THE APPA Newsletter
October 18, 2005
See This Weekend
MISSION STATEMENT:
Promote full utilization
of the capabilities of the Enterprise's employees and champion the betterment
of the company and community. Promote interest in Asian Pacific issues and culture
and act as a bridge to all groups within our community.
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ed. by Douglas Ikemi
(dkikemi@pacbell.net)
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Back issues of the
newsletter for all of 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 are available at http://www.ikemi.info/APPA/newsletters.html
if you want to look up some past event. The website www.apa-pro.org
no longer exists
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Please send in
information on cultural events and news items to dkikemi@pacbell.net. Thanks to
those who have.
Long range calendar
items:
Chinatown Farmers Market
Every Thursday, 3:00pm to 7:00pm Chinatown Business Improvement District
http://www.ChinatownLA.com/ For
Information (213)_ 680-0243
May
15 through January 15, 2006 Milton Quon: A Retrospective
This
retrospective exhibit will showcase the broad range of Milton QuonÕs practice
from fine art to commercial work,much of which is on public display for the
first time.A quintessential Los Angeles artist, Quon was born in 1913 and
raised in Los Angeles. After graduating from the Chouinard Institute of Art,
QuonÕs career in the commercial arts took him to Walt Disney Studios where he
worked as a designer and painter. From the 1940s to the Ō60s, Quon worked as an
art director at ad agency Batten, Barton, Durstine, and Osborn. From whimsical
cherubs in DisneyÕs Fantasia to bold advertising posters, QuonÕs commercial
work will be presented alongside the artistÕs rich collection of fine art
works.
Tuesdays
through Sundays 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Chinese
American Museum, 425 N. Los Angeles St.
Suggested
$3 donations
INFO: 213-485-8567, www.camla.org
May
15 through January 15, 2006, A
Portrait of My Mother - A Photo Exhibit by Sam Lee
This
exhibit features a photographic series, A Portrait of My Mother by Sam Boi Lee,
an emerging Los Angeles-based, Chinese American photographer. LeeÕs poignant
photographic series operates like a photo-essay told through eloquent images of
his motherÕs world, from everyday objects that are imbued with his motherÕs
nurturing strength, to his own expressions of loss and love.
Tuesdays
through Sundays 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Chinese
American Museum, 425 N. Los Angeles St.
Suggested
$3 donations
INFO: 213-485-8567, www.camla.org
An Assortment of Beauties: Japanese Woodblock Prints
Collected by Frank Lloyd Wright
July 29, 2005 - January 9, 2006
The exhibition features Japanese woodblock prints devoted to
images of beautiful women. This theme is one component of a school of picture
making known as ukiyo-e, which can be translated as "pictures of the
floating world." Beautiful women (bijin) were depicted alone as well as in
small and large groups, entertaining themselves by playing games, preparing
themselves for the night, or promenading though the city with their attendants
or children. All of the approximately 12 woodblock prints included in this
exhibition were once owned by the celebrated American architect Frank Lloyd
Wright (1867-1959), who was a spirited collector of Asian art, including
Japanese woodblock prints. Featured artists include Okumura Masanobu
(1686-1764), Kitagawa Utamaro (1754-1806) and Utagawa Toyokuni (1769-1825).
Images of beautiful women provide an important theme for the
Japanese art of ukiyo-e, which can be translated as "pictures of the
floating world." Woodblock prints by ukiyo-e artists became extremely
propular during the Edo period (1600-1868), due to the blending of classical
Japanese aesthetics with contemporary urban themes. In this medium, the
hedonistic worlds inhabited by geisha, courtesans and Kabuki actors were often
portrayed. Beautiful women, or bijin, were depicted alone as well as in small and large
groups, entertaining themselves by playing games, preparing for the evening or
promenading through the city with their attendants and children.
All of the prints included in this intimate exhibition were once
owned by the celebrated American architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), who
was an avid collector of Asian art, especially Japanese woodblock prints.
Wright often incorporated Japanese aesthetics into his own architectural
designs. He began purchasing prints around 1900 while living in Chicago and
expanded his collection considerably during his many trips to Japan, between
his first visit in 1905 and his completion of Tokyo's Imperial Hotel in 1922.
The Norton Simon Museum has more than 350 prints form Wright's
personal collection. Featured artists in this exhibition include Okumura Masanobu
(1686-1764), Suzuki Harunobu (1724-1770), Kitigawa Utamaro (1754-1806) and
Utagawa Toyokuni (1769-1825).
http://www.nortonsimon.org/exhibitions/current_exhibitions.asp#2
October 27, Screening - Ghost House
At Korean Cultural Center
Title: Ghost House (2004)
Directed by: Kim
Sang-jin
Genre: Comedy
Main Cast: Cha Seung-won, Jang
Seo-hee
Running time & Rating: 123 minuets, Unrated
Provided by
the Cinema Service (Korean with English Subtitles)
Director of Attack the
Gas Station (1999), Kick the Moon (2001), and Jail Breaker (2002)
KIM
Sang-jin, now brings Comedy and Horror together for double impact.
