Foreign Clips

By Craig Kirk

Turkish Civilization Invades Japan

A survey of 3500 years of Turkish civilization is making its rounds through Japanese art museums this fall/winter season. Displaying antiquities from the major civilizations and empires of Turkey, the Ottoman, Byzantine, and Hittite empires from Turkey's past are each represented in this show.

Hittite-era relief of a hunting scene Courtesy Japan times

Of the empires displayed, the Hittite aspect of the exhibition yields the deepest look at one of history's most unknown civilizations. Existing primarily between 1900 and 1200 B.C., the Hittite empire was largely a mystery to historians up until the early 20th century, whereby pictographs discovered earlier in Turkey and Egypt led to the discovery of the Hittite empire. The antiquities represented in this collection offer a rare look into this lost and ancient civilization.

Sixth-century Byzantine depiction of the Archangel Gabriel Courtesy Japan times

The Byzantine and Ottoman empires, though well known, fill out the rest of the exhibition. Featuring a number of Christian artifacts from the Byzantine period, and secular arts from the Ottoman Empire.
The show, "Three Great Civilizations in Turkey" will run till September 28th at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.

The show will then travel to the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, from October 12th to December 7th and the Osaka Museum of History from December 20th through February 16th, 2004.

Courtesy of The Japan Times, September 3, 2003

Australian Film Stagnation

"Take Away": your typical aussie battler film. Courtesy of The Age

The Age is reporting in its September 8th issue on the recent decline in Australian-produced filmmaking. In particular, the relative lack of originality in Australian cinema and the impact this is having on the industry as a whole. Blaming lack of creativity, the Age reporters clearly identify certain key themes that have been overplayed in recent films.

Centering on the theme of the "Aussie battler," the Age argues that Australian cinema of late has focused primarily on the Australian underdog, to a point of creative stagnation. While a staple of Australian comedies, the Age goes on to report on how the notion of the battler has even arisen in dramatic works from the country.

While not centering on the notion of having an underdog as problematic (indeed, its rather ubiquitous in all pop-culture art), the Age attacks the implementation of the underdog protagonist in overly Australian terms, as "Australians themselves are portrayed on the screen as naive and dim survivors of a laconic but cloistered culture that simply can't deal with change." In addition, The Age finds problems with how Australian cinema of late has resorted to a "one-dimensional character when it brings on its [...] villain."

Courtesy of The Age, September 8, 2003

Su Tong Bemoans Death of Literary Prospects in China

Chinese author Su Tong made very critical comments about the success authors from China can expect in their home country. Citing both piracy in the country and a dwindling interest in literature in the country, Su Tong's comments reflect a growing problem for Chinese literature. "Nobody reads anymore, they are all trying to earn money" admits Tong, disparaging the declining interest in the upwardly mobile Chinese population. Indeed, as China's economy has rapidly grown over the past decades, more television and other media have taken time away from reading. This combined with the lax controls over intellectual property in China has yielded a very poor environment for the development of the Chinese novelist as a profession.

Courtesy of Muzi News, August 24, 2003

Infernal Prequels

Stars from Infernal Affairs 3 take the press by storm in media blitz. Courtesy chinadaily.com

In an attempt to cash in on last year's wild commercial and critical success of "Infernal Affairs," filmmakers are laying the groundwork for shooting two prequels. With the second installment of "Infernal Affairs" opening in October, the publicity machine has already started in full force for the third movie. Shot back-to-back this year, the production has been a whirlwind pace to cash in on the popularity of the original film. Packed with top-list Asian stars, the producers are looking at making these "affairs" a worthwhile franchise for audiences and critics alike.

Courtesy of China Daily, September 3, 2003

Lara Croft Runs Afoul of the Chinese Government

Angelina Jolie at US opening of "Tomb Raider 2: Cradle of Life" Image courtesy of yahoo news

China has banned "Tomb Raider 2: Cradle of Life" out of complaints of "negative portrayals of the country." The only country to ban the movie, Chinese censors felt that "westerners have made their presentation of China with malicious intention" according to many media reports. China felt its reputation had been damaged by the movie with its depiction of the country as having a lack of order or real government, and under the control of secret societies. China's ban, though only a fraction of the international earnings of the first Tomb Raider movie, marks a small blow to the international earnings of the film. "Tomb Raider 2: Cradle of Life" had been slated to open in fall of this year in China.

Courtesy of Yahoo News, August 29, 2003

"Homerun" Attempts to Avoid Malaysian Restrictions

Controversial Scene from "Homerun"; image Courtesy channelnewsasia.com

Malaysian censors are currently in the process of screening the Singaporean film "Homerun" in order to determine whether or not to remove a certain scene containing what many believe to have certain political messages. Singaporeans had previously noted on the subtext during the film's run in its home country of Singapore. Director and screenwriter of the film, Jack Neo, voiced dismay over the manner in which the parodying of Singaporean/Malay relations had been focused on by some groups, rather than the greater focus of the movie - the struggle Singapore had faced building a nation. The scene in question features an argument about water, subtly referencing similar arguments between the Malaysian government and Singapore.

"Homerun" has been a local hit in Singapore, having grossed $1.8 million in Singapore in its first 5 weeks running.

Courtesy of Channelnewsasia.com, September 4, 2003

September 12, 2003