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Clarence Tsui

Kevin Kwong

Paul Fonoroff

New Releases
The Fighter (IIB)See review on this page.
Men Suddenly in Love (IIB) (Cantonese)
Wong Jing's comedy about five men with marital problems, who meet up to ogle and chase young women. Starring Eric Tsang Chi-wai, Jim Chim Sui-man and Chapman To Man-chat. Not reviewed.   
World Invasion (IIA)
Sci-fi actioner in which a US Marine staff sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) and his new platoon battle against alien attackers in Los Angeles. Not reviewed.
General Releases
127 Hours (IIB) True story of a mountain climber (James Franco) who battles against the elements and his demons to save himself after a boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. CT   
Biutiful (IIB) (Spanish, Putonghua and Wolof)
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's drama centring on a man (Javier Bardem) living and working on the fringes of Barcelona society who is driven by a desire to protect people. CT
Black Swan (IIB)
Natalie Portman stars in Darren Aronofsky's thriller about a ballerina who wins the lead part in Swan Lake but slowly loses her mind as she tries to capture the essence of the ballet's twin roles.  CT
Blue Valentine (III)
Drama about a married couple (Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling) who decide to spend a night away from their daughter in an attempt to save their failing marriage. CT
Burlesque (IIA)
Christina Aguilera stars in a musical drama about a small-town girl with a big voice who goes to Los Angeles to work at the Burlesque Lounge, a majestic but ailing theatre that's home to an inspired musical revue. Also starring Cher. CT
Carmen in 3-D (IIA) (French)
Stereoscopic film adaptation of Georges Bizet's opera about a beautiful gypsy with a fiery temper, the inexperienced soldier who falls for her and the bullfighter she lusts after. Starring Christine Rice. KK
Hip Hop Storm (I) (Mandarin)
Su Che-hsien's documentary about two generations of Taiwanese hip hop dancers. CT
I Am Number Four (IIA)
D.J. Caruso's  sci-fi suspense-thriller centring on a teenage alien (Alex Pettyfer)  who masks his true identity and pretends to be a typical human student to elude a deadly enemy seeking to kill him. CT
I Love HK (IIA) (Cantonese) 
Comedy about two men (Eric Tsang Chi-wai and Tony Leung Kar-fai) who find new hope in life as they join a programme to revitalise their public housing estate. CT
The King's Speech (IIB)
Historical drama about King George VI of Britain and the speech therapist who helped the monarch overcome a debilitating speech impediment to become worthy of his throne. Starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham-Carter. CT
Naruto Shippuden Movie 4: The Lost Tower (IIA) (Japanese)
Latest sequel based on the Japanese cartoon TV series in which a ninja is sent 20 years back in time while pursuing a fugitive.  Not reviewed.
No Strings Attached (IIB)
Comedy about a pair of life-long friends (Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher) who embark on a strictly physical   relationship. Ivan Reitman directs. CT  
The Rite (IIB) Real-life inspired supernatural thriller 
that follows a seminary student (Colin O'Donoghue)  sent to apprentice with a priest (Anthony Hopkins) who has performed numerous exorcisms. CT
Sanctum (IIB) 
Thriller about divers desperately searching for an  escape route after a  storm forces them  into a cave system. CT
Season of the Witch (IIB)
Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman star in this historical actioner about two 14th-century knights who are tasked with transporting a girl suspected of being the witch who caused the black plague. CT
Shaolin (IIB) (Cantonese and Putonghua)
Martial arts period drama revolving around a ruthless warlord (Andy Lau Tak-wah) who, after he is betrayed by an ambitious underling, seeks refuge at a Shaolin temple. PF 
Space Battleship Yamato (IIA) (Japanese) 
Sci-fi anime about an Earth Defence Force space battleship sent on a mission to a distant planet in search of a device  that can heal a ravaged earth. CT  
True Grit (IIB) 
A 14-year-old girl enlists the aid of a US marshal to track down her father's murderer. Starring Hailee Steinfeld, Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon. CT
Art House
Morning Matinee
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department presents four urban comedies directed by Mok Hong-si and starring Ting Ying,  including the following two films. Until Mar 25. Film Archive, 50 Lei King Rd, Sai Wan Ho, HK$20 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2739 2139
Three Love Affairs 
Comedy about two workers who pose as rich men in order to land themselves a spouse from a higher class. In Cantonese. Mar 11, 11am, Film Archive. (See Don't miss, right)
Happy Couples
Comedy revolving around two newlyweds and their married neighbours and the secrets that they want kept from others. In Cantonese. Mar 18, 11am, Film Archive.
