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Edmund Lee

Click on film titles to read SCMP.com reviews


1. Yi Yi: A One and a Two
An undisputed masterpiece that transcends time and cultural boundaries, this moving ensemble drama by the late Taiwanese master Edward Yang De-chang, originally released in 2000, observes the quiet sorrows of various members of a middle-class family in Taipei with a most delicate, humanistic touch. (Opens on January 1)


2. The Great Buddha+
One of the best films to emerge from a banner year of Taiwanese cinema, documentary filmmaker Huang Hsin-yao’s fiction debut is a strangely hypnotic noir set in a corrupted small town, where a pair of impoverished middle-aged men’s discovery of their decadent boss’s affairs proves too much to bear. (Opens on December 28)


3. Coco
Forget Cars 3 , Finding Dory or The Good Dinosaur . Pixar’s first great film in years is an astonishingly effective tale of family, life and death. Set in Mexico and taking a deep dive into its culture, the colourful story of a young boy who treasures his guitar above all else is also a great delight for music lovers. (Opens on December 28)


4. Paddington 2
A belated contender for the title of 2017’s best family film, this utterly endearing sequel offers an irresistible mix of silly humour and heartfelt emotions that will convert even the cynics. Its central message – of the importance of remaining civil in a world overwhelmed by prejudice – only makes this more of a treat. (Now showing)


5. Stronger
Another year, another Oscar-worthy performance by Jake Gyllenhaal. In this true-life drama, the actor gives a complex yet undeniably powerful portrayal of a victim of the 2013 Boston marathon bombing, who recovers from losing both legs, only to encounter more complications with his celebrity status. (Opens on December 28)
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Film reviews

Top five films to watch in Hong Kong this week (December 28-January 3), from Yi Yi: A One and a Two to The Great Buddha+

A humanistic family drama and a film noir about corruption, both from Taiwan, guitars and the land of the dead from Mexico, a Paddington Bear sequel and a drama about a survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing

Yi Yi: A One and a Two.

The Great Buddha+ director Huang Hsin-yao on his Golden Horse-winning feature debut – and the depressing state of Taiwanese society

Documentary filmmaker had hoped his project, a relentlessly bleak view on the daily life of people on the fringes of society, would gain a little interest – instead it swept the boards at all the major Taiwan film festivals

A still from The Great Buddha+.

Leon Dai plays the wicked boss in The Great Buddha+.

Cres Chuang (left) in a still from The Great Buddha+.

Bamboo Chen in a still from The Great Buddha+.

Portrait of Huang Hsin-yao, Taiwanese director of the film 'The Great Buddha+', which received 10 nominations at the prestigious Golden Horse Awards, photographed at Happy Valley. 18NOV17 [FEATURES] SCMP / Jonathan Wong

Taiwanese film director Huang Hsin-yao. His movie The Great Buddha+ won in five categories at the 2017 Golden Horse Awards. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Culture

Film & TV

A humanistic family drama and a film noir about corruption, both from Taiwan, guitars and the land of the dead from Mexico, a Paddington Bear sequel and a drama about a survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing
