Acclaimed Asian films showcased on cable

For months now, one of the channels of our cable-TV provider has been having a very bad reception. We were disheartened as it has been one of the few movie channels we’ve enjoyed viewing in our spare time.

But, our disappointment was cut short when we chanced upon the Screen Red channel. Presented by HBO Asia and Mei Ah Entertainment, it features some of Asia’s best films. It’s a welcome treat for Pinoy movie buffs since non-Hollywood-produced foreign films are mostly showcased only during week-long film festivals held here.

Comedy flicks

Red features an array of action, suspense, drama, romance and comedy flicks from Asia, and the best part is, we can now watch them in the comfort of our homes—24/7!

With English subtitles, these movies give us a glimpse of the rich and diverse cultures of our Asian neighbors that make us realize that their unifying tales of love and friendship are universal! Our fave titles:

“Echoes Of The Rainbow” is a moving drama set in 1960s British Hong Kong that tells the story of a family whose lives are shaken when eldest son, Jin-Yi (Aarif Lee), a star athlete and talented student, is diagnosed with leukemia. It won the Crystal Bear trophy for Best Film at the 2010 Berlin film fest.

Korea’s heart-warming “For Horowitz” is about music teacher, Ji-Su (Uhm Jung-Hwa), and piano prodigy, Kyung-min (Sin Ee-jae). Ji-su dreamed of becoming a well-known pianist like Vladimir Horowitz, but unlike her classmates, who became teachers in prestigious universities, she moved to a small town to teach kids to play the piano. When she discovered her young protégé’s prodigious gifts, however, she vowed to mentor him for a big competition—her chance to be recognized as a great piano teacher!

“Shodo Girls” is based on a true story set in Shikokuchuo town, Japan’s leading producer of paper. It follows the story of a high school calligraphy club, headed by Satoko Hayakawa (Riko Narumi), during the Japanese recession.

New members

As members of the club leave one after the other, Satoko tries to recruit new members, to no avail—until a substitute teacher introduces them to performance calligraphy. The film was featured at the 2010 Cannes film market.

Other notable films on our list: Korea’s “Late Blossom” highlights the touching romance of two couples in their twilight years; “Rinco’s Restaurant” (Japan); “Maybe” (Korea); “You Dance With The Summer” (Japan), and “Tempest of First Love” (Taiwan).

We hope that well-made Filipino movies will also be featured on the Red channel soon, so that our talented filmmakers and actors can have the international exposure and recognition they deserve!