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Film

New Releases

Fish Tank (III)

See review on next page.

Antichrist (III)

See review on next page.

The Flirting Scholar 2 (IIA) (Cantonese)

More a new take than a sequel to the 1993 farce, with mainland heartthrob Huang Xiaoming taking over Stephen Chow Sing-chi's role as a womanising poet, and Zhang Jingchu taking her first stab in comedy as the scholar's love interest. Not reviewed.

La Comedie Humaine (IIB) (Cantonese)

Bearing no relation whatsoever to the Balzac opus which gives the film its title, Chan Hing-kai and Janet Chun Siu-chun's film thrives on the chemistry between comedians-du jour Chapman To Man-Chat (who plays a killer) and Wong Cho-lam (a nerdy screenwriter). PF

Predators (IIB)

Adrien Brody, Alice Braga and Danny Trejo play elite soldiers who find themselves battling unseen, menacing beasts in a forest they can't escape. Nimrod Antal directs. Not reviewed.

General Releases

The A-Team (IIB)Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton Jackson and Sharlto Copley star in the big-screen adaptation of the 1980s television series about four US soldiers reinventing themselves as mercenaries. Joe Carnahan directs. CT

Break Up Club (IIB) (Cantonese)

Jaycee Chan Cho-ming and Fiona Sit Hoi-kei star as two young lovers contending with their collapsing relationship. Barbara Wong Chun-chun directs. CT

Chloe (III)

An affluent doctor employs a young sex worker to test her husband's fidelity. Amanda Seyfried, Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore star. CT

Harmony (IIA) (Korean)

Lost star Kim Yun-jin returns to Korean-language cinema as a prisoner who forms a singing group with some of her fellow inmates. CT

Knight and Day (IIB)

Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz star in a high-octane thriller about a rogue CIA agent who abducts an innocuous-looking new acquaintance as he tries to escape from the law. CT

The Legend is Born - Ip Man (IIA) (Cantonese)

Director Herman Yau Lai-to traces the formative years of the Wing Chun master. Dennis To Yu-hong stars. PF

Ocean Heaven (IIA) (Putonghua)

Screenwriter Xue Xiaolu's directorial debut revolves around an autistic young man (Wen Chang) and his father (Jet Li), who is struggling to cope with the care his son needs. CT

Sex and the City 2 (IIB)

Carrie and her chums return to cinemas as the frolicking foursome who bond again over shoes, cars, men and trips to some far-flung, exotic locations. CT

Shrek Forever After (I)

(English and Cantonese versions)

The green ogre and his friends return again for the last instalment of the Dreamworks franchise, this time with Shrek finding himself in an alternate universe after signing a contract with Rumpelstiltskin. Mike Mitchell directs. CT

Triple Tap (Cantonese) (IIB)

Daniel Wu Yin-cho and Louis Koo Tin-lok star in Derek Yee Tung-shing's latest film about two men whose rivalry in shooting competitions soon bleeds into the real world. Also stars Charlene Choi Cheuk-yin and Li Bingbing. CT

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (IIB)

Kristen Stewart again takes centre stage in the latest edition of the Twilight films, as her Bella Swan contends with the affections of the vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) and the wolfman Jacob (Taylor Lautner) while another gang of undead returns to seek bloodshed and revenge. CT

Art House

The 1st Philippine Film Festival

The HK Arts Centre and Consulate General of the Philippines in HK present nine independent films from the Philippines, including the following four. Until Jul 11. HK Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai, free (with ticket). Inquiries: 2823 8354

Jay

Francis Xavier Pasion's pseudo-documentary style crime drama about a gay TV producer making a film about the impoverished family of a gay hate crime victim. In Filipino with English subtitles. Jul 9, 7.30pm, HK Arts Centre.

Voices

Drama about a musician who offers violin lessons to an abused child of the slums and the friendship that develops between them. Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil directs. In Filipino with English subtitles. Jul 10, 2.30pm, HK Arts Centre.

Mother Nanny

Melodrama about a woman who is mother to a headstrong daughter, a nanny with a generous employer and daughter-in-law of an opinionated older woman. In Filipino with English subtitles. Jul 10, 5.30pm, Jul 11, 7.30pm, HK Arts Centre.

