Alternative theaters to present Wong Kar-Wai films
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)