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SCMP Reporter

The Hong Kong International Film Festival, which runs from April 4-19, will feature flicks from around the world. Here are Young Post's top picks:

A Bite of Love (Thailand)

The film: It begins with a stray hound wandering through the streets of Bangkok in search of its pup.  The  tiny brown  dog, nicknamed Grilled Pork, is adopted by an eight-year-old girl known as Sticky Rice, who was abandoned  by her mother. The parallel between Sticky Rice and Grilled Pork (left) will easily bring tears to your eyes. Siwaporn Pongsuwan directs.

Why bother?  It's a heart-warming film that features cute canines - an appropriate way to mark the Year of the Dog.

Su-Ki-Da (Japan)

The film: Named after the Japanese expression  for 'I am fond of you',

Su-Ki-Da is a bittersweet story about unspoken love. The film revolves around Yosuke, a high school student who is an avid guitar player, and Yu (right), Yosuke's secret admirer. Their budding romance ends after a tragic accident, but the pair reunite 17 years later.

Why bother? The film was directed by Hiroshi Ishikawa, the producer of the Pokemon movie series. He won the Best Director award at the New Montreal Film Festival for his work on Su-Ki-Da. His minimalist style, as illustrated by his poetic shots of clouds, lifts this simple love story above the ordinary.

Little Red Flowers (mainland)

The film:  Adapted from a novel by mainland author Wang Shuo, the movie is set in a 1950s Beijing kindergarten where conformity and discipline rule.

A four-year-old child who shows no regard for school rules constantly gets into trouble. The film shows how  people  conform to fit into  society. It also features a delightful cast of child actors, including the daughter of the film's director, Zhang Yuan (Beijing Bastards).

Why Bother? Wang's writing seems to fit well with  Zhang's filmmaking style. The works of both men irritate  mainland authorities by portraying the dark side of Chinese society.

Jungle Emperor Leo (Japan)

The film: Generations of children have been entertained by the creations of Osamu Tezuka. The late  animator was known by many as the god of manga. One of his beloved characters is Kimba the White Lion, a cub who appeared in Japan's first  colour animated television show in the 1960s. The story  has been revived  by director Yoshio Takeuchi. Kimba has grown up to be Leo the Lion King and has a son Rune, who is sold to a circus.

Why bother? It's an anime that features fun-loving lions and conveys a  valuable moral message.



movie buff