to the establishment of alternative theaters that regularly screen non-commercial films.

Bentara Budaya on Jl. Palmerah Selatan 17, Central Jakarta, and Teater Utan Kayu on Jl. Utan Kayu 68 H, East Jakarta, are both presenting Wong Kar-Wai Film Week, starting Monday.

Wong Kar-Wai was named the best director in the Cannnes Film Festival for his movie Happy Together (1997), which tells the story of a homosexual couple. In the Mood for Love (2000), also won best foreign film in the festival, while the star, Tony Leung, was named best actor. The film is about the jealousy involving two couples living in apartments located next to one and another.

Unlike most Hong Kong film directors, Wong does not make many action movies, even though he once directed a Chinese martial art film, Ashes of Time. His films are more like the form introduced by Jean Luc-Godard, a figure of Nouvelle Vague, a film reform movement emerging in France during the 1960s.

Wong was born in Shanghai and moved with his family to Hong Kong when he was five years old where he later studied graphic design and TV production. While working for several TV series, Wong started to write scripts. He started directing his first movie As Tears Go By in 1982. But it was not until more than a decade later that he achieved international recognition for his film-making, with Chungking Express (1994), a story about two policemen who fall in love: one with a bandit, another one with a waiter.

Bentara Budaya will present Chungking Express (Monday, 4 p.m., Tuesday, 7 p.m.), Fallen Angels (1995, Monday, 7 p.m., Wednesday, 4 p.m.), In the Mood for Love (Tuesday, 4 p.m., Wednesday, 7 p.m.).

Teater Utan Kayu will screen Days of Being Wild (1991, July 13, 4:30 p.m.), Ashes of Time (1994, July 13, 7 p.m.), Chungking Express (1994, July 14, 4:30 p.m.), Fallen Angels (1995, July 14, 7 p.m.), Happy Together (1997, July 15, 2:30 p.m.), In the Mood for Love (July 15, 4:30 p.m.).

A discussion on the works of Wang will take place at 7 p.m. on July 15, featuring Ali-Ono from National Taiwan University and Ronny P. Tjandra, production manager of Cinekom, the distributor of Hong Kong VCDs. (sim)