Recap | The directors reshaping Asian cinema, from Jia Zhangke and Ray Yeung, to Tzang Merwyn Tong and Tony Bui

Explore the compelling stories of five visionary Asian directors who have been featured in PostMag over the past year.

From Jia Zhangke’s portrayal of China’s economic rise and Ray Yeung’s authentic LGBTQ narratives, to Tzang Merwyn Tong’s dystopian tales, Tony Bui’s exploration of Vietnam’s iconic ‘napalm girl’, and Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir’s story of modern Ulaanbaatar, delve into their groundbreaking works.

1. Director Jia Zhangke’s Caught by the Tides chronicles China’s economic rise

Jia’s latest film encapsulates China’s profound transformation through a unique blend of new and unused footage spanning over 20 years. The film follows a couple navigating societal shifts in Datong and the Three Gorges area in a love story interwoven with China’s journey since joining the WTO told in Jia’s distinctive storytelling style.

2. Hong Kong director Ray Yeung revolutionises LGBTQ representation in Asian Cinema with films Like Suk Suk and All Shall Be Well

As executive director of the Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, Yeung champions diverse storytelling and, through his movies, he endeavours to authentically portray LGBTQ experiences. His films, including Suk Suk and All Shall Be Well, explore complex themes of identity, acceptance, and love within the LGBTQ community and here he talks about his filmmaking journey.

3. ‘Rebel’ Singaporean director Tzang Merwyn Tong heralds ‘exciting’ times ahead for Southeast Asian cinema

Tong discusses renewed interest in his dystopian films, particularly Faeryville, a dystopian tale about bullied college misfits fighting back, ahead of its streaming release. Exploring themes of rebellion and minimalism, Tong champions independent filmmaking and advocates for misfits, influencing discussions on bullying and cinematic artistry.

4. Sundance Film Festival award-winning director Tony Bui talks of his plan to tell the story of Kim Phuc, the ‘napalm girl’ of the Vietnam war photo

Acclaimed Vietnamese-American director reveals his plan to revisit the iconic 1972 Vietnam war photograph of ‘napalm girl’ in a film that explores the 24 hours after the image was captured. He talks of his journey to uncover the untold story behind the image, from tracking down photographer Nick Ut to securing Kim Phuc’s blessing for his film, as well as of the restoration of his Sundance festival hit Three Seasons.

5. Hong Kong film festival prize-winning Mongolian director talks of plans to to make short film about Ulaanbaatar

Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir, acclaimed for her debut feature City of Wind, is using funds from a Macau film camp to create a new short film, A South Facing Window, exploring modern life and relationships in Ulaanbaatar. This follows the success of her first feature film which departed the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival with both the young jury best film and new talent awards.

Part of this article was produced with the assistance of generative AI