Ghost House was based on the concept that Ņghosts or spirits can
exist within the reality of human beingsÓ. So, there is definitely a ghost
present. As ŅsheÓ relentlessly and cold-bloodedly attacks Pil-gi using the
actual house itself, the same house that he has been dreaming of owning in
order to finally attain true happiness. While the horror element is obvious, it
shouldnÕt be forgotten that the director also incorporates some solid comedic
elements to the film, humor thatÕll have the audience rolling in their seats
with laughter. For example, the climax of the film is intensely scary, but the
audience wonÕt be able to help but burst out with laughter, this being the true
catharsis of the story. As Pil-gi and the ghost fight it out for claims on the
house, the audienceÕs attention is sure to be locked with fright and laughter
for beginning to end.
Synopsis:
Park Pil-giÕs family has never owned a
house for three generations. They have to live in a rented room all their
lives. Quite understandably, his fatherÕs will at his death bed was Ōget your
own house,Õ which became Pil-giÕs goal in life. He works at a shipyard by day
and as part-time chauffeur by night. After 10 years he finally manages to buy a
two-storey house near the beach in Geoje-do, with some loans and mortgage. On
the day he moves in, he shouts ŅFatherÉ I did it! I bought my own house!Ó But
his joy soon turns to fear. A knife flies toward him, the actor on TV suddenly
shouts at him to leave the house, and even crawls out of the screen.É
Thursday, 7:00 PM -
9:00 PM
Korean Cultural Center
3rd Floor, Auditorium (Ari
Hall)
3rd Floor, Auditorium (Ari Hall)
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Cost: Free
Tel: 323-936-7141
cinema@kccla.org
www.kccla.org.
Oct 28 Book Reading - When the Purple Mountains Burns by by
Shouhua Qi
At Eastwind Books Store
Author Shouhua Qi will read excerpts from his debut novel
entitled: When the Purple Mountain Burns; which explores the Japanese invasion
of Nanjing and the unforgettable Nanjing Massacre. Shouhua QiÕs novel
already gained much respect and appraisal from scholars from all fields.
No subject in modern Chinese history remains as explosive as the
Nanjing Massacre. When the Purple Mountain Burns is an unprecedented historical
novel by a native son of Nanjing, set during the first six days after the fall
of the city to the Japanese Imperial Army in December, 1937. By featuring
historical as well as fictional characters, and by using multiple, overlapping
narratives, Shouhua Qi offers a powerfully intimate portrait of a city and its
people caught amid the turbulent fires of history, the horrors of war, and the
prequel to genocide. Like no other work before, Shouhua QiÕs unique voice
profoundly captures the essence of his hometown during wartime China and the
struggles faced by generations of Chinese as they attempt to exorcise the
demons of popular memory. Discussion and book signing to
follow.
Friday, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Eastwind Books and Arts
923 Westwood Blvd. (Cross Street of
Le Conte)
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Tel: (301) 824-4888
October 29 Screening - American Monsters 2
At GTC Burbank
Written & produced by Corinne Chooey, Isaac Ho, Angela Kang,
Oanh Ly & Judy Soo Hoo Directed by Miranda Yousef Produced by Jeff Liu
Starring Feodor Chin, David Lee, Dom Magwili, Freda Foh Shen,
Linda Shing, Jennie Yee, Peggy Ahn, Ren Hanmi & Michael Kuya.
appearing courtesy of Actor's Equity Association
Set Designer: Mina Kinukawa Lighting Designer: Christopher M.
Singleton
Sound Designer: Dennis Yen Costume Designer: Cynthia
Obsenares
Stage Manager: Kelley Lund
SOMEDAY MY DARK PRINCE WILL COME Will the bloodline hold? Will
evil triumph?
American Monsters 2 is a collection of five original one-act plays
based on the Grimm Brothers fairy tales. Each of these modern adaptations
lifts and twists an original dark element from the Grimm's morality
tales. One man, born at the beginning of time, wreaks havoc upon the
lives of five different mortal women who share the same familial bloodline.
October 29 - November 27, 2005, Thursday - Saturday 8 PM, Sunday 2
PM
Special Performance Halloween Night, October 31, October 27-28, 8 PM
(Low Price Previews)
Saturday, , 2005
Time: 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
GTC Burbank
1111-B W. Olive Ave.