Penny from the Tin Can

Drama about a young man whose efforts to make up for his inconsiderate behaviour towards a needy stranger has unforeseen consequences. In Filipino with English subtitles. Jul 11, 9.30pm, HK Arts Centre.

Diving Bell and the Butterfly

A paralysed stroke victim (Mathieu Amalric) dictates his thoughts to an editor to produce the book that is the basis for this biopic. Julian Schnabel directs. In French with Chinese and English subtitles. Jul 7, noon, Broadway Cinematheque, Prosperous Garden, 3 Public Square St, Yau Ma Tei, HK$45 bc.cinema.com.hk. Inquiries: 2388 0002

Aspirasians

The Asia Society presents a programme of five films that show how people in disadvantaged positions can rise above their given circumstances, including the following four. Jul 10-24. The Grand Cinema, 2/F Elements, 1 Austin Rd West, Kowloon, HK$60 HK Ticketing. Inquiries: 2103 9502

Thanks Maa

Irfan Kamal's dramedy about a 12-year-old street kid who rescues a baby from a dog, then embarks on a search for the baby's mother. In Hindi with English subtitles. Jul 10, 22, 7.30pm, The Grand Cinema.

Noriben - The Recipe for Fortune

Dramatic adaptation of Kiwa Irie's manga about a single mother who opens a bento shop after moving back to her hometown. In Japanese with English subtitles. Jul 11, 4.30pm, Jul 23, 7.30pm, The Grand Cinema.

Beijing Taxi

Documentary looking at the lives of three Beijing taxi drivers in the run up to the 2008 Olympics. In Putonghua with English subtitles. Jul 15, 17, 7.30pm, The Grand Cinema.

A Matter of Size

Comedy about four overweight Israeli friends who discover the world of sumo after one of them starts working as a dishwasher in a Japanese restaurant. Sharon Maymon and Erez Tadmor direct. In Hebrew and Japanese with Chinese and English subtitles. Jul 16, 7.30pm, The Grand Cinema.

Look Back At Memories

The Film Archive presents a programme of three films from the 1980s and 1990s that delve further into Hong Kong's history. Jul 10-18. Archive, 50 Lei King Rd, Sai Wan Ho, HK$30 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2739 2139

Project A II

Jackie Chan directs and stars in this action film set in the early years of the colonial era as a marine tasked with cleaning up a corrupt police squad whose mission is complicated by encounters with vengeful pirates, idealistic revolutionaries and Imperial Qing secret agents. In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles. Jul 10, 18, 7.30pm, Film Archive.

A Fishy Story

Romantic drama-comedy inspired by Breakfast at Tiffany's revolving around a man and a woman struggling for a better life during 1960s Hong Kong. Starring Kenny Bee. In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles. Jul 11, 17, 7.30pm, Film Archive.

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Father

Drama-comedy about a man (Tony Leung Chiu-wai) who travels back in time to when his parents (Tony Leung Ka-fai and Carina Lau Ka-ling) were around his age. In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles. Jul 17, 4.30pm, Film Archive.

From Novel to Film: Critics' Choice

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department presents a programme of six film adaptations of novels chosen by members of the Film Critics Society, including the following two. Until Oct 23. Film Archive, 50 Lei King Rd, Sai Wan Ho; and Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Rd, TST, HK$50 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2734 2900

Death in Venice

Luchino Visconti's adaptation of Thomas Mann's novel about a composer who goes to Venice to convalesce, only to become obsessed with a Polish boy while in the Italian city. In English, Italian, Polish and French with Chinese and English subtitles. Jul 10, Aug 6, 7.30pm, Jul 24, 2.30pm, Film Archive.

Last Year at Marienbad

Drama about a man who meets a woman at a French country resort, and insists to her apparent disbelief that they met, and had an affair, the previous year. Alain Resnais directs. In French with Chinese and English subtitles. Jul 16, 7.30pm, Film Archive.

