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.

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.

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. 

On the first anniversary of the show debuting on Netflix and with a big win at the Emmys, we look back at the impact of Squid Game and ask what it really means for the future of both the creators and cast, and Korean film and TV in general...
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:32 - Episode introduction02:13 - For those that missed it...(what?)14:02 - The success of the show, and creators and cast26:40 - What does that mean for other shows?44:57 - Wrapping up48:37 - Outro

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. 

To celebrate the global release of gruesome horror The Sadness on Shudder, James and Andy chat through the film, with an exclusive interview with the films director, Rob Jabbaz.
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:31 - Episode introduction01:54 - The Sadness, a quick explainer08:39 - Rob Jabbaz interview28:11 - Reactions to the interview34:52 - easternKicks Picks!42:40 - Outro
The Sadness is available to exclusively stream on Shudder from 12th May. 

This time Jonathan Wroot, senior lecturer in film studies, joins James and Andy to chat in detail about the topic of his new book, Zatoichi! As well as the various influences and successors. And yes, we chat Rutger Hauer too!
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:44 - Episode introduction00:02:12 - Before we start, how did our guest get into Asian film?00:06:05 - Kitano's Zatoichi, was it a remake?00:13:10 - Let's go back to the start 00:17:08 - How star Shintaro Katsu's previous work fed into the film series00:20:22 - Zatoichi begins00:25:05 - A minor diversion on Shintaro Katsu's brother00:29:09 - Something for everyone, the Daiei way00:30:23 - How wacky did the films get?00:32:46 - Are there roots to disabled swordsmen?00:38:14 - The Marvel connection00:40:45 - Good ol' Westerns00:45:34 - Zatoichi The Last00:47:54 - The female versions00:52:13 - Let's talk about Rutger (and other influences)01:07:26 - Recommendations on where to start01:15:43 - Outro
Jonathan's book, The Paths of Zatoichi, is available now from rowman.com/lexington. Use discount code LXFANDF30 and get 30% off!
Music played on the show: Zatoichi’s Lullaby, sung by Shintaro Katsu. The most commonly known version of the Zatoichi theme song, which first turned up in Zatoichi and the Fugitives (#18).
Festivo – the musical number from the end of Zatoichi 2003, written and composed by Keiichi Suzuki.

Seriously cutting into their Giallo viewing time, James and Andy chat to Laos film director Mattie Do and her other 'alf, screenwriter Christoper Larsen in detail about their superb genre-crossing sci-fi horror, The Long Walk and much more.
This episode’s handy timecodes
00:00:31 – Episode introduction00:02:16 – Interview with Mattie Do and Chris Larsen00:52:32 – The easternKicks take on The Long Walk01:08:05 – Outro
The Long Walk is available on digital now via Light Bulb Film Distribution in the UK, and Yellow Veil Pictures in the US.