Burbank,
CA 91506
Special Instructions
General Admission $15 Students & Seniors (w/valid ID) $13
Groups of 10+ $11 October 29th Opening Night Gala (w/reception) $25 October
27-28 Previews $8
Oct 30 Japanese Food Festival, Experience and Explore
Japanese Food & Culture
Kaiseki - Sushi - Tempura - Tofu - Yakitori - etc...Japanese Koto
Music, Jazz, etc..
Limited to 1,000 guests. Ticket must be purchased in advance for
admission!
Ticket Fee: Advance ticket $30.00 - $30.00 Food &
Beverage ticket value -
Ticket Sale: JRA Office, 324 E. First St #350, Los Angeles,
CA90012
(213) 687-4055
11am - 3pm
The New Otani Hotel & Garden- Golden Ballroom
& Japanese Garden, 120 S. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles, CA 90012, Tel:
213-629-1200
Raffle Prizes, A grand prize of a round trip ticket for two to
Japan and more!! All winners will be chosen from those who participate in our
survey.
[Gift Bag will given to the all guests.
Nov 5 The 18th Sammy Yukuan Lee Lecture: Recarving China's Past:
"Wu Family Shrines" and the Story of the Stones
At the UCLA Fowler Museum
Cary Y. Liu, Curator of Asian Art
Princeton University Art
Museum
The history of the Wu family shrines begins with a conspicuous
absence. Before the Song dynasty (960-1279) there is no textual or visual
record of any stone carving or cemetery structures belonging to a Wu family in
Shandong. In the Song, rubbings and textual descriptions became the basis for
an assemblage that first came to be known as the Wu family shrines. The
assemblage was comprised primarily of four stele and one gate-pillar
inscriptions, and, secondly, a few pictorial stones. This assemblage only
became associated with actual stones after Huang Yi's claimed rediscovery of
the cemetery stones in 1786. Since that rediscovery, however, scholarship has,
with few exceptions, relied on rubbings and received editions of Song texts to
reinforce the recognized assemblage as the Wu family shrines. This talk looks
at the history of the stones themselves and their architecture to show that the
story they tell may not match the traditional assemblage.
Cary Y. Liu is Curator of Asian Art at the Princeton University
Art Museum. A specialist in Chinese architectural history and art history, he
has M.Arch and Ph.D. degrees from Princeton University. Recent exhibitions for
which he has been curator include: Recarving China's Past: Art, Archaeology,
and Architecture of the Wu Family Shrines (2005), Providing for the Afterlife:
"Brilliant Artifacts" for Shandong (2005), Seeing Double: Copies and
Copying in the Arts of China" (2001), and The Embodied Image: Chinese
Calligraphy from the John B. Elliott Collection (1999). Among his publications
are contributions to Art of the Sung and Yuan: Ritual, Ethnicity, and Style
in Painting (1999), and
the journals Hong Kong University Museum Journal, Oriental Art, Orientations, and T'oung Pao. His most recently published essay,
"Chinese Architectural Aesthetics: Patterns of Living and Being between
Past and Present," can be found in House, Home, Family: Living and
Being Chinese (2005,
Knapp and Lo, eds.).
The Sammy Yukuan Lee Lectures on Chinese Art and Archaeology are
sponsored by the UCLA Asia
Institute and funded by the Lee Family Foundation. The series began
in 1982 to commemorate the 80th birthday of Sammy Yukuan Lee, a noted collector
and authority on Chinese art, particularly lacquers, textiles, and ceramics.
Mr. Lee is now in his 103rd year and remains an active art collector. The
lectures have been held annually in recent years and this yearÕs event is the
18th in the series. The lecture is cosponsored by the UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History and
the UCLA Center for Chinese Studies.
A list of previous
lectures is available online.
Parking on the UCLA campus is $8. The lecture and museum admission
are free and open to the public. A reception with refreshments will follow the
talk.
Please call 310-825-0007 or write asia@international.ucla.edu for more
information.
IMAGE ABOVE: "Sleeve Dancer," from the Western Han
dynasty (206 bce - 8 ce), earthenware with pigments, approximately 41 cm tall,
from a private collection. Photo courtesy of the Princeton University Art
Museum.
Saturday,: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
UCLA Fowler Museum, Los Angeles, CA 90095
Cost: Free, RSVP appreciated but not required.
