by Sam Juliano
The middle of August is already upon us, confirming the longtime contention that once the month begins, we are looking September square in the face. Of course one could say that about every month! Ha! In any event, we draw closer to the annual Horrorfest, and the quality film season. For a bevy of reasons (pandemic malaise, low quality releases, film polls and my own pre-occupation with Irish Jesus in Fairview) I have seen less new releases from any May through August period in my entire life. Those who read the Monday Morning Diaries no doubt have noticed the comparative dearth of my reports. I suppose the mater of the novel is the prime reason of course, but this is a balancing act I will have to deal with for quite some time, since my tentative plans are to complete an interconnected trilogy, with the third novel’s title already firmed up as Roses for Saoirse.
My beloved town of Fairview made national headlines this week, and not in a good way. The attacker of Salman Rushdie has moved into our town about a year ago – on Morningside Avenue.
I want to thank all those who have wished me well for my completed cataract surgery, which, as Marilyn Ferdinand assured me, would go “swimmingly.” That is precisely how it went, and my eyesight is clearer now than it has been in ages. Only some itchiness and soreness remains, but I have been told that will pass.
This past week film essay writer extraordinaire Jim Clark published a dazzling piece on Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy. Needless to say, Jim has done all he can to keep this place cinematically relevant.
The rest of Asia polling is underway on FB, and will continue into September. Here is the introductory post with my own choices:
The “Rest of Asia” poll (the very last before our USA grand finale) kicks off today! As always it will be arbitrated and tabulated by Bill Kamberger, and it will run until Friday, September 9th at 5:00 P.M. Each voter has fifteen (15) choices to be considered from the following countries: South Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal, Indonesia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Laos, North Korea and Pakistan, My own Top fifteen in alphabetical order is as follows. I didn’t include “Parasite,” but I suspect many here will:
Burning (Lee Chang-Dong) South Korea, 2018
Century of Birthing (Lav Diaz) Philippines (2001)
Himalaya (Eric Valli) Nepal, 1999
The Housemaid (Kim Ki-young) South Korea, 1960
Insiang (Lino Brocka) Philippines, 1976
Melancholia (Lav Diaz) Philippines, 2008
Memories of Murder (Bong Joon-ho) South Korea, 2003
Poetry (Lee Chang-Dong) South Korea, 2010
The Scent of Green Papaya (Tran Anh Hung) Vietnam, 1994
Snowpiercer (Bong Joon-ho) South Korea, 2013
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter…..(Kim Ki-duk) S. Korea, 2003
Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (Kang Je-gyu) Korea, 2004
Tropical Malady (Apichatpong Weerasethakul) Thailand, 2005
Uncle Boonme (Apichatpong Weerasethakul) Thailand, 1993
Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? (Bae Yong-Kyun) South Korea, 1993
Click on names for archives
Writers/Founders
Wonders in the Dark 
BALLOTS CAST SO FAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bill Kamberger
Christmas in August (Hur Jin-ho)
Joint Security Area (Park Chan-wook)
The King and the Clown (Lee Joon-ik)
Manila in the Claws of Light (Lino Brocka)
Memories of Murder (Bong Joon-ho)
Miracle / Himala (Ishmael Bernal)
Opera Jawa (Garin Nugroho)
Peppermint Candy (Lee Chang-dong)
The Scent of Green Papaya (Tran Anh Hung)
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring (Kim Ki-duk)
Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (Kang Je-gyu)
Take Care of My Cat (Jeong Jae-eun)
Tropical Malady (Apichatpong Weerasethakul)
When the Tenth Month Comes (Dang Nhat Minh)
Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? (Bae Yong-kyun)
Reply6d
Lee Price
FIRST TIER
Poetry (2010)
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010)
Oasis (2002)
The Handmaiden (2016)
Himalaya (1999)
SECOND TIER
Secret Sunshine (2007)
Parasite (2019)
Syndromes and a Century (2006)
Christmas in August (1998)
3-Iron (2010)
THIRD TIER
Burning (2018)
Take Care of My Cat (2001)
Cemetery of Splendour (2015)
The Story of the Weeping Camel (2003)
Memories of Murder (2003)
Reply6dEdited
Aaron White
Is Bhutan included in this?
