venice film festival

tai-chi-o
China Underground >

Tai Chi O

As an uncommonly gifted child, Yang Luchan had a fleshy abnormality that holds tremendous power growing on his forehead.

STEPHEN FUNG – TAI CHI 0
China, 100′
Yuan Xiaochao, Angela baby, Eddie Peng, Tony Leung Ka-fai, William Feng, Shu Qi


However being teased as the town fool, Yang’s mother spurs him to practice martial arts, and following her wishes, Yang travels the distance to come to Chen village to learn Tai Chi. In this legendary village, everyone practices Tai Chi and uses Tai Chi in every aspect of their lives. Nevertheless, it is forbidden for a villager to disclose Tai Chi to an outsider, and Yang learned this the hard way. Upon arriving at the village, locals discourage Yang by challenging him with fights. From the strong men to hold ladies to children, everyone defeats Yang with their Tai Chi moves. After facing the toughest battle and being defeated by Master Chen’s beautiful daughter Yuniang, Yang is determined to master the art of Tai Chi and he needs to find Master Chen. Little does Yang know, the poor strange man who he befriended with is in fact Master Chen who then saved him from the duel with Yuniang. Master Chen realizes Yang’s genius and disguises himself to secretly guide Yang to his self-realization of Tai Chi. One day, a frightening steam-powered machine came to the village, led by Fang Zijing, a childhood friend of Yuniang. He has bribed government officials to permit him to build a railway that will run straight through the village. Yang decided to join forces with Yuniang to defeat Fang Zijing and destroy the machine. This brave act may just win the hearts of the villagers…

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SINAPUPUNAN - THY WOMB
China Underground >

SINAPUPUNAN – THY WOMB

Shaleha Sarail hails from a water-village in Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi. The province is a seaweed-producing area in the southernmost part of the Philippines down to the Malaysian and Indonesian archipelagos.

BRILLANTE MENDOZA – SINAPUPUNAN (THY WOMB)
Philippines, 100′
Nora Aunor, Bembol Rocco
A woman of mature years, experiencing a 3rd miscarriage, Shaleha agonizes that she can’t bear a child. Though an adoptive parent to her nephew, she still feels that her husband Bangas An desires to be a father. To fulfill her husband’s only wish and to be blessed by Allah as having a child is tangible proof of divine grace, Shaleha decides to march to a different drummer. Her resolve is to find a new partner for her husband. Night and day, she and her husband sail island, floating-village, and nearby communities in search of a fertile woman. Providentially, Shaleha finds the girl as recommended by friends. But on the eve of her husband’s second marriage to Mersila, gnawing jealousy consumes Shaleha.

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kitano-OUTRAGE BEYOND
China Underground >

OUTRAGE BEYOND

The Sanno crime family has grown into a huge organization, expanding its power into politics and legitimate big business.

TAKESHI KITANO – OUTRAGE BEYOND
Japan, 110′
Tomokazu Miura, Ryo Kase, Fumiyo Kohinata, Toshiyuki Nishida

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