Time to Leave

In Francois Ozon's second film of his trilogy about death and mourning, a fashion photographer (Melvil Poupaud) with only a few months to live seeks comfort in his grandmother (Jeanne Moreau). In French with Chinese and English subtitles. Jul 14, 12.30pm, Broadway Cinematheque, Prosperous Garden, 3 Public Square St, Yau Ma Tei, HK$45 bc.cinema.com.hk. Inquiries: 2388 0002

Morning Matinee

The Film Archive presents a programme of four Cantonese films from the 1950s to the 1970s, including the following one. Until Jul 16. Film Archive. 50 Lei King Rd, Sai Wan Ho, HK$20 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2739 2139

Cupid Above

Cantonese opera luminaries Ho Fei-fan and Leung Sing-po star in this comedy revolving around two happy-go-lucky men who will do whatever it takes to make ends meet. In Cantonese. Jul 16, 11am, Film Archive.

A Lean Night - Glorious Gangsters

The HK Arts Centre presents a programme of six works by master filmmakers from different parts of the world, including the following three films. Jul 16-31. HK Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai, HK$50 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2582 0273

Gods of the Plague

Rainer Werner Fassbinder's homage to film noir about a small-time crook, newly released from prison, who plans to rob a local supermarket with the help of a hardened criminal. In German with English subtitles. Jul 16, 7.30pm, Jul 31, 5.30pm, HK Arts Centre.

Accattone

Director-scriptwriter Pier Paolo Pasolini's first film paints a dramatic portrait of a pimp (Franco Citti) who plies his trade in Rome. In Italian with English subtitles. Jul 17, 2.30pm, Jul 30, 7.30pm, HK Arts Centre.

Pale Flower

Masahiro Shinoda's thriller about a world-weary yakuza just released from prison and a mysterious beauty who find themselves together on the brink of self destruction. In Japanese with English subtitles. Jul 17, 24, 5.30pm, HK Arts Centre. (Note: unrestored print being screened; refund requests accepted up until 30 minutes after the start of the screenings.)

International Children's Film Carnival 2010

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department presents a children's film programme as part of the International Arts Carnival, featuring special screenings for parents (to be followed by discussion sessions in Cantonese hosted by a HK Federation of Youth Groups registered social worker, who will share parenting tips), including of the following two films. Jul 10-Aug 15. Film Archive, 50 Lei King Rd, Sai Wan Ho; Science Museum, 2 Science Museum Rd, TST East; and Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Rd, TST, HK$40 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2734 2900

The Rainbow Troops

Period drama adapted from Andrea Hirata's novel about two teachers struggling to run an elementary school for 10 children from poor families in an Indonesian mining town in the 1970s. Riri Riza directs. In Indonesian with Chinese and English subtitles. Jul 14, 7.30pm, Science Museum, Aug 14, 5pm, Film Archive.

Razzle Dazzle: A Journey Into Dance

Musical comedy about an Australian junior dance troupe preparing for the Sanosafe Troupe Spectacular whose coach must teach not only the children but their pushy stage mothers how to behave. In English with Chinese and English subtitles. Jul 21, 7.30pm, Science Museum, Aug 7, 5pm, Film Archive.

Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure

Follow a family of Dolichorhynchops, also known informally as 'Dollies', ocean creatures that lived 80 million years ago, as they traverse ancient waters. English shows Sat-Sun, 8.30pm; otherwise in Cantonese. Narrations in Cantonese, Putonghua, English and Japanese are also available through headphones. Daily (except Tue), 1.30pm, 5pm, 8.30pm, Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Rd, TST, HK$24, HK$32 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2721 0226. Ends Aug 30

Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk

Go on a whitewater adventure along the Colorado River and learn about the worldwide water crisis. English shows Mon, Thu, 7.20pm; otherwise in Cantonese. Narrations in Cantonese, Putonghua, English and Japanese are also available through headphones. Daily (except Tue), 3.50pm, 7.20pm, also Sat-Sun (and public holidays), 12.20pm, Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Rd, TST, HK$24, HK$32 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2721 0226. Ends Oct 31

Cosmic Collisions

Explore cosmic collisions that shaped our solar system, changed the course of life on earth and continue to transform our galaxy. English shows Wed, Fri, 6.10pm; otherwise in Cantonese. Narrations in Cantonese, Putonghua, English and Japanese are also available through headphones. Daily (except Tue), 2.40pm, 6.10pm, also Sun (and public holidays), 11.10am, Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Rd, TST, HK$24,HK$32 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2721 0226. Ends Dec 31

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