Philippine Asian News Today Vol 20 No 18 | Page 26

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PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY September 16 - 30, 2018
VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL
By Alan Samuel
FILM FESTIVAL
Nervous Translation (PG)
Altered State!

Being a child is difficult at the best of times. Take a young girl out of her environment
and there’s no telling what may happen. Lucky audiences who take in Nervous Translation will
be transformed by a mesmerizing low-key performance from its lead who provides a fulfilling
experience.

World cinema with a Philippine bent makes its way to the shores of Vancouver. At the
Centre of Nervous Translation is the youthful Yael who lives largely home alone as her birth parents
are away. Playing the part with a sense of innocence and desperation is Janna Agoncillo who truly
anchors this story. Either you believe her or you don’t. With effective co-stars, luckily, we buy into
Yael’s plight as she staves off boredom living in a small Manila bungalow by creating somewhat of
an altered state. For escape our miss prepares meals for her dollhouse.
Part of the popular Dragons and Tigers program this wonderful look at Philippine culture and
tradition through the eyes of a wise beyond her years eight-year-old will truly reel you in. Another
strength of the film is use of terrific mementos from the 1980s most of us oldies will remember.
Nostalgia and the emigration experience are deftly handled in director Sheen Seno’s winning
effort.
Showtimes:
Tuesday Oct. 9. 6:30 PM. Pacific Cinematheque
Thursday Oct. 11. 3:15 PM. Vancity Theatre
One Cut of the Dead (PG) ****
Trapped!
Hip and slick is the Vancouver debut of One Cut of The Dead. Destined to be a cult classic this over
the top thriller from Japan exhibits savvy tongue in cheek humour at its finest. Watch dark humour taken to
the max. Brace all those Film Festival crowds if you have that thirst for blood.
Perfect timing sees this film hit the local film festival circuit early October. Just when that chilling
Halloween night is in the air comes this pleasurable lark, and what better place than British Columbia with its
burgeoning film industry to welcome this wicked Pleasure.
Smart filming on all levels sees an artistic director try to mount a hit movie for Japanese television
with a ghoulish zombie theme to it. So, we have a team of actors and technicians trying to make celluloid
gold in some run down abandoned industrial building. With a terrified woman trying to ward off the advances
of a dazed member of the living dead more bizarreness ensues as a cast of similarly out of touch out of mind
members of the crew try to ensnare survivors.
To Make things more impressive the makers of this hip flick take us behind the scenes showing
what led up to the catastrophic mayhem that has unfolded. Played up for laughs One Cut of the Dead does
incredible insightful justice to audiences as it shows how a movie is made and comes together. Great campy
performances help elevate this film from being a schlocky mess to being something much, much more. And
better. All the participants seem to be having a good time. Odds are good so will you!
Showtimes;
Saturday Oct. 6. 10:45 PM. Rio Theatre
Monday Oct.8. 1:30 PM. Cineplex International Village Theatre #9
Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes (G) **** Soul Train!
Feel the beat. Director Sophie Huber dives deep into the genesis of jazz and its contribution to new art
forms in her dynamic Blue Note Records: Beyond The Notes. Insightful comments shed a bright light on
how this success story unfolded. Music fans and those who appreciate art should warmly embrace this
dynamic tale of how a small label was able to make a big impact on our culture.
Done as a documentary This film shows how to men with little background on music managed to
come to America with nothing and just because they liked the music transformed a new company into a
giant in the independent recording industry. Fleeing persecution of Jews in Germany as World War 2 raged
a Then Young Alfred Lion and Max Wolff immigrated to New Jersey and shortly thereafter built a recording
studio at their engineer’s home. Think of the humble beginnings of Microsoft in a garage as this new day
had dawn for jazz.
Through vintage photos and film clips we get to experience that freedom of expression that only