I’m actually not multiple days late with this Trailer Weekly but just right on time! I haven’t had dinner yet though 
… but that’s more so because I can’t make up my mind what to have. Ideally soup (which is comfort food in my book) with dumplings (gyoza, mandu, momos, whichever) but I haven’t got any dumplings and I’m not about to start making any from scratch on a Sunday night at 10 p.m. (if I had wonton wrappers, maybe). Ramen would do as well, but no ramen noodles in the house either so I think it’ll end up being a soup concoction involving some sort of Asian noodles, seaweed and miso. No tofu though, boohoooo. I really wish, by the way, corner shops would carry tofu (I eyed some halloumi cheese today, vaguely hoping it might turn out to be a block of soy, but of course it wasn’t). Anyhow, before I get too deep into my food contemplations, better I go cook something and leave you to peruse this week’s Trailer Weekly selection.
- 「体温」(Taion/Body Temperature, Japan, 2011) – Dir. by Ogata Takaomi. Although the film was made in 2010 and featured in a number of film festivals, including the Fantastic Film Fest and Raindance, in 2011, it was only released in Japan in late February. It is a strange one, that’s for sure: Rintaro, a lonely and socially awkward factory worker, owns a life-sized sex doll called Ibuki, with whom he shares every aspect of his life: he treats her like a real person, dresses her, takes her on outings and, of course, uses her for sex. One day he runs into Rinko, a night club hostess, who looks exactly like his doll. They begin to spend time together and begin a relationship. A quote from the Fantastic Fest: ”BODY TEMPERATURE is a subtle film that walks a thin line between outrageousness and earnestness. The core relationship is inherently absurd yet the film takes the man’s love for the doll seriously. There are comical moments but they are subtle. The film’s commitment to its characters and the story make the creepy moments —and there are a whole lot of creepy moments— that much more powerful.” (quote)
- 「白夜行」(Byakuyakou/Into the White Night, Japan, 2010) – Dir. by Fukagawa Yoshihiro. Murder mystery time. Based on a previously adapted novel by Higashino Keigo (there is a 2006 dorama with the same title and a 2009 Korean film called 백야행 – 하얀 어둠 속을 걷다 /Baekyahaeng – Hayan Eodoom Sokeul Geolda/White Night), Detective Sasagaki (Funakoshi Eichiro) is investigating the murder of a pawn shop owner that has been declared suicide for the lack of evidence. Over time – the story spans two decades – he becomes increasingly suspicious of Yukiho (Horikita Maki), the daughter of the main suspect, and Ryouji (Kora Kengo), the son of the pawn shop owner, as more and more deaths happen around them.
- 백야행 - 하얀 어둠 속을 걷다 (Baekyahaeng – Hayan Eodoom Sokeul Geolda/White Night, South Korea, 2009) – Dir. by Park Shin-woo. The Korean adaptation of Higashino’s novel, starring Han Seok-kyu, Son Ye-jin and Ko Soo. Watch and compare.
- 「ハードロマンチッカー」(Hado Romanchikka/Hard Romanticker, Japan, 2011) – Dir. by Gu Su-yeon. I noticed this one probably quite a while back – it appeared on a number of festival programmes – but kind of shied away from it because it’s a gangster/action movie and, apparently, spectacularly violent. Not really my kind of thing. But then when I stumbled over it again recently I realised that Matsuda Shota has the lead role. He is always fabulous but particularly so when he plays super-intense characters, which he certainly does here. Indeed, as a gangster/delinquent bad boy that gets sucked deeper and deeper into the dark life, he might just burn a hole into the screen methinks. Plus, he’s sporting hideously awesome white-blond hair here.
- 天水圍的夜與霧 (Tiānshuǐwéi de yè yǔ wù/Night and Fog, Hong Kong, 2009) – Dir. by Ann Hui. More murder and killing (coincidence, really! I did not plan this for the Trailer Weekly!) in this final film in a trilogy from the wonderful Hong Kong director Ann Hui, which lovehkfilm.com considers a “surprising follow-up to The Way We Are” but “harrowing and genuinely involving” (quotes). Based on real events, the story is about Ling, an immigrant from Mainland China, who is married (with two children) to a somewhat older Hong Kong man. Their marriage is a deeply troubled one, causing Ling to flee to a woman’s shelter and even return to her homeland for some time. When she meets with her husband again, things take an even more tragic turn. Definitely a tough watch, this one.
