13th New York Asian Film Festival

Jun 27 - Jul 14, 2014

FilmsGuestsSchedule & Tickets

Photo:

New York Premiere

Soul

失魂

Chung Mong-hong's third feature (after Parking and The Fourth Portrait) is a slasher by way of an art film that follows the almost silent Chuan (Joseph Chang Hsiao-chuan), a chef in Taipei who suddenly collapses at work. His sister Hsiao Yun (Chen Hsiang-chi) and two friends drive him to the country home of Uncle Wang (festival guest Jimmy Wang), who lives deep in the forest growing orchids. Soon Chuan commits his first murder and when confronted by Uncle Wang claims he is no longer Chuan. So begins a killing spree—and a duo of great cameos by Leon Dai and Tuo Tsung-hua who both show up in search of the growing number of missing people. While not as tightly focused as Chung's debut film, Soul is anchored and elevated by Jimmy Wang's portrayal of Uncle Wang. He is quietly crazier than everyone else in the film yet manages to portray a full range of emotions as he tries to deal with a situation that is rapidly spiraling out of control. The other element that elevates this film is the stunning cinematography by Chung himself working under the pseudonym Nakashima Nagao. The beauty of central Taiwan comes through clearly with loving widescreen shots of misty hills and lush forests, but also impressive is how Chung manages to make the small ramshackle home of Uncle Wang stand out in some of the best shots in the film.

Director: Chung Mong-hong
Cast: Wu Pong-fong, Na Dow, Chen Yu-hsun, Huang Chien-wei, King Shih-chieh, Leon Dai, Chen Shiang-chyi, Tou Chung-hua, Liang He-chun, Joseph Chang Hsiao-chuan, Jimmy Wang
Languages: Mandarin and Taiwanese with English subtitles
2013; 112 min.; DCP

SCHEDULE:

Saturday July 5, 9:15pm
Film Society of Lincoln Center

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Jimmy Wang is no longer able to attend.

Wednesday July 9, 1:00pm
Film Society of Lincoln Center

Lifetime Achievement Award
Jimmy Wang
王羽

In the 1960s the Shaw Brothers were looking to expand from their more traditional dramas and romances to martial arts films, and one of their hires was a former water polo champion, horse rider and car racer: Jimmy Wang. Appearing in films like Temple of the Red Lotus, Twin Swords, Magnificent Trio and Tiger Boy at the beginning of his career, his true breakthrough came in Chang Chen's landmark The One-Armed Swordsman (1967), the film that launched Wang's career as well as the martial arts swordfighting movie (wuxia pian) craze. With all the fury and masculine intensity exploding from the screen, Wang became the prototype for the tough stoic male characters that this new wave of swordfighting films brought to the screen.

If The One-Armed Swordsman launched Wang into stardom, it was The Chinese Boxer (1970) that cemented his legendary status by igniting the kung fu fever that was to become a global phenomenon. Written, directed, and starring Wang, The Chinese Boxer was the first major movie to devote itself entirely to the art of kung fu. It established the basic conventions, such as revenge as a motive, Chinese martial arts versus Japanese martial arts, and strong nationalistic feeling, all of which later found their way into the films of Bruce Lee. Following this film, Wang broke his contract with Shaw Brothers and started making films in Taiwan with Golden Harvest, including his masterpiece Beach of the War Gods (1973), described by scholar Stephen Teo as "the swordfighting movie to end all swordfighting movies."

Wang is currently enjoying an Indian Summer in his long career, with outstanding roles in Peter Chan's Wu Xia (aka Dragon, 2011), and Andrew Lau's The Guillotines (2012). Most recently, he starred in Chung Mong-hong's arty slasher Soul (2013), turning it into a showcase for his acting talent, where with hardly a change in facial expression, he's able to summon up a whole range of emotions (sadness, paternal love, madness). With a career spanning over five decades, he has acted in over 80 films, directed 12 films and left an indelible mark on the history of martial arts cinema. For all of these accomplishments it is our deepest honor to present Jimmy Wang with our Lifetime Achievement Award, and to screen three of his films at this year's Festival (The One-Armed Swordsman, The Chinese Boxer, and Soul).