City of Romance
Wednesday 22 Jan 2020
7:00 pm
Brooks Hotel, Dublin
In a small seaside town in northeast China writer Yuan Ye is frustrated, and he can’t get over his ex-girlfriend Yang Yang. Many years later, they meet again in their hometown. Yuan Ye regrets breaking up with Yang Yang and is trying to win her back before it’s too late!
Director: Zhang Yaoyuan
Cast: Abe Tsuyoshi
China // 86mins // 2019
Beautiful Voyage
Thursday 23 Jan 2020
7:00 pm
Odeon, Point Village
The 20-something Amy grows up in a single parent family and lives abroad. Upon discovering the clues about her biological father in her late mother’s diary, she decides to follow the Yangtze River to find out where her father is. A wandering singer named Tao offers help to her and treats her with great care and kindness. Through a series of investigation, Amy finds that her father, who used to be a captain, has devoted his life to save the passengers, trying to avoid hitting an oncoming liner. However, Amy senses a huge secret behind this accident. With the help of Tao, Amy comes closer and closer to the truth.
Director: Zhang Jiarui
Cast: Yao Di, Song Ningfeng, Xia Zitong, Peng Ziyang, Tao Ran
China // 103mins // 2019
he Swing Maker
Wednesday 22 Jan 2020
7:00 pm
Odeon, Point Village
LIU, an old oil worker, has worked in a remote oil field station for more than thirty years. He builds a swing especially for his young colleagues to relax in the midst of boring work. When he retires, he is diagnosed with cancer. Therefore, he decides to return home to spend the rest of his life with his family. However, his return is met by his wife’s coldness and his daughter’s estrangement. He finds that her daughter is pregnant without marriage, so he asks her to marry as soon as possible. LIU hides his illness from his family and becomes a mototaxi driver. He often suffers losses due to his kindness. One day, his former colleague FAN tells his daughter the truth about LIU’s sickness…
Director: Yu Daxiong
Cast: Jiang Shouzhi, Song Yili, Wang Yan, Song Xichen, Liang Ji, Ji Lulu, Yu Min, Zhou Yugang
China // 88mins // 2019
The Fallen
Thu 23 Jan 2020
4:45 PM
Odeon, Point Village
Years after running away from her drug kingpin father and her family, a woman returns home. However, what appears to be the return of the prodigal daughter is actually just the beginning of her plan to settle a score from two decades ago. After making an explosive debut last year with G Affairs, director Lee Cheuk-pan quickly returns to the director’s chair with this gritty and stylish revenge thriller reminiscent of classic Hong Kong crime thrillers.
In her first film role in three years, veteran actress Irene Wan is captivating as the puppet master of the sinister revenge scheme.
Director Lee Cheuk Pan
Cast: Irene Wan, Kenny Kwan, Hanna Chan, Eddie Chan, Alice Chan
Hong Kong, China // 96mins // 2019
No.3 Azar Shahr. Street
Thu 25 Jan 2020
1:00 PM
Odeon, Point Village
Roja, a migrant woman, who has lost her husband in Germany returns to his home country (Iran) to manage his inheritance, only to realize he had a child from another marriage which complicates the situation.
Director: Kambiz Safari
Cast: Arusha Beigi, Behnaz Jafari, Sadaf Asgari, Khosro Pesiani, Atila Pesiani
Iran // 78mins // 2019
World Premiere
Long Time Ago
Tue 21 Jan 2020
7:00 PM
Brooks Hotel, D02 TV06
Ahmet is married to Sevgi who runs a hair salon in town and their marriage has not been on track for some time. Ahmet suspects his wife has been cheating on him. Ahmet’s insecure and anxious state reaches its peak when he notices a foreigner in town.
Director: Cihan Sağlam
Cast: Onur Dikmen, Serdar Orçin, Nihan Okutucu Dengiz, Reha Özcan
Turkey // 119mins // 2019
Tommaso
Wednesday 22 Jan 2020
8.20 pm
IFI, Temple Bar
Q&A with Director Abel Ferrara
Tommaso (Willem Dafoe), an American artist living in Rome, and Nikki’s (Cristina Chiriac) marriage is in turmoil and he must come to terms with his wife’s desire to change the rules of their relationship. This change between them is set against Tommaso’s simple day-to-day life in Rome; as a student taking Italian classes, as a teacher working with young acting students, and most importantly his relationship and the pure love he feels for his three-year-old daughter and she for him.
Director: Abel Ferrara
Cast: Willem Dafoe, Cristina Chiriac, Anna Ferrara
Italy // 115mins // 2019
Irish Premiere