Top 5 films to watch in Hong Kong this week: September 1-7

Zombies on a train, American arms dealers, Chinese art-house drama and documentaries on North Korean propaganda and Japan’s pride and joy in this week’s pick of must-see movies

Edmund Lee

Published: 8:00am, 1 Sep, 2016

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1. War Dogs

Jonah Hill is the repellent yet immensely watchable star of this arms-dealing satire. Directed by Todd Phillips of The Hangover series, the based-on-a-true-story buddy drama – co-starring Miles Teller as Hill’s business partner – is as amoral as it is absurdly hilarious. (Opens on September 1)

2. Tsukiji Wonderland

Right before its eventual relocation, Tokyo’s famed fish market is immortalised in this appetising documentary, which not only reveals the pride of the trade, but also dishes out blatant food porn in the form of gratuitous close-up shots of sushi and sashimi. (Opens on September 1)

3. Train to Busan

On August 28 – just the fourth day of its general release here – Yeon Sang-ho’s film broke the 2002 record of My Sassy Girl to become the highest-grossing Korean film in Hong Kong box office history. This action-thriller is one of the best zombie movies in recent years. (Now showing)

4. Under the Sun

Russian documentary maker Vitaly Mansky’s revealing look beyond North Korea’s propaganda façade was shot in Pyongyang under the watchful eye of government handlers, who had no idea that the outtakes are the gold. (September 6, 11 and 14, part of the Human Rights Documentary Film Festival)

5. Kaili Blues

The logic of dreams takes over in this art-house gem by young Chinese filmmaker Bi Gan, who brings a touch of magic realism to the rural milieu mostly occupied by social realist dramas. Bi counts Andrei Tarkovsky as one of his filmmaking idols – and the influence shows. (Now showing)

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