- 「リアル 完全なる首長竜の日」(Riaru Kanzen Naru Kubinagaryu no Hi/Real, Japan, 2013) – Dir. by Kurosawa Kiyoshi. I have been enjoying Sato Takeru in the currently airing dorama「とんび」(Tonbi/Kite) these weeks, which, I get the impression, hardly anyone is paying attention to despite the fact that it’s a simply wonderful (very tug-at-your-hearstrings) family drama. Riaru Kanzen Naru Kubinagaryu no Hi is Sato’s first film project for 2013 and the only film on today’s Trailer Weekly that hasn’t yet been released. Although we’ve only got a teaser for it so far, I think it looks interesting. Sato plays Koichi, who has been friends with Atsumi (Ayase Haruka) since childhood. As adults they become lovers, but their relationship soon faces some difficulties as Atsumi attempts suicide and falls into a coma. Before you think this is going to a typical melodramatic romance, hold off – the film actually veers into sci-fi territory: Using a new medical procedure, Koichi enters the subscience of his girlfriend (creepy!), where she ask him to find a childhood drawing of a plesiosaur that holds the key to a suppressed memory. Honestly, I have no idea where this film is going – the teaser gives us guns, the aforementioned plesiosaur and a morphing city (?) – but I’m happy to wait and see. Even more so because there is the bonus point of Sometani Shota in the supporting cast. Plus Odarigi Joe and Nakatani Miki, which can’t hurt either.
Bonus Bits
No bonus bits today. Need to have food!
After-Dinner Update: Here’s a bonus – Toda Erika in the dorama「SPEC（スペック」, eating super-servings of both steamed and fried gyoza. Oh yeah.
Into the White Night looks interesting. The Keigo Higashino’s novels I have read aren’t super-exciting but they are satisfying and well-constructed which is what this film looks like. I tried the link to the Korean version but it doesn’t seem to be working…
And yes, I’m also feeling the hype for Real… Awesome cast, awesome concept, awesome teaser which reminds me of his best horror titles – I swear some of those shots come from locations use in Retribution – Odagiri starred in a little role in that – and Kurosawa likes reusing locations. I pray this is God-tier!
Sorry about the Korean clip – I’ve linked it again and it should work now!
Real could be horror-y, but I guess it’ll be psychological terror really? It’s hard to tell with that teaser, we’ll have to wait at least for a longer clip.
It reminded me of Inception actually…
Real you mean? Hmmm, not quite seeing that connection…
The images of a ruined cityscape next to the sea? Tilting shots as the landscape goes awry? The fact that the characters enter a mind… “Using a new medical procedure…” and fiddle with the way a person thinks… I didn’t get a horror vibe from it.
It has been a while since I watched Inception (when it was in the cinema). Visually it looks quite distinct to me – some similar images perhaps but much heavier on the Special Effects in Inception (not quite sure how to explain it).
I think it is more likely that it will involve psychological terror in some way, well, maybe ‘terror’ is the wrong word as well… but some sort of intensity on the psychological level.
(I’m not finding the right words today!)
Quite a mix this week.
Body Temperature sounds strange yet appealing .
I’d watch Into The White Night , I enjoy a good murder mystery .
Real , I’d watch anything with Ayase Haruka.
I’m going to print the picture of our gyoza gobbling detective to adorn my work cubicle.
I thought I was being less diverse this week because of the murder-mystery (or simply murder) overlap in several of them…
So, are you watching Yae no Sakura then? I’m not biting, that one is just too long for me to commit to, Ayase or not (or anyone really).
Ja! I’m so glad one person at least appreciates the gyoza-munching Erika! (I think Toma and me, we’d be besties… I adore dumplings. Or maybe we’d fight over them, piece by piece
).
Extra garlic!
@Tired Paul
Garlic ♥♥♥
Regarding the TVP to replace meat by the way… it might be disappointing. I only use it for bolognese (to make lasagne) and I’ve a Thai TVP mix (with seaweed) that I use in Asian soup broths.
