Dark dreams, complex love invade third day
Aurora Asian Film Festival continues with wide-ranging themes
Joe Nguyen, staff writer
June 3, 2007

Photo by Joe Nguyen Moviegoers enjoy a free outdoor screening of "Princess Mononoke" June 2 at Fletcher Plaza, just down the street from the Aurora Fox Arts Center.

AURORA – Lost love, adolescent discovery and the world of dreams were the themes of the third night of the 10th Aurora Asian Film Festival June 3 at the Aurora Fox Arts Center.

Cinephiles filed into the theater to see the day’s three features, “The Blossoming of Maximo Olivaros,” “Paprika” and “Time.” Although none of the films sold out, organizers said that there seemed to be larger attendance than in years past.

“It feels like there’s more,” Denver Film Society Program Director Brit Withey said about this year’s attendance.

Director Satoshi Kon’s “Paprika” garnered some of the largest praises in the festival. The film follows the tale of research psychotherapist Atsuko Chiba and her alter-ego, a dream detective codenamed “Paprika,” and their battle against an invasion into the dream world. Some audience members attributed the film’s aesthetics and plot to their enjoyable experience.

“Amazing animation, amazing story, really inspirational,” moviegoer Scott Ferguson said. “ … I think it’s animation that’s pushing to the limits.”

Others said that it captured their undivided attention.

“It’s really engaging,” moviegoer Emily Woodward said. “It had kind of a magical realism.”

Her husband, George, agreed adding that the film also has an unexpected dark side that lends to its quality.

“It wasn’t fluffy and cotton candy,” Emily said.

Down the street at Fletcher Plaza, a free outdoor showing of Hayao Miyazaki’s “Princess Mononoke” played.

The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros
It’s a dog-eat-dog world for the people who live in the “barrio” of Sampaloc, Philippines.

First-time director Aureaus Solito’s 2005 film, “The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros,” tells the tale of one preteen, feminine boy who lives in a Philippine slum and takes care of his widowed father and two teenage brothers while turning a blind eye to the fact that their lives are supported by crimes. The film chronicles the changes Oliveros goes through as his crush, hunky police officer Victor Perez, brings out the good in him and becomes a mentor who teaches him that even in the tough barrio, people can live honest lives.

The film leaves an inspirational message as the brothers start a life on their own and even decide to ease up on Oliveros’ chores to let him go back to school. The boys’ lives show the hardships of living in the slum. But even then, that living life in the fast lane is not always the only answer. Get an education. Be strong, but in an honest and righteous way. And above all, don’t always think only of yourself, because there are always ones who will watch your back and help you get by in the tough barrio.
– Erika Usui, staff writer

Time
In “Time” by director Kim Ki-duk, Seh-Hee, played by Park Ji-Yeon, continues to opt for plastic surgery despite the doctor’s attempts to dissuade her. The irrational fear she believes to be true is that her face is too “boring” and that her boyfriend no longer loves her solely because of that.

“I thought it was an interesting take on a love story and funny at the same time,” moviegoer and Asian Avenue magazine Editorial Director Sarah Shirazi said.

Ji-Woo, played by Ha Jung-woo, calls his girlfriend after a strange love scene only to find that her phone line has been disconnected. In a further search, he discovers that his beloved Seh-Hee has disappeared indefinitely. Ji-Woo returns to the dating scene full of laughter and drunk tendencies.

Loaded with sex scenes and laced with allusions for sex, this movie is for a more mature audience. Heavy relationships spur quickly from the simplest gaze.

“I liked it,” moviegoer Katherine Anthony said. “It’s interesting that someone was willing to change the outside instead of really needing to change their inside.”

Ominous, low-pitched music plays in junction with specific camera angles that signal “stalker.” This occurs several times and leaves a trail of questions.

“What a strange commentary about what changing your face can do,” moviegoer Helen Pendill said.
– Monica Ly, staff writer

Joe Nguyen is the editor in chief for AsiaXpress.com. Joe can be contacted via e-mail at joe@asiaxpress.com.