Tel: 310-825-5007
asia@international.ucla.edu www.international.ucla.edu/asia
Screening- First Morning At UltraStar Cinemas
The film is 90 minutes, Rated PG-13, In Vietnamese and English
with English Subtitles
ORANGE COUNTY, Starts November 11
Regal Cinemas
Garden Grove 16
9741 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove, CA 92841 tickets &
showtimes: (714) 534-4777
"First Morning" begins when a young man returns
home on the threshold of the Lunar New Year and finds himself a stranger within
his own family. The cold silence surrounding the disappearance of his
younger sister forces him on a quest for answers. Through his search, we
are given a glimpse of the family's fragmented past. From their perilous
escape from Vietnam, to their separation, to their struggles with marred
relationships, the family continues to endure the tragedies of false
expectations. "First Morning" is a movie about the path from
lost identity to self-discovery -- from alienation to hope and rebirth. The
film received the Best Feature Film Award at the San Diego Asian Film Festival
and was an official selection at the Newport Beach Film Festival as well as
other Asian film festivals in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto and
Chicago. Victor Vu, born after his parents immigrated to the U.S. in
1975, sees his family's history as the inspiration for making the film:
"There have been countless films about Vietnam, most of which deal with
the war. I was more interested in telling a personal story about the
destruction of family and the difficult journey towards healing in the
aftermath of war."
The film, which opened earlier in San Jose, bumped "Charlie
And The Chocolate Factory" to a smaller theatre for a special 'red carpet'
screening attended by "First Morning" stars Kathleen Luong and Dang
Hung Son. The sold out event expresses the popular following for this
film, its revealing story, and its talented cast and filmmaker. The Metro
Silicon Valley Weekly called the film ".heartfelt, serious, and deliberate",
while the San Diego Asian Film Festival labeled it "A powerful story with
an equally powerful cast". The film continues its tour with
engagements planned in Vietnamese populated areas such as Washington D.C.,
Dallas, Los Angeles, and Minnesota.
Credits include Philip Silverman, Executive Producer; Victor Vu,
writer/producer/director; and Peter Soto, director of photography.
UltraStar Cinemas
7510 Hazard Center Drive
San Diego,
CA 92108
For more information please contact
Tickets
and Showtimes Tel: (619) 685-2841
www.FirstMorningTheMovie.com
Nov 12 15th Anniversary Concert
Habing Sayawit
Culture. Creation. Connection.
Kayamanan Ng Lahi
Philippine Folk Arts
Joel Jacinto and Barbara Ele, Artistic Directors
Translated as woven dance and song, Habing Sayawit weaves an array
of Philippine dance, song and music into a seamless tapestry of cultural
reflection. The concert highlights the essential themes of Philippine culture
and honors the works of luminaries who helped create the renaissance of
Philippine folk dance in recent history - all this is presented through the
connection Kayamanan Ng Lahi has made between its Filipino heritage and
Filipino American experiences.
2pm and 7pm Aratani/Japan America Theatre
$50 VIP seating for both shows
General Admission 2pm: $20, $17 JACCC Members, Seniors and
Students
7pm: Gala $25, $22 JACCC Members
Nov 13 26th Hana no Kai Recital (Osaraikai)
Under the direction of Madam Wakayagi,Hana no Kai presents a
classical Japanese dance recital as part of her ongoing 25th Anniversary
celebration. 1pm George J. Doizaki Gallery
$10 General Admission
$5 JACCC Members
www.jaccc.org
November 15 Mongol 800 Concert With Bleach03
Popular rock artists from Okinawa - Mongol 800 and the female trio
Bleach03.
Tuesday, at
8pm Aratani/Japan America Theatre
$45 orchestra, $35 balcony
www.jaccc.org
November 18, Only Sound Remains
Works by Snaith/Sorensen/Yadegari
An interdisciplinary evening of music, dance, video, and
technology.
Presented by the Persian Arts Society.
Friday, at
8pm Aratani/Japan America Theatre
Tickets $45 - $20
www.jaccc.org
November 20 30th
Anniversay Celebration
Kenny Endo
Guest Artists:
Masakazu Yoshizawa, bamboo flutes, taiko, percussion
Yoshinori Nomi, Latin & Japanese percussion
Eric Chang, taiko and percussion
Hitoshi Hamada, vibraphones
Shoko Hikage, koto
Hiroshi Tanaka, taiko
In a true fusion of musical styles, Kenny Endo and featured
members of his three taiko ensembles spanning the globe from Honolulu to Los
Angeles and Tokyo will celebrate his 30 years of taiko drumming with a
nationwide tour. The "East Meets West" tour features some of the
world's most innovative and talented musicians and artists playing original
compositions for taiko, koto (Japanese zither), bamboo flutes, vibraphones and
Latin, world and Japanese percussion instruments.
The program represents Endo's interest in contemporary taiko
performance, combining Japanese classical drumming with world music and western
jazz styles.
