Asian cinema is under a global spotlight right now. Thanks to the success of movies like Parasite and the rising profile of Asian actors and TV shows (Michelle Yeoh, Beef, etc), east Asian productions are surging in popularity with mainstream and arthouse audiences alike. While recent hits such as Past Lives and Tainted Love are garnering plenty of attention, and we eagerly wait for Lulu Wang’s Expats to drop, here are four seriously underrated East Asian movies to check out in 2024.
Breathless (2009)
Director: Yang Ik-june
Directed by and featuring Yang Ik-june in a lead role, 2009’s Breathless is a great example of Korean cinema that’s very much a hidden gem. Exploring the unlikely friendship between a hard-nosed debt collector and a student, the movie delivers an unflinching portrayal of the harsh realities of life.
The narrative unfolds as Sang-hoon (Ik-june) and Yeon-hee (Kim Kkobbi), two strangers from different ends of the spectrum dealing with great personal distress, encounter each other. The film continues to follow their budding friendship and dives deep into their troubled lives. It’s not an easy watch, by any means, but it does a fantastic job of realistically portraying the generational consequences of trauma.
Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge (2007)
Director: Takuji Kitamura
Donnie Darko meets The Terminator meets Buffy The Vampire Slayer in this fantasy-horror from Takuki Kitamura. Based on the novel of the same name by Tatsuhiko Takimoto, Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge in its cinematic form is oddly romantic, but contrasts its touching moments with wacky surrealism and that titular chainsaw!
The story revolves around Yosuke Yamamoto (played by Hayato Ichihara), a lonesome fellow struggling to deal with the monotony of daily life. He’s also still mourning the recent demise of his best friend, Jyoji ‘Jyo’ Shitara, who passed away under mysterious circumstances. One day, the monotony of Yosuke’s life is shattered as he meets Eri Yukizaki (Megumi Seki), a student who claims to be a chainsaw-wielding warrior sent back from the future to defeat a supernatural threat known only as “negative chainsaw edge”.
Intrigued, Yosuke teams up with Eri to battle the strange creature, with the nightly trials they endure acting as metaphors for grief and the societal expectations of coming of age in Japan.
From Vegas to Macau (2014)
Director: Wong Jing
Casinos are a staple of Western cinema, often being featured to convey specific themes or, in the case of Scorsese’s epic, being one of the main characters. Real money gaming is a popular feature in east Asian cinema too — who could forget that iconic scene in Kung Fu Hustle? Here in 2024, casinos are becoming ever more virtual, with advancements in digital technology seeing online slots titles like Big Blue Bounty becoming more popular than real-life slot machines, for example. However, when it comes to the movies, audiences can’t get enough of classic casino scenes.
That’s why From Vegas to Macau (aka The Man From Macau) is worth discovering. This action-comedy features the legendary Chow Yun-fat as he careens through a hilarious stream of gaming antics and undercover operations. Directed by Wong Jing, the movie is a great homage to the definitive Jackie Chan films of the 20th century, fusing action, comedy, and just a hint of drama.
Love for Sale (2018)
Director: Andibachtiar Yusuf
Indonesian cinema has been undergoing a resurgence since the turn of the 21st century. No longer confined by a nationalistic remit, Indonesian directors have been enjoying their newfound freedom and creativity through exploring a range of genres. In Love for Sale, director Andibachtiar Yusuf brilliantly conveys the tale of a petty, lonely bachelor whose life is transformed when he “purchases” the affections of a beautiful woman without relying on outdated cliches.
Instead, Love for Sale is a witty take on what could be a tired rom-com trope. Gading Martens delivers a well-rounded portrayal of Richard, the man who hires the services of Love Inc. to impress his friends. Della Dartyan brings star quality to the film as she plays Arini, the catalyst for Richard to change his ways.
