Far West films + Kung Fu Panda

Hi everyone

It's Cindy.
Nimen de zhoumo zenme yang?
Did you have a nice weekend?
Weather looks great outside at the moment and hope this will last to weekend.

My weekend was great!I went to see some Far West films and really enjoyed them.
These films are something that makes me think after seeing them...
Jia Zhang-ke's film is very colourful and full of energy.
Well.. I mean full of energy in Chinese way.
I went to see 'Still Life' on Saturday and they had an introduction before the film.
This helped me a lot when I was watching the film.
With the back ground understanding before the film, I can see the points the director tried to put in.
I was actually very surprised at some news clips that Jia put in 'Unknown Pleasure'.
Some of the messages might be inappropriate from Chinese government's point of view.

Besides these films, I went to see 'Kung Fu Panda' as well!
That was great fun, and I highly recommend it!
It's a film for both adults and kids and if you like Kung Fu, you will find the fighting very interesting.
They do choose these animals on purpose if you have basic understanding of Kung Fu.
Tiger, Snake, Monkey, Mantis, and Crane presents some movements in Shao Lin Kung Fu.
This film is very Chinese thinking as well, including why Panda thought of making noodles for all his life!
The only thing strange for us, who understand Chinese, is in the film, 'Master Shifu' repeated many times...
As you might know, Shifu means master in Chinese already, so 'Master Shifu' means 'Master Master'...
This doesn't make sense...
But I would say, I enjoy the film a lot.
So if you prefer something easy, not as heavy as Far West films, Kung Fu Panda is something to go for a laugh!
For thoses who missed Far West films, you still have the chances to watch them.
Check Arnolfini website, you can find out the timetable for this week's films.

Enjoy them, and again, if you do not wish to receive my email, please let me know.
You are all welcome to share your opinions, experiences, and feelings with me.

Zhu Hao

Cindy

Far West Exhibition and films

Hi everyone

It's Cindy again.
Just want to let you know that I went to see Far West at Arnolfini and Far West Metro at Galleries shopping centre.
Er... I would say... I am a bit disappointing...
Maybe I expected too much and when I saw the 'fairly small' exhibition, I just couldn't have too much feeling to it...
That clips talking about the artist look for soul in Japan was quite interesting to watch lo...
That 'from the Bank of Hell' exhibition in Galleries is very interesting for me.
All the 'Joss goods' there are what we burn for people who pass away.
It's part of Daoism custom, most Chinese people believe that we have next life and when people died, they simply live in an other world different from alive people.
Dead people would need whatever they had got when they were alive, so we need to burn them some luxuries, such as credit card, laptop, air conditioner, PDA, nice cars, and even Louis Vuitton baggage!
(yes, that's what I saw in the exhibition! so funny!)
As you might know Chinese people are pretty superstitious , so when me and my friend went to see that 'from Bank of Hell', my friend wouldn't want to step in the place!
She said it's very bad luck to see these 'Joss goods', and she wondered that if the artist who made this exhibition knew how Chinese people think when they see his/her exhibition!

Even the exhibition didn't impress me, I am still looking forward seeing the films!
I will see Manufactured Landscapes on Thursday, which is today!
It will start at 6.30pm and you can buy ticket from reception.
If anyone wants to join me, please give me an email.
Or if you have my mobile, send me a text if you decide to go in the late afternoon.

Regards

Cindy

My timetable of Far West Films

Hi

It's Cindy again!

Just sorted out when I am going to see the films.
So far, I am planning to watch 'Still Life', 'Manufactured Landscapes', Jia Zhangke's double bill 'Unknown Pleasures' and 'Platform' and maybe 'La Chinoise' and 'Blind Shaft'
And of course, the Far West exhibition!


So my timetable will be:

July 11 Fri - Manufactured Landscapes 6.30pm

July 12 Sat - Still Life 8.00pm

July 13 Sun - Unknown Pleasure 5.30pm
Platform 7.45pm

and I think I will go to see the exhibition when I am off this week sometime.
I don't really like to go to see exhibition on weekends as there will be lots of people around...
I might go on Wed afternoon as I am seeing my friends on Wed evening.

Anyone wants to join me seeing films or exhibitions?
Just drop me emails to let me know.

Cindy

Far West Film information

Hi everyone

It's Cindy again.

Just a reminder to tell you that Far West Film will start from next week.
Sorry that I didn't have time to reply back to you individually, and I am simply not organized enough recently.
Haven't make up my mind when to what which film but I will let you know my schedule soon.
Once I let you know which films I am going to watch, then you might be able to make up your mind if you can join me or not.

Some Chinese film information to share with you in this email.

Dir. Jia Zhangke's film 'Still Life' is actually different from that film I thought before.
I thought it was Dir. Zhang Yimou's 'To Live' but it does not matter.
I am still going to watch this film as it looks very interesting.
You can find out more information about Dir. Jia Zhangke's 'Unknown Pleasure' and 'Platform', Dir. Lou Ye's 'SuZhou River', and Dir. Li Yang's 'Blind Shaft' by clicking the links.
These films are all in Chinese Mandarin, and besides the culture understanding, you can also see how much Mandarin you can pick up from the films.
You will actually find out you can understand more than you thought!

If you can read characters, please click Zhongwen(中文) in Wikipedia for even more detailed introduction for the films list above.

Have a nice weekend.
I will email you soon to let you know my plans.

Regards

Cindy

Arnolfini-Far West exhibition

Hello everyone,

Did you all enjoy the sunshine we have got so far?
It's July, time for Wimbledon, British strawberry, and of course, lovely British summer!
I haven't done much in the past few weeks but enjoyed the weather.
However I do have some information to share with you all in this busy(or lazy?) summer season.

There is an exhibition called 'FAR WEST' at ARNOLFINI starts form Sat 28 Jun to Sun 31 Aug, free entrance.
Far West is an experimental project that will transform Arnolfini from an arts venue into a distinctive 'concept store', that explores the shifting of the economic centre of the world to the East.

Alongside Far West Metro exhibition will be held in The Mall Bristol, in Broadmeads in the city centre from Fri 27 Jun to Thu 24 Jul.
I haven't visited the exhibitions yet, but will go for sure to have a look.
You can find out more about the 'concept shop' and the artists who create those products on Far West website.

What makes me feel so excited and look forward to this project is the Far West Film!
There will be some Chinese films on in Arnolfini including the very famous film Still Life, award-winning documentary filmed in the Three Gorge Dam-Manufactured Landscapes, Jia Zhangke Double Bill-Unknown Pleasures and Platform, and HitchpWok Double Bill-Suzhou River and Blind Shaft.
More information and film timetables, please have a look on Arnolfini website under Far West Film catalog.

It's a very good opportunity to watch Chinese films, and also to see the changes modern China had been through.
The conflicts between modernization and traditional values are always something I am interested in.

I might bump into some of you over there.
If any of you want to go to watch the films with me, you are more than welcome.
Just drop me an email, and we will see when and where to meet up.

Hope you will enjoy the exhibition and the films.

Again, if you do not wish to receive my email, please let me know.
So I can take you off my email list.

All the best
Cindy