Reply6d
Bill Kamberger
Aaron White, yes, you can vote for Lunana. 😉
Reply6d
Aaron White
Bill Kamberger 😉
Reply6d
Todd Sherman
My knowledge of the cinemas of many of these countries is limited, hence the repeat names here, but here we go. Chronological as usual.
The Housemaid — Kim Ki-Young (1960)
Manila in the Claws of Light — Brocka (1975)
Cyclo — Tran Anh Hung (1996)
The Power of Kangwon Province — Hong Sang-Soo (1998)
Old Boy — Park Chan-Wook (2003)
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter … and Spring — Kim Ki-Duk (2003)
Tropical Malady — Weeresethakul (2004)
Melancholia — Diaz (2008)
Mother — Bong Joon-Ho (2009)
Poetry — Lee Chang-Dong (2010)
The Handmaiden — Park Chan-Wook (2016)
Syndromes and a Century —Weeresethakul (2006)
Cemetery of Splendour — Weeresethakul (2015)
Okja — Bong Joon-Ho (2017)
Burning — Lee Chang-Dong (2018)
Reply6dEdited
Andres Ggll
1. Barking Dogs Never Bite (2001)
2. Silip (1985)
3. Tirador(2007)
4. Manila (1975)
5. Bayan Ko: My Own Country (1982 I think)
6. Independencia (Raya Martin, 2009)
7. The Host (2006)
8. Insiang (1976)
9. Take Care of My Cat (2001)
T. Memories of Murder (2003)
11. I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone (2006)
12. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
13. Autohystoria (2006 I think)
14. Serbis (2008)
15. Chocolate (2008)
Honorary Mentions:
Kinatay(2009)
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010)
Reply6dEdited
Andres Ggll
Ooops I listed 16 … I guess I have to leave out Uncle Boonmee… It will make it to the list anyway
Reply6d
Andres Ggll
Edited. Added Chocolate (2008)
15 movies aren’t enough
Reply4dEdited
Marvin Sommer
In no particular order:
Spring Summer Fall Winter Kim Ki Duk
Memories of Murder Bong Joon Ho… See more
Reply5d
Todd Sherman
Marvin Sommer Cyclo!!
Reply1d
Sachin Gandhi
Sammy Juliano I imagine Sri Lanka would be included in this list as well, right? I can’t recall if it was included in an earlier list.
Reply4d
Sammy Juliano
Sachin yes that is correct my friend.
Reply4d
Sachin Gandhi
Sammy Juliano Thanks for the confirmation
Reply4d
Steve Elworth
Mine will be mostly South Korea. Will I limit myself for two for a director for Lee, Park, Bong and Hong and for Joe for Thailand
Reply3d
Brian Wilson
Sammy Just checking: two films set in Mongolia–Story of the Weeping Camel and Tuya’s Marriage–aren’t eligible? Camel has Germany listed first as country of origin and Mongolia second. Tuya’s has China listed as country of origin. I kinda wish we coul… See more
Reply1dEdited
Bill Kamberger
Brian Wilson, since Camel did not make our German poll, and Tuya did not make our Chinese one, they are eligible here.
Reply1d
Brian Wilson
Bill thanks Bill! I was trying to tag you with my question but for some reason it wasn’t working. Glad you spotted my query. Like I said I’m especially happy about Story of the Weeping Camel. It’s such a sweet, beautiful film.
Reply1dEdited
Lee Price
Brian Wilson, added Weeping Camel to my picks. Aside from the sweetness, it’s also got some great cinematography of Mongolia. Not sure if it’ll stay though as I plan on watching a few more for this round.
Reply22h
Andres Ggll
Pls someone else vote for Chocolate (2008)
Reply1d
Brian Wilson
Chronological:
The Housemaid (1960)
The Scent of Green Papaya (1994)
Himalaya (1999)
Tears of the Black Tiger (2000)
The Story of the Weeping Camel (2003)
Secret Sunshine (2007)
Mother (2009)
Poetry (2010)
3-Iron (2010)
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010)
The Missing Picture (2013)
Cemetery of Splendour (2015)
On the Beach At Night Alone (2017)
Burning (2018)
Parasite (2019)
Reply1d
Todd Sherman
Brian Wilson Brian did you see Hong Sang-Soo’s In Front of Your Face? One of my favourites of the year so far.
