For the opening screening we present “Time Still Turns the Pages”, a heartfelt drama by Hong Kong debutant Nick Cheuk. Meanwhile, in the Cinerama section, our audience can experience “Stranger Eyes”, one of the most gripping thrillers of the year. It is intense and captivating, and features a remarkable performance by Lee Kang-sheng. The film received high praise at the Venice Film Festival, which concluded last month, where it represented Singapore and Taiwan in the main competition.
The 18th Five Flavours will kick off on November 13 at Warsaw’s Muranów and Kinoteka cinemas, as well as online. The festival will officially open with “Time Still Turns the Pages”, one of the most talked-about Hong Kong films of the season. Despite its modest budget and ambitious themes, the film has resonated with local audiences, earning an award for the first-time director Nick Cheuk at the Golden Horse Awards. It’s yet another testament to how Hong Kong cinema excels when portraying the everyday lives of the residents of Fragrant Harbour.
Also making its Polish premiere is the latest film by Singaporean director Yeo Siew Hua – “Stranger Eyes”. Five Flavours audiences may remember Yeo from his brilliant “A Land Imagined”, which we screened during the 12th edition of the festival. “Stranger Eyes” reaffirms that Yeo is one of the most promising talents in Asian cinema and a sharp observer of contemporary issues. From the very first minutes, his cyber-thriller pulls viewers into a mysterious plot—a sprawling urban labyrinth from which the exit promises to be one of the year’s most unforgettable cinematic experiences. It’s no surprise that critics at the Venice Film Festival, where the film was shown, hailed Yeo as a distinctive new voice in the Asian auteur cinema.
Time Still Turns the Pages
Nin siu yat gei
dir. Nick Cheuk
Hong Kong, 2023, 95′
When Cheng Yau-chun discovers a letter in his classroom, it seems that one of his students is planning to take their own life. Determined to prevent the tragedy, the teacher embarks on a desperate search to uncover the student’s identity. This harrowing situation forces Cheng to confront painful memories from his youth, as the past and present begin to collide, and old traumas resurface. But can they be overcome?
Inspired by true events, this gripping and emotionally charged story delves into the taboos of Hong Kong society—domestic violence and the overwhelming pressure placed on children. In recent years, Hong Kong cinema’s greatest strength has been its compassionate and nuanced portrayal of ordinary people. The remarkable success of Nick Cheuk’s debut is a testament to this.
Stranger Eyes
Mò shì lù
dir. Yeo Siew Hua
Singapore, Taiwan, France, USA 2024, 125′
only in theatres
After the mysterious disappearance of their young daughter, a couple begins receiving unsettling recordings—someone is secretly spying on their lives, capturing their most intimate secrets. The police, aiming to catch the perpetrator, join in observing the couple, using surveillance cameras. From this mosaic of recorded scenes emerges a picture of a relationship that has long since burned out. Yeo Siew Hua’s latest film is a captivating slow-burn thriller, dark and dense with tension. It not only raises the question of who is watching whom, but also reveals a complex portrait of the shortcomings and frictions within human relationships.
