Shorts from Southeast Asia

Overview

This mini-programme within the autumn 2018 programme focuses on short films from Southeast Asia. Featuring a number of contemporary artists and filmmakers from the region, the programme aims to present experimental and art house films from Southeast Asia to a wider audience.

The Anthem, 2017 (5 min)
Directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Colour
Thai (Arabic and English subtitles)

A celebration of filmmaking, The Anthem is screened at the beginning of film programmes as a form of blessing.

Letter to a Bird, 2017 (6 min)
Directed by Shunn Lei Swe Yee, Lin Hnin Aye, Khin Warso, Khine Min Soe, Sai Naw Kham, Slyne Mon, Sai NyiNyi
Colour
Burmese (Arabic and English subtitles)

This film is a contemplative visual poem about birth, life and freedom.

Hands Around in Yangon, 2012 (7 min)
Directed by Moe Satt
Colour
No dialogue

Hands Around in Yangon investigates hands as cultural signals, emphasising the almost autonomous character of the ingrained movements hands follow. Shown as if independent of their owners’ minds, the hands are integral to the activity they are pursuing.

The Place, 2014 (7 min)
Directed by Khin Khin Su
Colour
Burmese, Czech (Arabic and English subtitles)

Director Khin Khin Su uses Vitkov Park in Prague as a place to contemplate and reflect on the differences between Czech and Burmese cultures.

Chasing Roses, 2015 (11 min)
Directed by Kriz Chan Nyein
Colour
English (Arabic subtitles)

Chasing Roses is a poem written in images and sound, a lyrical exploration of a man's internal struggles.

Jodilerks Dela Cruz, Employee of the Month, 2017 (13 min)
Directed by Carlo Francisco Manatad
Colour
Tagalog (Arabic and English subtitles)

In her last working day, Jodilerks, an attendant at a petrol station, has plans to make a dramatic exit.

Kampung Tapir, 2017 (17 min)
Directed by Aw See Wee
Colour
Mandarin, English, Malay (Arabic and English subtitles)

A mother struggles as she goes back and forth between Kampung Tapir, Malaysia, where her daughter and family live, and Singapore, where she and her husband work.

Dragon Beach, 2010 (19 min)
Directed by Wai Mar Nyunt
Colour
Burmese (Arabic and English subtitles)

With a new life she cannot deny, a woman lives with a sixth sense she does not want. She has the ability to communicate with restless souls and uses her special perspective to help people around her. This film recounts the strange and interesting story of a woman leading the life of a shaman.

Nyi Ma Lay, 2017 (20 min)
Directed by Chiang Wei Liang
Colour
No dialogue

A girl sits precariously on a ledge as people try to help or understand why.

The Malediction, 2016 (27 min)
Directed by Makbul Mubarak
Colour
Indonesian, Javanese, Arabic (Arabic and English subtitles)

Haji Halim experiences a number of unfortunate events after being cursed by his first wife for marrying a young widow.