Film Appreciation
Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim (1984)
For the second ancillary screening of the semester, NTU Film Society will be discussing Lino Brocka’s Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim (This Is My Country).
Synopsis: Turing is forced into a life of crime to pay off his wife's hospital bills after the printing press he used to work in shuts down.
✏️ Director Lino Brocka’s bio:
Catalino Ortiz Brocka was a Filipino film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and significant filmmakers in the history of Philippine cinema.
Pop Aye (2017)
For the second screening of the semester, NTU Film Society will be discussing Kirsten Tan’s Pop Aye.
Synopsis: An architect bumps into his long-lost elephant on the streets of Bangkok and embarks on a road trip across Thailand in search of their hometown and the farm where they grew up together.
✏️ Director Kirsten Tan’s bio:
Kirsten Tan is a Singaporean film director and screenwriter. She is best known for her 2017 feature film debut, Pop Aye, which won the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, and was Singapore's official submission to the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Happy Together (1997)
For the first ancillary screening of the semester, NTU Film Society will be discussing Wong Kar Wai’s Happy Together
Synopsis: Yiu and Po visit Argentina to mend their problematic relationship. As things turn worse, they part ways and start a new life. However, after Po reappears in Yiu's disillusioned life, chaos ensues.
Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
For the first screening of the semester, NTU Film Society will be discussing Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Hustle.
Synopsis: An aspiring gangster pretends to be part of a notorious gang and tries to terrorise a neighbourhood. However, unknown to him, three martial arts experts live there and are ready to take him down.
The Gold Rush (1925)
For the sixth screening of the semester, NTU Film Society will be discussing Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush. Before the screening, Professor Kevin Chew will be giving a lecture on Chaplin and the silent film era.
Synopsis: While on a gold-hunting mission to Alaska, a rogue is hit by a storm and seeks refuge in a hut, where he meets a fugitive and a gold-seeker. However, after reaching the town, he falls for a girl.
✏️ Professor Kevin Chew’s bio:
Kevin Chew is an Assistant Professor at WKWSCI. He previously completed his PhD as a Gates Scholar at the University of Cambridge, writing on political conflict in contemporary Disney animation. His research interests are centred on popular animation, militarism and the maritime world. His teaching experience spans American, European and Japanese cinema.
Suspiria (2018)
For the fifth screening of the semester, NTU Film Society will be discussing Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria.
Synopsis: A darkness swirls at the center of a world-renowned dance company, one that will engulf the artistic director, an ambitious young dancer, and a grieving psychotherapist. Some will succumb to the nightmare. Others will finally wake up.
Brazil (1985)
For the forth screening of the semester, NTU Film Society will be discussing Terry Gilliam’s Brazil.
Synopsis: In a retro-future world, Sam Lowry, a clerk in the ministry department, is given the task to rectify an administrative error. However, in the process, he becomes the enemy of the state.
The Joy Luck Club (1993)
In conjunction with home-based learning week, NTU Film Society will be discussing Wayne Wang’s The Joy Luck Club on Discord.
Synopsis: Four Chinese women along with their mothers delve into their past and try to find answers. Slowly, this search helps them to understand the complex relationship they share with each other.
Belladonna of Sadness (1973)
For the second screening of the semester, NTU Film Society will be discussing Eiichi Yamamoto’s Belladonna of Sadness.
Synopsis: A peasant woman is sexually assaulted by the local lord on her wedding night. To take revenge, she makes a pact with the Devil himself who appears as an erotic sprite and transforms her into a black-robed vision of madness and desire.
Session Recap
Double Bill: Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988) + Strange Way of Life (2023)
To kickstart the new semester, NTU Film Society will be discussing Pedro Almodóvar’s 1) Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, and 2) Strange Way of Life.
Synopsis:
1) Television actress Pepa (Carmen Maura) encounters a variety of eccentric characters after embarking on a journey to discover why her lover abruptly left her.
2) After twenty-five years apart, Silva (Pedro Pascal) rides a horse across the desert to visit his friend Sheriff Jake (Ethan Hawke).
The Time That Remains (2009)
To wrap up the semester, NTU Film Society will be discussing Elia Suleiman’s The Time That Remains.
Synopsis: The semi-biographic film is an examination of the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 through to the present day.
Diwali Special: Pather Panchali (1955)
For our Diwali Film Appreciation, NTU Film Society looks back on one of India’s most prominent film-makers, Satyajit Ray, and reflects on his seminal work, Pather Panchali.
Synopsis: Apu is born into a poor family where Harihar, his father, cannot provide for everyone at home. However, Harihar dreams of a better life and leaves the village to look for an opportunity to earn money.
The film is the first in the Apu trilogy, followed by the films Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959). Satyajit Ray’s work has gone on to inspire and influence other prominent filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Christopher Nolan, while the Apu trilogy has been praised by established film critic Roger Ebert.
Halloween Appreciation: Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
In the Halloween spirit, NTU Film Society will be discussing the 2022 comedy horror film Bodies Bodies Bodies directed by Halina Reijn, and featuring a star-studded cast.
Synopsis: When a group of 20-somethings gets stuck at a remote mansion during a hurricane, a party game gone very, very wrong ends with a dead body on the ground and fake friends at every turn as they try to find the killer among them.
See you on the other side!
Rouge (1987)
In the spirit of the Hong Kong film festival, NTU Film Society will be discussing the Hong Kong film Rouge (1987).
Synopsis: Fleur, a ghost, searches for her lover Chen after he fails to follow through with their suicide pact.
Film Appreciation 1: The Worst Person in the World
Hello everyone! For our second Film Appreciation session of the academic year, we will be looking at the film that won the most votes in last week’s poll — Joachim Trier’s The Worst Person in the World (2021)
The movie made its debut in the competitive section of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, receiving widespread praise from critics. Lead actress Renate Reinsve earned the Best Actress award for her outstanding performance. Additionally, at the 94th Academy Awards, the film secured nominations for Best International Feature Film and Best Original Screenplay.
“I wasted so much time worrying about what could go wrong, but what did go wrong, was never the things i worried about.”
Julie (Reinsve), a young woman in her twenties, goes on a journey of self-discovery, as she traverses the waters of her love life and career.
We hope to see you there!
Welcome Tea: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
NTU Film Society is having its Welcome Tea to bring together our members, old and new, to understand more about the Society and its workings; and to bring together cinephiles of all backgrounds and interests together.