A J-Town Beat
Event
Sunday,2005 at 4pm Aratani/Japan America Theatre
$35 orchestra, $32 balcony $30, $27 JACCC Members, Groups 10 or more,
Students with ID
www.jaccc.org
Nov 18 to Feb 12, 2006
Place/Displace, Three Generations Taiwanese Art exhibit at the Pacific Asia
Museum
NOV. 19th (Sat) & 20th (Sun), JAPAN EXPO 2005, Los Angeles
Convention Center, West Hall A
JAPAN EXPO is the largest US-Japan event that was initially
started in an effort to strengthen the ties of friendship with the United
States. Last year we have successfully concluded our 25th anniversary and we
thank you for your continuous support, as we could not have come this far
without your cooperation and devotion.
We are committed to advance our two great nations, U.S Š Japan
relationship to the next level.
A wide-range of exhibits is in store for the The 26th JAPAN EXPO
as well as presentation of Japanese traditional culture, handicrafts, and
various regional products.
We will also introduce JapanÕs latest technology, such as game
softwares, comics and high-efficiency ŅMade in JapanÓ products. We will also
provide a section where attendees can relish in the aesthetics of Japanese
cuisine. On the main stage of Japan Expo there will be some of JapanÕs
traditional performances that will be presented in a grand style, thus far, a
program that is rich in content. In 2005, we are planning to invite one of the
KABUKI master for their unforgettable performances.
The JAPAN EXPO attracted more than 30,000 consumers in 2004, and
we expect to surpass that number, it will give you a new exposure that will be
beneficial to you. We believe it is an excellent venue to test market your products
and services. http://www.japanexpo.org/
December 2 Linda's Wondrous Violin
Friday at 12:30 pm
Shumei Hall, 2430 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena 91107
Free Admission
A brilliant violonist, Linda Wang made her solo debut with the New
York Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta when she was nine years old. She will
present a celebration of violin music from the 17th century to the present.
Children will learn about the history of the violin and witness its wondrous
capabilities.
Reservations can be made by calling at 626 584 8841.
This concert is supported by the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts.
http://www.shumeiarts.org/events.html
December 3 Zuiho-Daiko & Iwami Kagura
A special performance of taiko and Kagura,"music of the
gods," a Shinto ritual theatre prominent in the Iwami region of Japan.
Kagura performances reenact well-known Japanese legends.
Performed by the Youth
For information contact Ritsuko Powell at (310) 525-1670 x273.
Saturday, at 2pm & 5pm Aratani/Japan America Theatre
$25 orchestra
$22 balcony $24 General Admission
www.jaccc.org
Dec 6 Lecture- "Japanese and Chinese Gardens: Are They
Different?"
At The Huntington Library
A series of public lectures on Chinese gardens and related topics
begins this fall at the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical
Gardens. Addressing different aspects of the history, art, and culture of
China that are closely linked to traditional garden designs, these lectures
will help create the historical and cultural contexts for the HuntingtonÕs own
Chinese garden, which is currently under construction. The first series,
consisting of four lectures, will focus on defining the characteristics of
Chinese garden design. The lectures are free. All lectures begin at
7:30 p.m. in FriendsÕ Hall at The Huntington.
Kendall H. Brown, professor of art history at California State
University, Long Beach, will discuss the styles and designs of Japanese gardens
both in and outside of Japan, and will provide insights into how a Japanese
garden differs from a Chinese garden. The topic is particularly
interesting as it relates to The Huntington, where a Japanese style garden
established nearly 100 years ago will soon be joined by a Chinese
garden. In addition to his renowned scholarship in Japanese prints
and painting, Brown is also a well-known speaker and writer on Japanese
gardens.
Tuesday, 7:30 PM -
9:30 PM
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road, San Marino,
CA 91108
Cost: Free
For more information please contact
Lisa
Blackburn Tel: (626) 405-2140 lblackburn@huntington.org
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This Weekend (and
earlier)
October 1 Š 23 Bamboo and Petals Exhibition
Fujinuma Noboru is recognized
among the small group of bamboo artists of Japan's post-war generation for his
innovative and passionate approach to traditional forms and craftsmanship. More
than forty of his bamboo baskets will be on display, punctuated by flower
arrangements by members of the Ohara School of Ikebana.
This rare collaboration combines the exquisite aesthetic qualities
of bamboo craft and flower arrangement into a celebration of nature's beauty.
Sponsored by Lloyd Cotsen and Tai Gallery/Textile Arts, Inc and
Ohara School of Ikebana LA Chapter. The Fujinuma Workshop and
Lecture/Demonstration are made possible by the InterIArts program. Funding for
the InterIArts program comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Los
Angeles County Quality and Productivity Commission and is administered by the
Los Angeles County Arts Commission.
George J. Doizaki Gallery
Admission is Free
October 20
Cold TofuÕs Halloween Show
Join the witches and warlocks of Cold Tofu as they cast a spell of
hilarity and hijinks in their annual Halloween show. Be prepared to howl and
scream in sheer delight as youÕre treated to another daringly devilish dose of
improvised comedy.