I would recommend trying also recipes that don’t replace the meat, i.e. ethnic dishes that don’t treat veg as a side show but as a valid main just like anything else.
The NYTimes Recipes for Health column (written by Martha Rose Shulman) has a lot of good stuff (sadly the NYT now requires subscription, only 10 articles free per month). Mark Bittman (NYT) also has lots (he’s omni but even has a veg cookbook, I think it might suit you because he also just wanted to increase the number of veg meals in his diet).
I myself cook a lot of Asian food (Indian, Korean, Japanese mainly), Middle Eastern as well as Greek (my meat-loving Greek friend has taught me all kinds of recipes because despite the fact that Greek cuisine seems meat-centred, traditionally people were too poor and did not eat much meat at all, hence there are a lot veg dishes).
Some websites I like/use:
Vegan 8 Korean (Korean)
Alien’s Day Out (some Korean)
Just Hungry (mostly Japanese)
Tongue Ticklers(Indian)
101 Cookbooks
I have gazillions more (including veg-friendly omni blogs (like Café Fernando or Asian Dumpling Tips –> have the author’s Asian Tofu and the Asian Dumplings books) but I’m not sure how much time/effort you want to put into cooking. (I think I cook more than most people and make a lot more from scratch that other people would just buy…)
I’ve toyed with the idea of doing a “Dinner and Movie” feature by the way… I’d probably start with Spirited Away and lots of different types of onigiri!
Regarding Yae no Sakura , it isn’t the number of episodes* that is daunting, it’s the lack of regularly subbed episodes. I might not ever see it.
.
I did watch a part of episode 1 raw though.
* The Legend of Zhen Huan is 76 episodes long and worth every moment.
Seeing Toda Ericka reminds me, I have been meaning to check out Shotenin Michiru no Mi no Uebanashi, I ‘ll have to make time.
Your food links are interesting. My wife is making kimchi, I’m brewing kombucha , (fermented tea) and later today I’m going to start another batch of makgeolli , (Korean rice wine).
Back to films, have you seen Sita Sings The Blues ?
It is unique and wonderful.
A mixed media musical film that depicts a personal interpretation of the Indian epic the Ramayana. The soundtrack is 1920′s jazz.
Yeah, it is amazing how everything just clicks.
＠John Yeah, irregularly subbed dramas are no fun. I find I end up dropping those or not enjoying them as much because after an x-week gap between one episode or another, you don’t remember much anymore.
Sorry for hijacking your reply to give Tired Paul some food links (he asked me on Twitter). I’ve never had kimchi. The one they sell here always contains fishy stuff (don’t eat), and haven’t made my own yet. I want the proper pot to bury in the garden
Which kombucha – Japanese kelp tea or the drink made from yeast/bacterial cultures (I’ve only tried and love the latter)? Haven’t tried makgeolli yet either, I tasted a similar, Nepalese drink but wasn’t too fond of it. (Don’t drink much and if I do, it’s sweet alcohol.)
I haven’t watched Sita Sings the Blue, though I’ve heard of it (I think GKIDS distributes it in the US?) and definitely would be interesting in seeing it.
P.S. Your reply ended up in the spam folder, I’m guessing because of the link!
We make the yeast variety kombucha, usually in 2 gallon batches. It’s delicious. I’ll add sliced lemons, in the summer months, add shredded ginger. Heavenly.
As far as Sita Sings The Blues goes, you can watch online or download it for free. Nina Paley, the creator, has put in in the public domain. We did buy a copy of the DVD in appreciation of her efforts.
I wouldn’t mind the recipe….. It sounds better than the store-bought!
Wow, that’s amazing of Nina Paley! I’m going to try downloading it tomorrow then (tried today and my internet connection has been #*@($&@# so I’ve got no patience left).
Looking at a Scoby is scary!
I had to look up SCOBY!
Never tried Kombucha, the SCOBY has put me off slightly………..I’ll stick to growing oyster mushrooms.
I was looking on the Asian Dumpling Tips site, even though I was looking for vegetarian recipes, their pork looks too good and easy not to try!
No, Asian Dumplings is omni… but sufficiently veg friendly.
Personally I want to make the Daikon Rice Cakes and the Gujarati Wheat Dumplings! And at some point, I’m going to have a try at making tofu (and, especially, yuba!).