‘Emancipation in Variations’: What to Watch at Hong Kong Asian Film Festival 2021

Fans of Asian cinema, rejoice! The 18th edition of the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival (HKAFF), which kicked off last Oct. 27, 2021, is currently ongoing and will run until Nov. 14. The festival this year hosts films from 19 countries, spread across different venues and various themes.

Off the bat, we know it’s impossible to watch every film being screened in this year’s festival, no matter how much we want to. If, like us, you can't make up your mind on which films to watch, we’ve listed down the ones that stuck out to us the most. Check them out!

‘Dear Pyongyang’ (2005)

"Dear Pyongyang" is an autobiographical documentary by director Yang Hong-hi, a second-generation Korean born and raised in Japan. The documentary, which spans ten years, chronicles her relationship with her father, a North Korean regime supporter who sent her three brothers to Pyongyang in the 1970s. Her family has been split since then.

The documentary, which won the Jury Special award (World Cinema) at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and the NETPAC Award at the 56th Berlin International Film Festival, shows conversations of Yang with her father, as well as her trips to Pyongyang to visit her brothers.

"Dear Pyongyang" will be screened at Broadway Cinematheque on Nov. 4, 24, and 26.

‘History of Ha’ (2021)

"History of Ha," the latest epic of Filipino auteur Lav Diaz, is set in the Philippines during 1957, following the untimely death of President Ramon Magsaysay. The almost five-hour film centers on the story of vaudeville performer Hernando – played by John Lloyd Cruz – who decides that he will only speak through his puppet after losing the love of his life. Fans of Diaz and Cruz (this marks his return after years away from show business) will appreciate this arthouse film, as it follows Hernando's personal journey, from his plummet to rock bottom to his road to redemption.

"History of Ha" will be screened at Broadway Cinematheque on Nov. 14 and 20 at 7:15 PM.

‘Anita’ (2021)

"Anita" is the long-awaited biopic of the late Hong Kong singer and actress Anita Mui, which is directed by Longman Leung. Mui, who passed away at the age of 40 from cervical cancer in 2003, is brought to life by Hong Kong-born fashion model Louise Wong, whose debut in acting only happens to be playing the "Madonna of Asia" herself.

"Anita" will be screened at PREMIERE ELEMENTS on Nov. 21 at 7:05 PM.

'Rehana Maryam Noor' (2021)

Director Abdullah Mohammad Saad's "Rehana Maryam Noor" follows the harrowing story of medical school professor Rehana Maryam Noor, who witnesses a student by assaulted by a senior professor, and all the risks she takes to fight abuse and ensure justice is served. This uncomfortable film is Bangladesh's only submission to the Academy Awards this 2021.

"Rehana Maryam Noor" will be screened at PALACE ifc on Nov. 6 at 1:10 PM and Broadway Cinematheque on Nov. 13, 7:20 PM.

‘Voice of Silence’ (2020)

South Korean film "Voice of Silence" centers on the story of Tae-in and Chang-ok, egg sellers who make extra income by disposing of dead bodies for gangsters. The two, however, find themselves at their wits' end when they are tasked to keep safe Cho-hee, a kidnapped 11-year-old girl, who they end up forming a close bond with. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, "Voice of Silence" was a critical success of a film and went on to win awards at the Baeksang Film Awards and the Fantasia International Film Festival.

"Voice of Silence" will be screened at PREMIERE ELEMENTS on Nov. 6 and Nov. 19 at 7:15 PM and 7:50 PM, respectively.

For ticketing and venue information, go here.