Pearls of Far East

 
Harris Theater: May 12 @ 5:00 PM
Regent Square Theater: May 16 @ 9:30 PM

Passes not accepted on Opening/Closing Night. Please arrive at least 15 minutes ahead of start time to ensure availability of seating. Film schedule and Q & A's are subject to change.

2010/Vietnam/Canada/Director: Cuong Ngo/103 min.
Cast: Truong Ngoc Ang, Kieu Chinh, Kris Duangphung and Huy Hoang (Language: Vietnamese with English subtitles)
 
In his feature film debut, Vietnamese director Cuong Ngo captures the complexity of love from childhood to old age. Seven short chapters reflect moments of innocence, desire and heartbreak in the lives of different women. 
Based on the short stories of award-winning writer Minh Ngoc Nguyen, Ngo weaves together a tapestry of feminine beauty, featuring talented actresses from Vietnam, the US and Canada. Despite minimal dialogue, the characters reflect deep emotions through gesture and facial expression. 
The stories are set against the backdrop of idyllic Vietnamese landscapes, a side of the country distinct from traditional Western depictions. They are also accompanied by a haunting and sensual musical score, which Ngo describes as “a marriage of the West and the East, like a fusion between two cultures.”
Some stories are passionate and dream-like, such as “The Boat,” in which a mysterious woman in a red dress appears in a museum and captures the desire of a young onlooker. Others are wistful and realistic, such as “The Gift,” in which a faithful wife waits alone in a resort hotel while her husband is off with another woman. 
Through each story, magic is discovered and secrets are revealed. Between young and old, Pearls of the Far East, is like an impressionistic painting that reflects the universal yearning to love and be loved.