The Slanted Screen (2006, Dir. Jeff Adachi) “If I had the choice between playing a wimpy guy and playing a villain, I’ll always take the villain, because at least the…

Today’s vocabulary:Me, myself, I = wou (pronounced “wuo”)We, us, ourselves = wou men (“wuo men”)The interrogative suffix = ma (“ma”); for example:Ni hao = “hello”Ni hao ma? = “How are…

Linda, Linda, Linda (2005, Dir. Nobuhiro Yamashita) When we grow up, we won’t quit being kids.We’ve only got a little time left to be us. — Opening speech, Linda Linda…

For the benefit of my pals Jocelyn and Lisa, for our upcoming China trip, but feel free to peruse, if you like… Hello = Ni hao (pronounced “nee how”)Hello (to…

Be With Me (2005, Dir. Eric Khoo) “Is true love truly there, my love?” — Opening text, Be With Me Romance gained and lost, the tenuousness of connection, the accidental…

Dreaming Lhasa (2005, Dir. Ritu Sarin, Tenzing Sonam) Tibet — the name conjures a multitude of impressions. Spirituality, oppression, resistance, beauty, poverty, epic landscapes, hardy people, sadness, hope. Above all,…

San Francisco is a town where you can catch a film festival virtually any day of the week, and as you would expect, these festivals run the gamut, from more-indie-than-indie…

The Breaking Point (Dir. Michael Curtiz, 1950) A man alone ain’t got no chance. — John Garfield, The Breaking Point [Warning: spoilers follow.] Here’s looking at you, kid: time and…

One of the pleasures of living in San Francisco (and there’s plenty of downsides, believe me) is the Noir City Film Festival, ably hosted and programmed by Eddie Muller these…

Munich (2005, Dir. Steven Spielberg) “Every civilization finds it necessary to negotiate compromises with its own values.” — Golda Meir, Munich What defines a Steven Spielberg film, exactly? Maybe it’s…