Too many good movies and not enough time? What should I see at Helsinki Cine Aasia? Read the festival teams tips to make sure you don’t miss out!
Ghost Cat Anzu
As a huge cat lover, I can’t help but be excited about this charming animation. As a filmmaker, I’m also fascinated by the different techniques used in filmmaking, especially when old methods are incorporated. Rotoscoping has become quite rare with the rise of motion capture, so I’m eager to see how this once-common (but inconsistently executed) technique works here. One thing is certain: an overload of cuteness awaits!
Joonas, Assistant Producer
Ghost Cat Anzu appeals to me first and foremost because of its fresh and cute animation style. The use of rotoscoping has resulted in fluid animation, but thanks to the round and soft character designs the use of the technique is not obvious. In addition, a story full of yokai and a zany speaking cat must be a good time!
Tuukka, Co-editor
By the Stream
I’ve always been drawn to Hong Sang-soo’s films, where narratives unfold through everyday conversations, slowly revealing intriguing details about the characters. Visually, his films are extremely simple, yet this only enhances their realism.
Tuomas, Webmaster
What I love about Hong Sang-soo’s films is that they feel like coming home when you sit down in the theater. Not much may happen in terms of plot, but even the smallest moments can carry immense emotional weight.
Muru, Communications Manager
Viet and Nam
As someone from the queer community, I naturally couldn’t miss a film that tells our stories—especially one from a culture so different from my own. It’s also refreshing to see a Vietnamese story that isn’t solely about war, though that theme is present too. While I long for more joy in both life and cinema, tragic stories often leave the deepest impact.
Joonas, Assistant Producer
Viet and Nam has a timeless arthouse cinema feel. The image quality of the 16 mm film and the compositions seen in the trailer immediately transported me to the warm and grainy film worlds of yesteryears. It will also be interesting to see a Vietnamese perspective on queer love and traumas of the Vietnam war.
Tuukka, Co-editor
Deal at the Border & Yen and Ai-Lee
Deal at the Border was a stylish and powerful film that stuck with me. It’s truly on an international level, despite coming from a smaller film country like Kyrgyzstan! My other top pick is the Taiwanese film Yen and Ai-Lee. Despite its heavy themes, it was a satisfying watch—both delicate and self-assured. Both films also stood out visually!
Jenni, Executive Director
Victory
Y2K culture has made a huge comeback in fashion and pop culture over the past year, and for me, it’s deeply nostalgic—bringing back all the trends of my teenage years. Victory is an energizing and refreshing sports film that makes me want to take up cheerleading again!
Muru, Communications Manager
Happyend
Japanese movies about disenfranchised youth, like All About Lily Chou-Chou (2001) and Blue Spring (2002), were pivotal in my budding interest in Asian cinema as an alienated teenager in the Finnish countryside. Neo Sora’s Happyend seems to share the same bittersweet tone and naturalistic performances that still resonate with me.
Tuukka, Co-editor
As a huge fan of Ryuichi Sakamoto, I’m incredibly excited to follow his son’s filmmaking journey. I missed Happyend in Busan, but now I finally get the chance to immerse myself in its dystopian world and its unique take on youth cinema.
Muru, Communications Manager