Thursday, 7:30PM at the JANM
www.janm.org
Cold Tofu is dedicated to promoting diverse images of Asian
Pacific Americans through comedy and to developing multiethnic talent through education and performance. Visit Cold Tofu at www.coldtofu.com.
October 21 Screening - Nayakan (Hero)
At James Bridges Theater
UCLA Film & Television Archive
Presents
FILMI MELODY: SONG AND DANCE IN INDIAN CINEMA:
Friday, October 21 Š Sunday, October 30
The ArchiveÕs 2005
showcase for some of the best products of Indian popular cinema has a few new
wrinkles. We are now calling it Filmi (rather than Bombay) Melody, in
order to suggest that the exuberant music and melodrama so closely identified
with the Hindi commercial cinema produced in Bombay (Mumbai) are truly
pan-Indian.
Also, this yearÕs series celebrates the work of three of
contemporary IndiaÕs top stars:
Amitabh Bachchan, the
industry-defining Ņangry young manÓ of the 1970s, voted the Ņgreatest star of
stage and screenÓ of all time in a BBC online poll and still a major leading
man in his 60s;
Kamal Haasan, the chameleon superstar,
arguably Indian cinemaÕs leading method actor, who has dominated South IndiaÕs
Tamil-language movie industry for two decades;
and Shah Rukh
Khan, a new kind of Bollywood megastar whose popularity owes an unprecedented
debt to audiences in the global Indian diaspora.
This is
still, of course, a celebration of melody, because the music in popular Indian
films continues to be an excellent early warning system of stylistic changes on
the horizon. One of the most hopeful recent developments has been the rapid
growth of a sharply focused neo-classical movement among younger actors and
directors. Remakes of Golden Age classics have been released or are in
the works, and one of the past yearÕs biggest hits, choreographer Farah KhanÕs
directorial debut MAIN HOON NA (IÕM HERE NOW), is a frank and affectionate
homage to the sort of high-Õ70s masala movies parodied a generation earlier by
Manmohan Desai in AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY. The changes are especially evident
in the way songs are being picturized. In some of the best new Bollywood
movies, such as Ashutosh GowarikerÕs SWADES (2004), the hero sings while
sauntering along a country road like Dev Anand or slouching over a piano like
the young Raj Kapoor. He no longer feels obliged in every case to do what
lyricist Javed Akhtar calls ŅaerobicsÓ in front of a chorus line of item
queens.
As the title character of last
yearÕs crowd-pleaser MUNNA BHAI, MBBS, would likely put it: ŅLose the tension,
yaar. Relax and enjoy.Ó
US Premiere „ New 35mm Print
NAYAKAN
(Hero)
(1987) Directed by Mani Rathnam
Chosen by Time
magazine as one of the worldÕs 100 best films, Mani RathnamÕs career-making
thriller has aged amazingly well, due in large part to Kamal HaasanÕs nuanced
dramatic acting in the title role. This godfather look-alike was based on
the career of real-life Tamil-born boss-of-bosses Varadarajan Mudaliar, who
ruled BombayÕs Dharavi slums in the 1970s. Kamal Haasan plays the lightly
fictionalized Velu, the son of a murdered union leader who becomes a smuggler
and then a lordly mob boss who sticks up for the downtrodden. Rathnam carefully
preserves the dignity and the credibility of his gang lord anti-hero by never
asking him to synch to playback; the de rigueur musical duties are always
justified by narrative context (a floor show in a brothel) or handed off to a
high spirited side-kick (Janakaraj). When Velu does kick up his heels during a
festival celebration, in a moment of personal triumph, he kicks them up in
character.
Producer/Screenwriter: M. Rathnam. Cinematographer:
P.C. Sriram. Music Director: Ilaiyaraja. Lyricists: Ilaiyaraja, Pulamai Pithan.
With: Kamal Haasan, Saranya, M.V. Vasudeva Rao, Janakaraj. 35mm, in Tamil with
English subtitles, 155 min.
Friday, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
UCLA
James Bridges Theater
Melnitz Hall
Los
Angeles, CA 90095
Cost: $8
Special Instructions
Tickets are also available at the theater one hour before
showtime: $7 general admission; $5 students, seniors and UCLA Alumni
Association members with ID.
Tel: 310.206.FILM
www.cinema.ucla.edu
October 22 THE SHAPE OF MEMORY: Okinawan American oral history
workshop and visual art installation
At Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
(JACCC)
This workshop series invites those of Okinawan descent to come
together to share stories from their lives while constructing objects made from
paper and clay to represent moments from their past, present and future.
