TIFF 2016 Preview: Asian Cinema
With the Toronto International Film Festival about to start, we take a look at the most anticipated films and the lesser known projects worth checking out at this year's festival.
After the Storm
Hirokazu Kore-eda ('Nobody Knows', 'Still Walking,' 'Like Father, Like Son') is back at the festival with another story about the struggles of a father dealing with the expectations of his family.
Hiroshi Abe (who also starred in Hirokazu Kore-eda's 'Still Walking') plays a once successful writer turned private detective. His wife left him and the relationship with his son isn't great either. But when a storm hits, the whole family is forced to spend the night at his mother's house (played by the always charming Kirin Kiki, who also starred in last year's hit 'Sweet Bean').
Rage
Japanese director Sang-il Lee ('The Unforgiven') is back with another tense thriller starring Ken Watanabe.
We follow three stories somehow related to the bloody murder of a couple. Blood on the walls of the couple read "Rage". A year later, with the killer still at large, we have to question everyone's motives.
Sadako vs. Kayako
Pitting two of Japans most iconic ghosts against each other, it's 'The Ring' vs. 'The Grudge' — both of which of course had their remakes in Hollywood last decade.
Seeing the two ghosts face off should bring plenty of delight between the generally serious dramas at the festival.
The Age of Shadows
This South Korean period drama promises an epic spy thriller set during the 1920's Japanese occupation of Korea.
While the Korean resistance fighters are trying to bring in explosives to destroy the Japanese facilities in Seoul, a Korean police officer working for the Japanese is ordered to stop them.
The Handmaiden
'Stoker' and 'Oldboy' director Park Chan-Wook returns with a visceral drama set during the 1930's Japanese occupation of Korea. A provocative erotic thriller that will surely be a feast to remember.
The Long Excuse
Star of the Oscar winning 'Departures', Masahiro Motoki, is a grieving husband after his wife suddenly died in a bus crash. Or he should be. Everyone expects him to be, but he was cheating on his wife when it happened.
When he meets another man who's also lost his wife, and who is actually grieving, he offers to take care the man's two children.
The Net
Finally a new film at the festival by Korean 'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring' director Kim Ki-duk.
It follows the story of a poor North Korean fisherman, recruited by the South Korean military to be a spy. Liking his simple life and not asking for all of this, he slowly realizes things will never be the same for him again.
