The film begins following the British victory of the first Opium War and the seizure of Hong Kong. Although the island is largely uninhabited and the terrain unfriendly, it has a large port that both the British government and various trading companies believe will be useful for the import of merchandise to be traded on mainland China, a highly lucrative market.
Broken Windows (2008)
Five women faced with monumental life choices prepare to make the decisions that will resonate through the rest of their lives in director Tony Hickman's reflective drama. Sara is a photographer whose artistic eye has helped her to launch a successful career as a professional photographer. But these days Sara is inundated with commercial work, and photography has become just another job. Though her best friend challenges Sara to get back to her roots, it begins to appear as if he has ulterior motives. Meanwhile, Amy is still reeling from a life-changing loss when her father gets her to throw a party, and struggling actress Katie is attempting to decide whether to end her relationship with a more successful albeit less stable actor in order to keep her career on track. Later, introverted psychologist Beth begins to open up in ways she never thought possible while attending a party thrown by one of her patients.
Memories to Choke On, Drinks to Wash Them Down (2019)
This anthology film, whose Chinese title begins with a romantic name for human excrement, premiered internationally at Rotterdam and won Best Screenplay from the Hong Kong Film Critics Society. A variety of Hong Kong people wrestle with nostalgia when facing an uncertain future. Their stories give way to a documentary featuring a young barista turned political candidate.
Storytelling (2001)
College and high school serve as the backdrop for two stories about dysfunction and personal turmoil.
Cliff Walkers (2021)
In the puppet state of Manchukuo in the 1930s, four Communist party special agents, after returning to China, embark on a secret mission. Sold out by a traitor, the team find themselves surrounded by threats on all sides.
Love is a Fairy Tale (1993)
In this 1993 Hong Kong film, a boathand (Aaron Kwok) falls in love with a supermodel (Rosamund Kwan) he sees on a billboard.
Away We Go (2009)
Verona and Burt have moved to Colorado to be close to Burt's parents but, with Verona expecting their first child, Burt's parents inexplicably decide to move to Belgium, now leaving them in a place they hate and without a support structure in place. They set off on a whirlwind tour of of disparate locations where they have friends or relatives, sampling not only different cities and climates but also different families. Along the way they realize that the journey is less about discovering where they want to live and more about figuring out what type of parents they want to be.
High Road to China (1983)
A biplane pilot is saddled with a spoiled industrialist's daughter on a search for her missing father through Asia that eventually involves them in a struggle against a Chinese warlord.
Sanctuary (2018)
Throughout the 1960's, gay bars served as havens for a marginalized queer community across the country. Frequent police raids and laws dictating women to wear three pieces of 'gender appropriate clothing' resulted in countless cases of police harassment, assault, and brutality. Sanctuary follows Meg and Abigail as they navigate their interaction and coping process after one such raid.
The Bodyguard from Beijing (1994)
A corrupt businessman commits a murder and the only witness is the girlfriend of another businessman with close connections to the Chinese government, so a bodyguard from Beijing is dispatched to help two Hong Kong cops protect the witness.
Shortcomings (2023)
When his girlfriend leaves for New York City on a 3-month-long internship, a strongly opinionated Berkeley arthouse movie theater manager begins exploring life as a bachelor.
The Hindenburg (1975)
Colonel Franz Ritter, a former hero pilot now working for military intelligence, is assigned to the great Hindenburg airship as its chief of security. As he races against the clock to uncover a possible saboteur aboard the doomed zeppelin he finds that any of the passengers and crew could be the culprit.
Show Boat (1951)
A dashing Mississippi river gambler wins the affections of the daughter of the owner of the Show Boat.
The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari (2022)
A close examination of the Whakaari / White Island volcanic eruption of 2019 in which 22 lives were lost, the film viscerally recounts a day when ordinary people were called upon to do extraordinary things, placing this tragic event within the larger context of nature, resilience, and the power of our shared humanity.
Two Tigers (2007)
This action story takes place in Shanghai, China where Gilda, a stunning blonde 'femme Nikita' is commissioned to take out an important Lebanese official. As a professional killer, her real identity is kept secret. Her boss has arranged a new name and profession for her in Shanghai as the new manager of an information technology company. She takes up residence in a beautiful condo where she gets to know her neighbor, Lin, a beautiful Chinese girl who turns out to be a high-class call girl. Their friendship develops as they help one another along the way as they are betrayed by their hearts for men who turn out to be scoundrels. The drama propels into a highly emotional and sensitive story about two women who are independent and ferocious in guarding affairs of their heart, even though their individual jobs lead many to believe that they are only cold-blooded and materialistic.
Almost Heroes (1998)
Two hapless explorers lead an ill-fated 1804 expedition through the Pacific Northwest in a hopeless, doomed effort to reach the Pacific Ocean before Lewis and Clark.
The Painted Veil (2006)
A British medical doctor fights a cholera outbreak in a small Chinese village, while also being trapped at home in a loveless marriage to an unfaithful wife.
The Five Devils (2022)
8-year-old Vicky has a mysterious gift: she can recreate any scent she comes across, even that of her beloved mother Joanne. When her estranged aunt Julia suddenly returns to town, the invocation of her fragrance plunges the young girl back in time to unravel a past replete with family secrets.
May We Chat (2014)
Three troubled young girls will do anything to escape their stifling lives - even if it means turning to drugs and prostitution. Set in the generation of smartphones and web 2.0, the technology may have made communication easier than ever, but cautionary tales of misunderstood youths remain as relevant as they were two decades ago.