SIFF hot take May 28, 2017 at 06:33PM

Cook Up A Storm

loved it. a chef with a chip on his shoulder takes on a chef with a chip on his shoulder. then they unite in order to deal with their daddy issues. molecular gastronomy, Chinese street food, and Iron Chef-style cooking competition are all a feast for the eyes. There's also a charming neighborhood crowd and evil developers. no romance, just bromance and so much awesome food. if you love Iron Chef or Chef's Table, and all the people who live in the building in Kung Fu Hustle (as I do) then this is for you.

in other news, I found a seat in Pac Place with a power outlet. score.

SIFF hot take May 28, 2017 at 09:06PM

Finding Kukan

doc about Kukan, the first "best documentary feature" (1941), which is considered a lost film, and Li Ling Ai, credited as "technical advisor". the filmmaker makes a case for Li Ling Ai as the true producer. it's a nifty detective story and uses shadow play under some of the narrative, to great effect. Kukan itself was about the second Sino Japanese war and was remarkable for its color footage of the bombing of Nanking, shot at ground level. this doc was chock full of interesting stuff about the lives of Chinese-Americans in the 30s, plus great footage of the director presenting her research to a weeping audience in modern-day Chongqing.

notable comment from Q&A: Kukan wasn't that old and its history has mostly been lost. five of the people interviewed in the film are dead as of this viewing. the director urged us to record our parents and grandparents while we can.

SIFF hot take May 28, 2017 at 11:20PM

Person to Person

that was meh. and its meh-ness annoys me. it had a bunch of stories happening on the same day in New York City and I spent the entire film waiting for them to intersect. they don't. I should have gone home early.