As we have mentioned many times the past few years, it seems that the future of Asian cinema lies somewhere among the ASEAN countries, with the filmmakers from the particular region having both the inspiration and the command of the medium to present new things, both in terms of stories and cinematic approach. Malaysia in particular seems to have one of its greatest years in that regard, with the huge success of “Tiger Stripes” being the tip of the iceberg. Indonesian audience seems to have returned to cinemas even more massively than before the pandemic, the Filipino film industry is also experiencing a boom in the last few years, particularly in amount of titles, while the rest of the countries in the region are following close by, mostly through approaches that combine genre with art-house filmmaking.
Without further ado, here are 30 movies that highlighted all the aforementioned in 2023, in reverse order, although the difference of quality is so small here, that the order could be completely different. Some films may have premiered in 2022, but since they mostly circulated in 2023, we decided to include them.
30. I Look into the Mirror and Repeat to Myself by Giselle Lin (Singapore)
“I Look into the Mirror and Repeat to Myself” uses the figure of multiple narrators thus making the truth about the family dynamic more elusive and subjective. Each of the sister's trauma is expressed through different patterns, strange coping mechanisms and memories of bonding, as well as separation. This clear, yet somehow complicated structure makes Lin's film very nuanced in its depiction of the experience of growing up in a dysfunctional family constellation. (Olek Mlynski)
29. Creepy Crawly by Chalit Krileadmongkon and Pakphum Wongjinda (Thailand)
Featuring a lot of good creature feature qualities while being let down by some storyline factors, “Creepy Crawly” is a generally solid feature that gets brought down by these other issues. Viewers who appreciate this kind of genre effort or are curious about it will have a lot to like. (Dan Anelli)
28. MOP by Joon Goh (Malaysia)
Films focusing on eroticism, much less S&M are not exactly common in titles coming from ASEAN countries, and even more so from Malaysia, one of the strictest countries in the area regarding what is depicted on cinema. Joon Goh, however, manages to present a film that deals exactly with that, in a style that both implies and is eloquent about what is going on. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
27. Maryam by Badrul Hisham Ismail (Malaysia)
The script penned by Faisal Tehrani and Badrul Hisham Ismail draws attention at injustices women in Malaysia experience, but also at racism. (…) “Maryam” is an important drama about deep gender gaps in Malaysian society. (Marina D. Richter)
Check also this interview
26. Monisme by Riar Rizaldi (Indonesia)
All in all ‘Monisme' fits very well into Riar Rizaldi's body of work: a hybrid film, a mix of dramatisation, re- enactment, genre-filmmaking, and staged interviews. At heart it is an essay film talking about mankind's place on earth and the different way we use and abuse nature for our own benefits. (Nancy Fornoville)
25. Ali Topan by Sidharta Tata (Indonesia)
Both Jefri Nichol and Lutesha are intensely charismatic, and their charisma actually fills the screen, as much as their obvious chemistry. Ujel Bausad's cinematography is quite accomplished, with him portraying both the lush world the rich inhabit and the rundown the poor do with equal artistry. Akhmad Fesdi Anggoro's editing results in a pace that gets from mid-tempo to fast quite fittingly, although it would be interesting to see the movie unfolding more in the path the initial scenes lead it. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
24. Gitling by Jopy Arnaldo (Philippines)
“Gitling” is what we call a “small film” but is also quite smartly shot and written, well-acted, and definitely manages to highlight some very interesting comments. Jopy Arnaldo is definitely a filmmaker worth watching in the future. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
23. Primetime Mother by Sonny Calvento (Philippines)
“Primetime Mother” is an excellent film, both well-shot and quite meaningful, which, additionally, manages to show the impact satire can have when done smartly. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
22. Coast Guard Malaysia: Ops Helang by Pitt Hanif (Malaysia)
“Coast Guard Malaysia: Ops Helang” is a solid and enjoyable piece of entertaining that is opening opportunities to a new genre for the Malaysian public, and – sideway – also new roles for actresses that are often limited to play corny romantic targets or damsels in distress. The film ends on a twisty cliff-hanger; no sequel is planned as yet, as the sequel was in the late director's mind, but it leaves an intriguing inspiration for scriptwriters to come. (Adriana Rosati)
21. Cross My Heart and Hope to Die by Sam Manasca (Philippines)
“Cross My Heart and Hope to Die” is an excellent film, a masterclass in (short) filmmaking, and a testament to Manasca's directorial abilities. Now we just have to wait for her feature debut, “The Void Is Immense on Idle Hours” which is currently in development. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
