Episode 50 - Focus Hong Kong, Summer 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

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!

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.

James and Andy take a look at Asian films screening at the 66th BFI London Film Festival 2022, and Andy chats to the director of Liquor Store Dreams, So Yun Um. 
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:32 - Episode introduction00:01:27 - On to the festival, and the many films from Korea (?)00:18:14 - So Yun Um interview, Liquor Store Dreams00:37:18 - Films from Japan00:39:09 - Films from Thailand and beyond, plus documentaries and more00:52:25 - Thoughts on the festival01:06:07 - Outro
The BFI London Film Festival 2022 takes place from 5th to 16 October. See the official site for listings. 

James and Andy chat exclusively about Focus Hong Kong's Making Waves, a Hong Kong screening programme coming to London from 8 to 10 July. Full disclaimer, they might have had something to do with it...
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:31 - Episode introduction01:43 - An introduction to Focus Hong Kong05:00 - The Making Waves programme06:19 - Comrades, Almost A Love Story and Peter Chan holo-presence13:41 - July Rhapsody18:32 - Anita22:34 - Hand Rolled Cigarette24:51 - Breakout Brothers26:48 - The First Girl I Loved28:24 - Tales from the Occult35:43 - Outro
Making Waves takes place at the Soho Hotel and Garden Cinema from 8th to 100th July. Check the website for more details. 

This episode is a real meeting of minds, as Panos Kotzathanasis of Asian Movie Pulse joins James and Andy to chat about the trends and topics of the year, all bizarrely summed up by titles of soul and funk songs (?) Meanwhile easternKicks regulars Niina and Theo share thoughts on their favourite films of the year. 
This episode's handy timecodes   
00:00:44 – Episode introduction00:02:39 – What's in Santa's hat (don't ask!)00:03:33 – Smoke.Netflix.Chill00:18:26 – (Get on the) Partyline 00:34:55 – Niina on Howling Village00:37:43 – Sitting in Limbo00:45:07 – East West Shuffle00:53:54 – Theme For "Five Fingers Of Death"01:05:03 – Spice Of Life (Oh Yes, You're the Best)01:06:21 – Theo on Drive My Car01:19:56 – Outro

Yes, it's that time of year again, and we turn our focus to modern Hong Kong horror, from the tail end of the Shaw Brothers right up to Fruit Chan's Coffin Homes. Meanwhile, Niina and Stephen share some of their favourites...
This episode's handy timecodes   
00:00:49 - Episode introduction00:02:18 - Why Hong Kong horror?00:08:00 - Into the 80s00:10:34 - Niina on Seeding Of A Ghost00:13:51 - The evolution from Shaw Brothers00:25:01 - The glorious descent into Category III00:27:17 - The 1990s00:38:07 - Post-handover and the 2000s00:46:03 - Stephen on Hex00:49:56 - The last decade00:56:04 - The future of Hong Kong horror...(?)01:03:17 - Outro

In this episode, we turn our eye to some picks from the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), including an extended chat about Benny Chan's final film Raging Fire. Meanwhile Maja Korbeca chats to the "Grandmother of Hong Kong Cinema" Ann Hui, recipient of the NYAFF 2021 Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award.  
This episode's timecodes   
00:31 - Episode introduction02:16 - Back to live festivals with NYAFF and Raging Fire15:36 - Hand Rolled Cigarette and Limbo22:59 - Shadows and more from Hong Kong28:59 - Maja interview with Ann Hui41:41 - Some picks screening from  South Korea, including Spiritwalker, The Prayer and Midnight49:38 - More picks including Three Sisters and Escape from Mogadishu51:50 - Picks from Japan, including Last Of The Wolves and Junk Head52:10 - Picks from Taiwan, including As You Like It, The Silent Forest and My Missing Valentine58:13 - Outro
The New York Asian Film Festival continues with both in-person screenings and online until 22 August. 

In this episode contributor Kaj van Zoelen joins James and Andy to revisit PTU and the classic crime dramas of Johnnie To. Will we ever see its like again? Meanwhile Stephen Palmer shares thoughts on a decidedly different example from To, My Left Eye Sees Ghosts. 
This episode's timecodes   
00:00:35 - Episode introduction00:01:38 - PTU review00:24:01 - PTU and the HK crime drama resurgence of 2000s00:52:10 - Stephen Palmer on My Left Eye Sees Ghosts00:58:54 - James and Kaj share some easternKicks Picks01:06:08 - Outro
PTU is available now on UK Blu-ray from Eureka Entertainment. 

In this special edition, we celebrate the return of Wong Kar-wai's classic in newly remastered versions to cinemas. Special guest Bede Cheng, Managing Director at L’Immagine Ritrovata Asia, the laboratory responsible for the new editions, joins us for a chat about the restoration process. Meanwhile, contributors Colette, Theo, Phillip, Yonah, Ethan and Stephen share their thoughts on the filmmakers work. We also have the perfect podcast fuel from Bun House / Wun's Tea Room & Bar.
This episode's timecodes   
00:00:56 - Episode introduction00:02:08 - Phillip on As Tears Go By00:07:19 - Bede Cheng interview part one - What is restoration?00:26:30 - Ethan on Wong Kar-wai00:30:49 - Bede Cheng interview part two - Working with WKW00:33:23 - Theo on Fallen Angels00:35:57 - Bede Cheng interview part three - More on working with WKW00:47:11 - Yonah on 204600:48:13 - Colette on Wong Kar-wai01:01:55 - Stephen on Chungking Express01:07:26 - Outro
Wong Kar-wai films screen at the BFI Southbank and ICA Cinema throughout July.