Those Were the Days
In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of German unification, the Goethe-Institut HK presents the German Film Forum programme of five films about particular periods in German history, including the following one. Ends Mar 11. HK Film Archive, 50 Lei King Rd, Sai Wan Ho, HK$50 Urbtix. Inquiries:  2734 9009
Sun Alley
Romantic comedy set in 1970s East Germany  centring on a young East Berliner intent on winning the heart of the prettiest girl at his school. In German with English subtitles. Mar 11, 8pm, Film Archive.
Classical in Cinema
iMagine presents a HD programme of classical music concerts and operas, including the following seven. Until Jan 2012. AMC Festival Walk, U/G Level, Festival Walk, 80 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong; AMC Pacific Place, L1 Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty; Broadway The One, 6-11/F, The One, 100 Nathan Rd, TST; and Palace IFC, Podium Level 1, IFC Mall, 8 Finance St, Central, HK$75-HK$120 www.amccinemas.com.hk and www2.cinema.com.hk. Inquiries: 6336 3595
Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra
Film of a Salzburg Festival concert that had Gustavo Dudamel conducting the Venezuelan orchestra, pianist Martha Argerich, violinist Renaud Capucon and violincello player Gautier Capucon playing works by Beethoven and Mussorgsky. Mar 12, 11.30am, Broadway The One, Mar 27, 11.30am, AMC Festival  Walk, also Mar 27, 11.30am,  Palace IFC.
Aida
Iano Tamar and Tatiana Serjan  star in a production of Giuseppe Verdi's opera about an Ethiopian princess bought into slavery in Egypt who becomes torn between her family and an Egyptian general she loves. The show was performed against the backdrop of Switzerland's Lake Constance at the Bregenz Festival.  In Italian with Chinese and English subtitles. Mar 12, 7.20pm, Mar 26, 5.15pm, AMC Pacific Place, Mar 13, 5.20pm, Palace IFC, Mar 27, 5.20pm, Apr 3, 5.15pm, AMC  Festival Walk.
3 Stars in Vienna
Film of an open-air concert in Vienna's Schoenbrunn Palace in which Bertrand De Billy conducts soprano Anna Netrebko, tenors Placido Domingo and Rolando Villazon and the Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien performing works by Jules Massenet, Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi and others. Mar 13, 11.20am, AMC Pacific Place. 
The Chopin Piano Concertos
Film of a concert at the Ruhr Piano Festival in Essen during which pianist-maestro Daniel Barenboim turned over the conducting reins to Andris Nelsons to perform works by Chopin with the Staatskapelle Berlin. Nelsons also conducts the orchestra performing Haydn's Symphony in E Minor, Mourning. Mar 13, Apr 2, 11.30am, AMC Festival Walk, Mar 20, 11.30am, Palace IFC, Apr 3, 11.30am, AMC Pacific Place.  
Turandot
Chen Kaige directs the Theatre Cor de la Generalitat Valenciana Escolania de la Mare de Deu dels Desemparats' performance at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia of Giacomo Puccini's fairy-tale opera about a Chinese princess who will only marry a prince who can solve her three riddles. In Italian with English subtitles. Mar 13, Apr 3, 5.30pm, AMC Festival Walk, Mar 19, AMC Pacific Place, Apr 2, 5.30pm, Palace IFC.
Karajan Memorial Concert on his 100th Birthday
Film of a concert at Vienna's Musikverein during which Seiji Ozawa conducts German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Berliner Philharmoniker playing works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and J.S. Bach. Mar 19, 11.30am, AMC Festival Walk, Mar 20, Apr 2, 11.30am, Broadway The One, Mar 27, 11.30am, AMC Pacific Place, Apr 3, 11.30am,  Palace IFC.
Cyrano de Bergerac
Placido Domingo stars in Franco Alfano's operatic adaptation of Edmond Rostand's play about a big-nosed man of many talents who falls for a beautiful woman but believes that his physical appearance will make it impossible for her to love him. In French with English subtitles. Mar 20, 5.25pm, AMC Festival Walk, Apr 2, 5.25pm, AMC  Pacific Place.
