Thursday Movie Picks #47: Non-English Language Movies – Asian Language Movies Set in South East Asia (Non-Horror)

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Finally, I return to Thursday Movie Picks series by Wandering Through the Shelves. As for this week, the theme is kinda close to me: Non-English Language Movies – Asian Language Movies Set in South East Asia.

I’d traditionally choose Indonesian flicks for this kind of theme. However, there are other Southeast Asia movies, which really deserves attention. From a Singaporean family drama, Indonesian Alice in the Wonderland to Thai equivalent to Lost in Translation makes my picks for this week.

So, I present you my picks. 

01. Ilo Ilo (2013) – Singapore

Anthony Chen’s directorial debut is a hell of a family movie. It centers around a middle-class family in Singapore with a series of tragedy and unfortunate events, but it is kept warm by uplifting relationship of the housekeeper and the child of the family. Warm but melancholy, Ilo Ilo is a real portrait of family issue in Singapore without facade.

02. Fiksi. (2008) – Indonesia

fiksi. is a slow-burning Indonesian psychological thriller which centers around the dwellers of an apartment in Jakarta suburb from the perspective of a troubled girl. It’s a realistic inversion of Alice in the Wonderland with a darker premise, a more bitter conclusion, and more Asian touches. When I said Alice in the Wonderlands, it’s the real one.

03. Last Life in the Universe (2003) – Thailand

With three languages spoken through the entire movie, Last Life in the Universe is one of the most unique Thai movies. Tadanobu Asano is a Japanese librarian in Japan Foundation in Thailand. Twist of fate leads him to meet his Thai sort-of lover with mutual guilt. It might be too pretentious, however, there’s a quintessence of Japanese and Thai artsy elements pinned along the film making it a peculiar collaboration.


So that’s it…my three picks. Hit comment button if anything.

 

10 responses to “Thursday Movie Picks #47: Non-English Language Movies – Asian Language Movies Set in South East Asia (Non-Horror)”

  1. Wendell Avatar
    Wendell

    Never heard of any of these. I suspect I will be saying that a lot this week. They all sound very interesting, though. Great work!

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      Well, Southeast Asian movies are mostly still under radar of international viewers. So I guess that’s normal 🙂

  2. Brittani Avatar
    Brittani

    Nice! I haven’t heard of any of these, I actually had to sit this week out because I haven’t seen any I could put here. But these sound interesting.

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      Like I said to Wendell previously, it’s completely normal to miss these movies out of your radar. Southeast Asian movies haven’t found a way to reach wider audiences. Thanks anyway 🙂

  3. Birgit Avatar
    Birgit

    I am also one who had to sit this one out since I have not seen any but these sound interesting especially the first 2. I wish we could see more of these films but living in a typical small city, I doubt they would ever come here

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      Indeed they’re interesting 🙂 but I must admit that Southeast Asia movies are traditionally not distributed world wide and always get overshadowed by movies from East Asia or even Middle East. I hope they’ll get a go someday 🙂

  4. EverSoEthnicallyConfused Avatar
    EverSoEthnicallyConfused

    I’ve not heard of these films, but they all sound intriguing, especially, Fiksi.

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      Completely normal to never hear any of it 🙂 Fiksi is indeed intriguing.

  5. Wandering through the Shelves Avatar
    Wandering through the Shelves

    I’ve seen Ilo Ilo. Good but not quite my favourite local movie.
    Last Life in the Universe I’ve heard off but somehow I never knew it was a Thai movie.

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      Ilo Ilo has political subtexts, which kinda reminds me of something happened at that time. Therefore I feel it close to me.
      Last Life in the Universe despite of having Japanese cast and setting is completely Thai movie, with Thai director and all.

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