Facilitated by performance artist-in-residence Denise Uyehara with visual
artist Lee Ann Goya, workshop takes place on:
Workshop is free and open to those of Okinawan descent, including
those of mixed heritage. All ages welcome; no experience necessary, just
an open mind, heart and commitment to all the workshop dates.
The workshop participants and instructors will create a visual art
installation that will exhibit their objects and stories. The objects
will be placed as "shapes of memory" on a map that connects Okinawa,
the U.S., Latin America and other spheres of the Okinawan Diaspora.
Visual art installation on Saturday, January 21, 12 pm Š
2pm
George J. Doizaki Gallery at the JACCC
244 S. San Pedro Street,
Little Tokyo
Los Angeles, CA 90012, www.jaccc.org
For
directions: (213) 628-2725
This project is supported in part by the Department of cultural
Affairs, City of Los Angeles.
An API/2 Event. API/2 is supported by grants from The James Irvine
Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Los Angeles County Arts
Commission.
Saturday, ,10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
George J. Doizaki Gallery at the JACCC
244 S. San Pedro
Street
Little Tokyo, CA 90012
Cost: Free
Special Instructions
Consecutive Saturdays October 8 through November 19, 2005, 10
a.m. Š 1 p.m. Space is limited; please sign up early!
For more information please contact
Denise Tel: (310) 991-3698
dahoodore@aol.com
www.deniseuyehara.com
October 22 Screening - MAIN HOON NA (IÕm Here Now)
At James Bridges Theater
UCLA Film & Television Archive
Presents
FILMI MELODY: SONG AND DANCE IN INDIAN CINEMA:
Friday, October 21 Š Sunday, October 30
The ArchiveÕs 2005
showcase for some of the best products of Indian popular cinema has a few new
wrinkles. We are now calling it Filmi (rather than Bombay) Melody, in
order to suggest that the exuberant music and melodrama so closely identified
with the Hindi commercial cinema produced in Bombay (Mumbai) are truly
pan-Indian.
Also, this yearÕs series celebrates the work of three of
contemporary IndiaÕs top stars:
Amitabh Bachchan, the
industry-defining Ņangry young manÓ of the 1970s, voted the Ņgreatest star of
stage and screenÓ of all time in a BBC online poll and still a major leading
man in his 60s;
Kamal Haasan, the chameleon superstar,
arguably Indian cinemaÕs leading method actor, who has dominated South IndiaÕs
Tamil-language movie industry for two decades;
and Shah Rukh
Khan, a new kind of Bollywood megastar whose popularity owes an unprecedented
debt to audiences in the global Indian diaspora.
This is
still, of course, a celebration of melody, because the music in popular Indian
films continues to be an excellent early warning system of stylistic changes on
the horizon. One of the most hopeful recent developments has been the rapid
growth of a sharply focused neo-classical movement among younger actors and
directors. Remakes of Golden Age classics have been released or are in
the works, and one of the past yearÕs biggest hits, choreographer Farah KhanÕs
directorial debut MAIN HOON NA (IÕM HERE NOW), is a frank and affectionate
homage to the sort of high-Õ70s masala movies parodied a generation earlier by
Manmohan Desai in AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY. The changes are especially evident
in the way songs are being picturized. In some of the best new Bollywood
movies, such as Ashutosh GowarikerÕs SWADES (2004), the hero sings while
sauntering along a country road like Dev Anand or slouching over a piano like
the young Raj Kapoor. He no longer feels obliged in every case to do what
lyricist Javed Akhtar calls ŅaerobicsÓ in front of a chorus line of item
queens.
As the title character of last
yearÕs crowd-pleaser MUNNA BHAI, MBBS, would likely put it: ŅLose the tension,
yaar. Relax and enjoy.Ó
MAIN HOON NA (IÕm Here Now)
(2004) Directed by Farah Khan
The high-energy
directorial debut of ace Bollywood choreographer Farah Khan harks back to the
garish masala movies of the 1970s, when every Indian movie had to be a romance,
an action flick, a musical, and a family melodrama, all rolled into one.
Current Hindi cinema top draw Shah Rukh Khan portrays Major Ramprasad Sharma,
an Indian army commando who goes undercover as a student at an elite college
that looks like a back issue of Archie Comics. Major Sharma has a
threefold mission: to protect the slinky daughter (Amrita Rao) of his
commanding officer, to thwart the dastardly schemes of a Hindutva terrorist (an
exceedingly creepy Suniel Shetty), and to re-connect with his long-lost kid
brother (Zayed Khan). With a world-class choreographer at the helm itÕs
no wonder the musical numbers are joyously energetic, and star Khan seems to be
having a fine time both in the parodistic Ņwire fuÓ action scenes and in his
romantic interludes with curvy chemistry teacher Chandni (Sushmita Sen).