Asian Film Awards Screenings of Nominated Films
The HK International Film Festival Society-organised Asian Film Awards programme presents 17 Asian films, including the following four. Until Mar 17. UA Cityplaza, 5/F Cityplaza, 18 Taikoo Shing Rd, Taikoo Shing; and UA Megabox, Level 11, MegaBox, Enterprise Square 5, 38 Wang Chiu Rd, Kowloon Bay, HK$55 www.uacinemas.com.hk; and The Grand Cinema, 2/F Elements, 1 Austin Rd West, Kowloon, HK$65 www.thegrandcinema.com.hk. Inquiries: www.asianfilmawards.asia
Sacrifice
Chen Kaige's period epic about a court doctor in the time of the Warring States who plans revenge after being forced to sacrifice his son to save his master's life. In Putonghua with Chinese and English subtitles. Mar 12, 5.30pm, The Grand Cinema.
The Housemaid
Im Sang-soo's racy remake of a classic 1960 Korean drama about the devastating consequences of a young servant's affair with her employer. In Korean with Chinese and English subtitles. Mar 13, 5.10pm, The  Grand Cinema.
The Unjust
Ryoo Seung-wan's police thriller following the events that unfold after a policeman and a gangster-turned-businessman arrange for an actor to be charged in a serial murder case. In Korean with English subtitles. Mar 14, 7.30pm, The Grand Cinema.
About Her Brother
Sayuri Yoshinaga stars in Yoji Yamada's bitter-sweet drama about a middle-aged pharmacist's ongoing struggle to care for her unruly younger brother (Tsurube Shofukutei). In Japanese with Chinese and English subtitles. Mar 16, 7.30pm, The Grand Cinema.
The Barbarian Invasions  
Drama about a dying history professor who, during his final days, is reunited with old friends, former lovers, his ex-wife, and his estranged son.  In French with Chinese and English subtitles. Mar 13, noon, Broadway Cinematheque, Prosperous Garden, 3 Public Square St, Yau Ma Tei, HK$45 bc.cinema.com.hk. Inquiries: 2388 0002 
European Film Festival
The Office of the European Union to Hong Kong and Macau presents the following programme of 14 films from 14 European countries, including the following two. Until Mar 14. Broadway Cinematheque, Prosperous Garden, 3 Public Square St, Yau Ma Tei, HK$60  cinema.com.hk. Inquiries:  2388 0002  
Another Year
Mike Leigh's drama centring on an elderly couple (Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen) whose contentment stands in stark contrast to their friends, colleagues, and family - all of whom seem to suffer some degree of unhappiness. In English. Mar 13, 1.30pm, Broadway Cinematheque.
The Last Days of Emma Blank
Dark comedy about a dictatorial country-house resident waiting for death to arrive who, in the meantime, treats her family members like servants and makes outrageous demands. In Dutch with  English subtitles. Mar 14, 7.45pm,  Broadway Cinematheque.  
Assignment: China 
Documentary film about the first American journalists who went to the mainland after the 1949 communist revolution. Mike Chinoy narrates and will be in attendance.  In English. Mar 14, 7.30pm, Foreign Correspondents Club, 2 Lower Albert Rd, Central, HK$250 (members HK$175), includes dinner, booking required. Inquiries: 2521 1511
The 16th ifva Festival
The HK Arts Centre presents a selection of independent short films and videos, including the following seven film programmes. Mar 16-20. HK Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai; and Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Rd,  TST, HK$50 Urbtix. Inquiries:  2824 5328
ifva x 7-Eleven @ community
Seven short films with convenience store settings including: Heiward Mak Hei-yan's Eleven to Seven, revolving around a female white collar worker who works from 7am to 11pm and a part-time worker in a convenience store who works from 11pm to 7am (in Cantonese). Mar 16, 6.30pm, HK Arts Centre.
The 16th ifva Open Category Finalist Showcase (Programme 1) + Jenny
Five short films focusing on individuals, family and society including Shek Yi-ching, Yiu Wing-ho, Tang Heng, Seung Yu-hang and Ho Fung-lun's Tsoi Yuen Villagers (in Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles). Also showing: Wong Ching-po's short film about love at first sight in a convenience store (in Cantonese). Mar 16, 8pm, HK Arts Centre.
The 16th ifva Open Category Finalist Showcase (Programme 2) + Eleven to Seven
Five short films about the wild days of youth including Cheung King-wai's Crimson Jade about a middle-school dropout and drug addict who, upon discovering she is pregnant, decides to take more drugs to induce an abortion (in Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles). Also showing: Heiward Mak Hei-yan's short film about a white collar worker who works from 7am to 11pm and a part-time worker in a convenience store who works from 11pm to 7am (in Cantonese). Mar 17, 7.30pm, HK Arts Centre.
