Pelikula@Titus Brandsma is a free monthly film screening with film dialogue that features fine samples of world cinema. After every screening, film enthusiasts can discuss the aesthetic and technical merits of each film. This monthly screening is an offering of the Titus Brandsma Center-Media Program under the auspices of the Carmelites in the Philippines. It is aimed at giving a meaningful experience for film enthusiasts.
The core group of Pelikula@TitusBrandsma selects three films
that correspond to a specific theme for each month. For the month of May,
select films of Gong Li will be shown in honor of China's Iron Beauty.
This month's screening will be held on May 19, 2007 from 1 p.m. onwards at the Titus Brandsma Center in New Manila, Quezon City.
Pelikula@TitusBrandsma: Gong Li's Retrospective (China's Iron Beauty)
Sequence:
Shanghai Triad (Yao a yao yao dao waipo qiao) (1995-China/France)
Cast: Gong Li, Baotian Li, Wang Xiaoxiao, Xuejian Li, Chun Sun
Director: Yimou Zhang
103 minutes. In Mandarin with English subtitles.
Uncle Liu brings his cousin to Shanghai to work for "Boss," the leader of a
powerful drug empire in the 1930's. Shuisheng, a simple country boy is awed and
overwhelmed by the opulence and immense wealth he is suddenly surrounded by. He
is to be the attendant of Xiao Jingbao, the new mistress of "Boss." While he
fumbles with the demands of his new role, much intrigue is going on around him,
well beyond his bewildered perception. Xiao Jingbao is having a tumultuous
affair, Fat Yu is starting a gang war, and "Boss" is beginning to suspect that
one of his trusted men is not loyal.
Raise the Red Lantern (Da hong deng long gao gao gua)
(1991-China/Hong Kong/Taiwan)
Cast: Gong Li, Caifei He, Cuifen Cao, Jingwu Ma, Qi Zhao
Director: Yimou Zhang
125 minutes. In Mandarin with English subtitles.
China in the 1920's. After her father's death, nineteen-year-old Songlian is
forced to marry Chen Zuoqian, the lord of a powerful family. The fifty-year-old
Chen has already three wives, each of them living in separate houses within the
great castle. The competition between the wives is tough, as their master's
attention carries power, status and privilege. Each night, Chen must decide
which wife to spend the night with and a red lantern is lit in front of the
house of his choice. Each wife schemes and plots to make sure it's hers.
However, things get out of hand.
The Emperor and the Assassin (Jing ke ci qin wang)
(1998-France/Japan/China)
Cast: Gong Li, Fengyi Zhang, Zhou Sun, Xiaohe Lu, Zhiwen
Wang
Director: Kaige Chen
162 minutes. In Mandarin with English subtitles.
In the 3rd century BC, Ying Zheng (Li Xuejian), heir to
the Kingdom of Qin, seeks to dominate the remaining six Chinese kingdoms.
Ying's strategy is to seem invincible. Ying sends his concubine Zhao (Gong Li) to the Han Kingdom as a spy, to
enlist an assassin he can conquer. Zhao persuades Jing Ke (Fengyi Zhang), but
falls in love.
FREE ADMISSION.
Screening: May 19, 2007 (1 p.m. onwards)
Venue: Titus Brandsma Center, 24 Acacia St. Brgy. Mariana, New Manila, Quezon City
For inquiries, please call Bituin (726-6054) or Maxie (751-1169).
For a map of the location, please visit http://www.pelikula-titusbrandsma.ph/