Producer: Gauri Khan. Screenwriters: Abbas Tyerwala, F. Khan, Rajesh
Saathi. Dialogue: A. Tyerwala. Cinematographer: V. Manikandan. Editor: Shirish
Kunder. Choreographer: F. Khan. Music Director: Anu Malik. Lyricist: Javed
Akhtar. With: Shah Rukh Khan, Suniel Shetty, Sushmita Sen, Zayed Khan. 35mm, in
Hindi with English subtitles, 180 min.Saturday, 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM
UCLA
James Bridges Theater
Melnitz Hall
Los
Angeles, CA 90095
Cost: $8
Special Instructions
Tickets are also available at the theater one hour before showtime:
$7 general admission; $5 students, seniors and UCLA Alumni Association members
with ID.
Tel:
310.206.FILM
www.cinema.ucla.edu
Last weekend I went to:
------------------------------------------------------
Links to
selected articles from the LA Times. To actually access the articles, you may
have to sign up for a free account.
Oct 18 THE WORLD
Chinese Youth Discover the Thrill of Voting -- for a Favorite
Artist
An 'American Idol'-like show draws 400 million viewers and drives
campaigns as carefully plotted as those for office.
By Ching-Ching Ni, Times Staff Writer
Oct 18 LAX Plans for Bird Flu Quarantines
With the airport a major entry point from Asia, officials are
considering how to sequester a jet's passengers to prevent the spread of
disease.
By Jennifer Oldham, Times Staff Writer
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-laxflu18oct18,1,3161852.story
Oct 17 GLOBAL REPORT
Malaysia May Require Switch to Biodiesel That Contains Palm Oil
By John Burton, Financial Times
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-ft-malaysia17oct17,1,3172240.story
Oct 17 Interpreting Asian and Latino test scores
Re "Morphing Outrage Into Ideas,"
Column One, Oct. 12
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-le-monday17.1oct17,1,2697597.story
Oct 16 Painting a bull's-eye on China hurts U.S.
Despite a push toward a cooler or even adversarial relationship,
history shows a need for economic linkages between great powers.
By Geoffrey Garrett, GEOFFREY GARRETT is president of the Pacific
Council on International Policy and a professor of international relations and
business administration and law at USC.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-garrett16oct16,1,2479238.story
Oct 16 EDITORIAL
Skip the shrine
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-yasukuni16oct16,1,7964740.story
Oct 14 BOOK REVIEW
Tan gives adventure tales a new viewpoint
Saving Fish From Drowning; Amy Tan; Putnam: 476 pp., $26.95
By Yxta Maya Murray, Special to The Times
http://www.latimes.com/features/lifestyle/la-et-book14oct14,1,2276749.story
Oct 13 A Taste of Home Turns Bitter Over Mall Project
Some welcome plans for huge development with national chains but
others fear Monterey Park would lose ethnic flavor.
By Jia-Rui Chong, Times Staff Writer
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-montereypark13oct13,1,5337420.story
Oct 17 THE WORLD
Koizumi Makes Low-Key Visit to War Shrine
Japanese leader goes to the divisive memorial despite domestic and
international criticism.
By Bruce Wallace, Times Staff Writer
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-shrine17oct17,1,7964642.story
Oct 16 Vietnam Tries to Ride Tech Outsourcing Wave
The nation's fledgling software industry is becoming known
globally, but business hasn't grown as fast as entrepreneurs hoped.
By Amy Kazmin, Financial Times
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-ft-vietnam16oct16,1,4101208.story
Oct 13 Neolithic Chinese Used Their Noodles
By Thomas H. Maugh II and Karen Kaplan, Times Staff Writers
Long and stringy, chewy or delicate, stuffed or hollow: In all its
configurations, the humble noodle is a primary food source for billions of
people, but its origins have been obscured by the mists of time.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-sci-noodles13oct13,1,5591592.story
Oct 18 OBITUARIES
Ba Jin, 100; Chinese Writer's Faith in Anarchism Helped Fuel
Communist Revolution
By Anthony Kuhn, Special to The Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-bajin18oct18,1,7739328.story
Oct 17 THE WORLD
Chinese Astronauts Return, Rejoice
From Associated Press
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-space17oct17,1,1497319.story
Oct 15 Wie Puts Charge Into Bighorn
She shoots a bogey-free 65 to move into a tie for second, two
shots behind Park.
By Jerry Crowe, Times Staff Writer
http://www.latimes.com/sports/golf/la-sp-lpga15oct15,1,5495817.story
Oct 16 Q&A | REFUGEES
U.S. Offers the World's Oppressed a New Start in Life
By Ann M. Simmons, Times Staff Writer
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-explainer16oct16,1,5389040.story