Reply1d
Brian Wilson
Todd Sherman I haven’t yet. Thanks for the recommendation.
Reply1d
Derek Vincent
PARASITE
CEMETERY OF SPLENDOUR
MOTHER
OLD BOY
THE RAID
CYCLO
THE HANDMAIDEN
THE HOST
I SAW THE DEVIL
TRAIN TO BUSAN
SCENT OF THE GREEN PAPAYA
TALE OF TWO SISTERS
QUEEN OF BLACK MAGIC (remake)
THE WAILING
THIRST
Ranked
Reply1dEdited
Derek Vincent
Andres Ggll Yep! Perfect movie!😉
My top 15 rest of Asia is somewhat dominated by South Korea and mostly films produced this century.
1.) Spring , Summer , Fall , Winter.. And Spring (Ki-Duk) (2003).
2.) Poetry (Chang-Dong) (2010).
3.) Memories Of Murder (Joon-Ho) (2003).
4.) Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Weerasethakul) (2010).
5.) Burning (Chang-Dong) (2018).
6.) The Story Of The Weeping Camel (Davaa) (2004).
7.) Parasite (Joon-Ho) (2019).
8.) The Scent Of Green Papaya (Hung-Tran) (1993).
9.) 3-Iron (Ki-Duk) (2004).
10.) Mother (Joon-ho) (2009).
11.) Metro Manila (Ellis) (2013).
12.) Tears Of The Black Tiger (Sasanatieng) (2000).
13.) At The Height Of The Summer (Anh-Hung) (2000).
14.) Be With Me (Khoo) (2005).
15.) A Bittersweet Life (Jee-woon) (2005).
Looking rather rakish for a post-OP patient, Sam. Happy the surgery went swimmingly.
Just wanted to say goodbye to Anne Heche. Check out her performance in Holofcener’s Walking and Talking, a direct descendant of Claudia Weill’s influential Girlfriends. Heche was a gifted actress and I’m sorry for her family and friends.
Hi Sam,
Here is my top 15 ranked roughly:
1. Manila in the Claws of Light (1975, Philippines, Lino Brocka)
2. Tropical Malady (2004, Thailand, Apichatpong Weerasethakul)
3. The Housemaid (1960, South Korea, Kim Ki-young)
4. Memories of Murder (2003, South Korea, Bong Joon Ho)
5. Insiang (1976, Philippines, Lino Brocka)
6. Evolution of a Filipino Family (2004, Philippines, Lav Diaz)
7. Right Now, Wrong Then (2015, South Korea, Hong Sang-soo)
8. Tirador (Slingshot, 2007, Philippines, Brillante Mendoza)
9. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010, Thailand, Apichatpong Weerasethakul)
10. Sepet (2004, Malaysia, Yasmin Ahmad)
11. Made in Bangladesh (2019, Bangladesh, Rubaiyat Hossain)
12. The Missing Picture (2013, Cambodia, Rithy Panh)
13. ILO ILO (2013, Singapore, Anthony Chen)
14. The Scent of Green Papaya (1993, Vietnam, Anh Hung Tran)
15. Between Two Worlds (2009, Sri Lanka, Vimukthi Jayasundara)
Here are my 15 in alphabetical order:
After the Curfew (Usmar Ismail)
Death in the Land of Encantos (Lav Diaz)
Evolution of a Filipino Family (Lav Diaz)
From What is Before (Lav Diaz)
Himala (Ishmael Bernal)
Himalaya (Eric Valli)
A Hometown in Heart (Yong-kyu Yoon)
The Housemaid (Kim Ki-young)
Manila in the Claws of Neon (Lino Brocka)
Mother (Bong Joon-ho)
Opera Jawa (Garin Nugroho)
Peppermint Candy (Lee Chang-dong)
S21: The Khmer Rouge Death Machine (Rithy Panh)
Seopyeonje (Im Kwon-Taek)
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter…and Spring (Kim Ki-Duk)