The 16th ifva Animation Category Finalist Showcase + 7-wishes
Ten animated short films including Yip Wing-chung's The Shoes about the close bonds between the filmmaker and his grandmother (in Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles). Also showing: Stella So Man-yee's 7-wishes, in which a 7-Eleven store is depicted as a haven for old maids (no dialogue). Mar 18, 7.15pm, HK Arts Centre.  
Lecture by Eric Riewer + Selected Works of Gobelins (Programme 1) + Single Serving Friends
Talk by Gobelins' film animation department head and 30 student works of the French animation school made between 1993 and 2010 (all without dialogue). Also showing: Kwok Zune's short film about a young shopkeeper who meets with a magazine delivery boy at around dawn each day (in Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles). Mar 20, 1.30pm, HK Arts Centre.
Selected Works of Gobelins (Programme 2) + X
 Eleven works by Gobelins alumni and instructors, including Moritz Mayerhofer's URS and Fabrice Joubert's French Roast. All without dialogue except for one in French with English subtitles. Also showing: Vincent Chui Wan-shun's short film about what makes a good shopkeeper (in Cantonese). Mar 20, 6.30pm, HK Arts Centre. 
The 16th ifva Jury Recommendation
 Nine short films selected from the competition's Open, Youth and Animation categories. Three with no dialogue, one in Mandarin with Chinese and English subtitles, three in Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles, and one with no dialogue with Chinese and English subtitles. Mar 20, 9pm, Space Museum. 
HK International Film Festival
The HK International Film Festival Society presents 335 films from 56 territories, including the following four films. Mar 20-Apr 5. City Hall, 5 Edinburgh Place, Central; Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Rd, TST; Film Archive, 50 Lei King Rd, Sai Wan Ho; HK Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai; HK Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai; Science Museum, 2 Science Museum Rd, TST East; Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Rd, TST; The Grand Cinema, 2/F Elements, 1 Austin Rd West, Kowloon; UA Cityplaza, 5/F Cityplaza, 18 Taikoo Shing Rd, Taikoo Shing; UA iSquare, 7/F iSquare, 63 Nathan Rd, TST; UA Langham Place, 8/F-11/F Langham Place, 8 Argyle St, Mong Kok; and UA Times Square, G/F-2/F Times Square, 1 Matheson St, Causeway Bay. HK$30-HK$100 HK Ticketing and Urbtix. Inquiries: hkiff.org 
Carlos
Olivier Assayas' 5 1/2-hour cut of the biopic of Venezuelan  terrorist Ilich Ramirez Sanchez (aka Carlos the Jackal). In English, Arabic, German, Spanish, French, Hungarian, Japanese and Russian with English subtitles. Mar 20, noon, UA Cityplaza.
Don't Go Breaking My Heart 
Rom-com about a love triangle involving a  playboy (Louis Koo Tin-lok), a  female executive (Gao Yuanyuan) and a talented architect (Daniel Wu Yin-cho). In Cantonese with English subtitles. Mar 20, 7.15pm, also 10pm, Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Potiche 
Comedy about a housewife who takes over her loutish husband's umbrella business after he falls ill. In French with English subtitles. Mar 20, 10pm, Convention and Exhibition Centre, Apr 2, 10.30am, Cultural Centre.
Quattro Hong Kong 2
Anthology of four short films set in Hong Kong comprising: Fililpino filmmaker Brillante Mendoza's Purple, Malaysian director Ho Yu Hang's Open Verdict, Thai auteur Apichatpong Weerasethakul's M Hotel and local filmmaker Stanley Kwan Kam-pang's 13 Minutes in the Lives of ... In Cantonese and English with English subtitles. Mar 20, 10pm, Mar 23, 6.15pm, UA Cityplaza.
All for One and One for All: Union Film
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department presents the complete retrospective of Union Film's catalogue of titles, including the following film. Mar 20-May 29. Film Archive, 50 Lei King Rd, Sai Wan Ho, HK$30 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2734 2900
Parents' Hearts
Chun Kim's drama about a family  headed by an unemployed Cantonese opera performer struggling to provide a better future for his children. Starring Ma Si-tsang. In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles. Mar 20, May 14, 2pm, Film Archive.



Film