Episodes
Episodes



Monday Oct 23, 2023
Episode 52 - Halloween Special: Visible Secret
Monday Oct 23, 2023
Monday Oct 23, 2023
James and Andy look back on Ann Hui's unsung ghost comedy Visible Secret, newly released by Radiance Films and screening in London, as well as more Hong Kong horror in the form of new cinema release Back Home.
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:35 - Introduction01:38 - Visible Secret introduction06:40 - Great talent in front and behind the camera14:09 - The plot16:57 - Lost in the crowd - why was it overlooked?36:20 - Back Home44:51 - Outro



Tuesday Aug 15, 2023
Episode 51 - A Tokyo Melody: Remembering Ryuichi Sakamoto
Tuesday Aug 15, 2023
Tuesday Aug 15, 2023
This episode Colette Balmain joins James and Andy to chat about Tokyo Melody, a 1985 documentary that recently resurfaced at Japan Cuts 2023 about Ryuichi Sakamoto, and to chat about the great musician, innovator and composer's legacy. Yonah Sichrovsky speaks to the film’s director Elizabeth Lennard. Meanwhile, Frank Djeng, king of audio commentaries, shares his thoughts on Sakamoto. Plus we have the return of the easternKicks picks! All in this bumper-packed show!
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:32 - Introduction00:02:09 - We discuss Tokyo Melody00:16:30 - Yonah chats to Elizabeth Lennard00:40:28 - Sakamoto's legacy00:52:33 - Frank Djeng remembers Sakamoto00:56:19 - Sakamoto's legacy continued01:07:20 - easternKicks picks01:22:48 - Outro



Friday Jun 16, 2023
Episode 50 - Focus Hong Kong, Summer 2023
Friday Jun 16, 2023
Friday Jun 16, 2023
This episode James and Andy introduce the lineup for two summer events for new-ish UK festival Focus Hong Kong, curated by some rather familiar names.
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:32 - Introduction01:42 - What is Focus Hong Kong? The full disclosure...04:55 - Memories to Choke On, Drinks to Wash Them Down11:16 - Made in Hong Kong15:58 - Where the Wind Blows21:44 - A Guilty Conscience24:43 - Let it Ghost27:53 - Nomad (Leslie Cheung)36:26 - Outro
You can see the full details for Focus Hong Kong on the official website: focushongkong.uk



Tuesday May 23, 2023
Episode 49 - Mikhail Red interview / Deleter
Tuesday May 23, 2023
Tuesday May 23, 2023
Andy chats to Filipino filmmaker Mikhail Red while at Udine Far East Film Festival, while James and Andy take a trip through highlights of his career so far and the latest hit starring Nadine Lustre, DELETER.
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:33 - Introduction02:13 - Career highlights13:28 - Deleter26:58 - Andy chats with Mikhail Red54:27 - Outro
Deleter had its International Festival Premiere at 25th Far East Film Festival 2023. You can find the EXCLUSIVE shots from Red's next film Friendly Fire here.



Friday May 12, 2023
Episode 48 - Mark Dacascos interview / Brotherhood of the Wolf
Friday May 12, 2023
Friday May 12, 2023
This episode Andy and James are joined by Yonah Sichrovsky to chat about Brotherhood of the Wolf, returning to home media in a new 4K restoration. Yonah also chats to star Mark Dacascos himself about the film, appearing in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Iron Chef!
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:33 - Introduction00:02:09 - Highlights from Mark Dacascos's career00:07:00 - Crying Freeman - Christophe Gans and Dacascos's first collab00:12:37 - Brotherhood of the Wolf00:47:46 - Yonah chats to Mark Dacascos01:05:10 - Outro
Brotherhood of the Wolf is released on UHD, Blu-Ray and DVD from 15th May by Studiocanal.



Friday Apr 21, 2023
Episode 47 - Calamity of Snakes special
Friday Apr 21, 2023
Friday Apr 21, 2023
Oh, the Calamity! The Calamity of Snakes! Andy and James discuss the controversial exploitation flick, released by Unearthed Films in a glorious 2K restoration, and wonder... just where is the fourth floor? Listen in if you dare, but don't get too distracted knitting. That might not be a bundle of wool...
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:33 - Introduction02:53 - The new restoration11:24 - Background to the production and cast15:55 - The "plot"!!!18:10 - The missing floor mystery19:39 - Snake carnage22:28 - Context and style32:01 - The unavoidable bad side44:06 - Outro
Calamity of Snakes is released on Blu-Ray and DVD from April 25th by Unearthed Films



Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
Episode 46 - Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom special
Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
This episode Kay Hoddy chats to the director of 2022 Oscar nominated Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, Pawo Choyning Dorji. Meanwhile, James gives us a rundown of recent releases on the streaming platforms.
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:33 - Introduction00:01:58 - Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom intro00:05:46 - Pawo Choyning Dorji interview00:34:25 - Review of the film00:45:07 - James Mudge's streaming roundup01:12:37 - Outro
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom is released in UK cinemas from 10th March by Peccadillo Pictures.



Thursday Mar 02, 2023
Episode 45: The Horror of Junji Ito
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
Thursday Mar 02, 2023
With the new series Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre debuting on Netflix, James and Andy are joined by self-confessed Ito fans Colette Balmain and Niina Doherty to chat about his works and how they've been adapted to film and television over the years. Has anyone done him justice...?
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:33 - Introduction00:01:37 - Junji Ito in context 00:10:46 - Early adaptions00:12:34 - Tomie film and TV series00:34:12 - Uzumaki (2000)00:40:05 - Other adaption in early 2000s 00:44:22 - Gyo Tokyo Fish Attack (2012)01:47:37 - Junji Ito Collection (2018) and Junji Ito Maniac (2023)01:00:50 - Uzumaki, Tomie and other potential adaptions01:13:55 - Outro
Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre is streaming now on Netflix.



Thursday Dec 29, 2022
Episode 44: the End of Year Show 2022
Thursday Dec 29, 2022
Thursday Dec 29, 2022
It's time for the End of Year Show! James and Andy look back on 2022, the highs and lows. Did anything change for Asian film? What were the big releases and trends? Will there be ranting about that certain recent survey? There's only one way to find out: listen!!!
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:32 - Introduction00:01:53 - What were the big releases?00:08:25 - Decision to Leave, innit?00:25:16 - Other key cinema releases00:41:37 - Trends, what have we seen from different countries00:50:22 - The home entertainment renaissance 00:47:46 - Legacy and influence01:01:45 - The Sight and Sound '100 Greatest Films of All Time'01:26:35 - Takeaways from 2022?01:32:36 - The end of the End of the Year Show!



Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Episode 43: Infernal Affairs 20th Anniversary Special
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of its original release, Stephen Palmer joins Andy and James to discuss the Infernal Affairs Trilogy starring Tony Leung and Andy Lau. Meanwhile, Phillip O'Connor shares his thoughts on the inevitable fates of our protagonists.
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:32 - Introduction00:03:00 - Context and concept00:08:25 - Creative team00:11:50 - Infernal Affairs00:25:19 - Infernal Affairs II00:40:29 - Infernal Affairs III00:47:46 - Legacy and influence00:51:53 - Phillip on the inevitability of fate01:05:42 - The Departed01:18:09 - Conclusions01:23:39 - Outro
The Infernal Affairs Trilogy is available now on Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.

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Now over 20 years old, easternKicks continues to be the World's number one source for reviews, interviews and news on East Asian cinema. The podcast was launched in 2020.