Episode 54 - easternKicks Picks for December

This week Andy and James take a look at Mongolian cinema. With If Only I Could Hibernate in UK cinemas, Andy chat's to the director Zoljargal Purevdash. Meanwhile regular easternKicks contributor Amarsanaa Battulga joins us to chat about Mongolian cinema in general.  This episode’s handy timecodes 00:00:32 - Introduction.  00:01:44 -  Zoljargal Purevdash interview: If Only I Could Hibernate. 00:32:58 - Putting Mongolian cinema in context. Why do we only see coproductions? What do local audiences really watch? 01:06:03 - Outro.  If Only I Could Hibernate is in UK cinemas now, released by Conic Films

James and Andy are back with another look at the latest releases on streamers and in cinemas for March. This episode’s handy timecodes 00:00:32 - Introduction.  00:02:20 - The Oscars!  00:11:35 - Shudder, with a sudden appearance of 2000's Uzumaki.  00:15:48 - Amazon Prime, including Suddenly in Dark Night, Doctor (2013) and KKN di Desa Penari: Luwih Dowo, Luwih Medeni.  00:25:04 - Netflix, including Officer Black Belt, Indigo, Shake, Rattle and Roll Extreme, The Parades and The Pig, The Snake and the Pigeon.  00:50:28 - Cinema picks, including Monster, Drift and Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus.  01:00:56 - Outro. 

James and Andy are back with another look at the latest releases on streamers and in cinemas for February. This episode’s handy timecodes 00:19 - Introduction 02:33 - Shudder, with Dain Said's Blood Flower 06:53 - Netflix, including Badland Hunters, Home for Rent, The Last Wife, Past Lives, The Bridge Curse – Ritual 26:08 - Amazon Prime, including Expats, Zu Warriors, The Fallen Bridge 36:57 - Cinema picks, including The Moon Thieves, Perfect Days, Evil Does Not Exist 47:46 - Outro

James and Andy ring in the New Year with another look at the latest releases on streamers and in cinemas for this month. This episode’s handy timecodes 00:33 - Introduction 01:41 - Special announcement: Focus Hong Kong's Chinese New Year screenings 06:34 - Amazon Prime, including The Long Walk, Chasing the Dragon, Sakra, The Tiger, and Derailed 27:46 - Netflix, including Bad Lands, Badland Hunters, The Abandoned, A Very Good Girl, and The Brothers Sun 41:56 - iPlayer, Decision to Leave 48:46 - Cinema picks, including In Broad Daylight, Ping Pong, and The Scent of Green Papaya 56: 00 - Teaser for future episodes... 58:53 - Outro

James and Andy curate a selection of new and recent releases from streaming platforms, cinema and more.  This episode’s handy timecodes 00:19 - Introduction 02:29 - Streaming picks... 03:43 - Netflix, including Sweet Home Season 2, Believer 2 and Hard Days 16:27 - Amazon Prime, including Ashiap Man, The Family, Kwaidan and Third Window 24:08 - Cinema picks, including Godzilla Minus One, Yoshiki: Under The Sky and Raging Grace  21:52 - Outro

In the first of a new format, James and Andy curate a selection of new and recent releases from streaming platforms, cinema and festivals. Plus Andy catches up with Geran and Walid director Areel Abu Bakar in trendy Hackney Wick.  This episode’s handy timecodes 00:00:19 - Introduction 00:02:36 - But first, what easternKicks Picks IS, and what it ISN'T 00:06:24 - Streaming picks, including Ballerina, Yellow Door 90’s Lo-Fi Film Club and In my Mother’s Skin. 00:39:44 - Cinema picks, including Back Home, Past lives and Where the Wind Blows. 00:46:49 - Areel Abu Bakar interview 01:03:16 - Festival roundup, including BFI London Film Festival and London Korean Film Festival. 01:21:52 - Outro

James and Andy look back on Ann Hui's unsung ghost comedy Visible Secret, newly released by Radiance Films and screening in London, as well as more Hong Kong horror in the form of new cinema release Back Home.  This episode’s handy timecodes 00:35 - Introduction 01:38 - Visible Secret introduction 06:40 - Great talent in front and behind the camera 14:09 - The plot 16:57 - Lost in the crowd - why was it overlooked? 36:20 - Back Home 44:51 - Outro

This episode Colette Balmain joins James and Andy to chat about Tokyo Melody, a 1985 documentary that recently resurfaced at Japan Cuts 2023 about Ryuichi Sakamoto, and to chat about the great musician, innovator and composer's legacy. Yonah Sichrovsky speaks to the film’s director Elizabeth Lennard. Meanwhile, Frank Djeng, king of audio commentaries, shares his thoughts on Sakamoto. Plus we have the return of the easternKicks picks! All in this bumper-packed show! This episode’s handy timecodes 00:00:32 - Introduction 00:02:09 - We discuss Tokyo Melody 00:16:30 - Yonah chats to Elizabeth Lennard 00:40:28 - Sakamoto's legacy 00:52:33 - Frank Djeng remembers Sakamoto 00:56:19 - Sakamoto's legacy continued 01:07:20 - easternKicks picks 01:22:48 - Outro

This episode James and Andy introduce the lineup for two summer events for new-ish UK festival Focus Hong Kong, curated by some rather familiar names. This episode’s handy timecodes 00:32 - Introduction 01:42 - What is Focus Hong Kong? The full disclosure... 04:55 - Memories to Choke On, Drinks to Wash Them Down 11:16 - Made in Hong Kong 15:58 - Where the Wind Blows 21:44 - A Guilty Conscience 24:43 - Let it Ghost 27:53 - Nomad (Leslie Cheung) 36:26 - Outro You can see the full details for Focus Hong Kong on the official website: focushongkong.uk

Andy chats to Filipino filmmaker Mikhail Red while at Udine Far East Film Festival, while James and Andy take a trip through highlights of his career so far and the latest hit starring Nadine Lustre, DELETER. This episode’s handy timecodes 00:33 - Introduction 02:13 - Career highlights 13:28 - Deleter 26:58 - Andy chats with Mikhail Red 54:27 - Outro Deleter had its International Festival Premiere at 25th Far East Film Festival 2023. You can find the EXCLUSIVE shots from Red's next film Friendly Fire here.