Reel Asian Film Festival

Now in its tenth year, the Reel Asian Film Festival is perhaps Toronto’s most successful small film festival. The highlight of this year’s fest will no doubt be the November 15th opening night screening of Hong Kong New Wave great (and Wong Kar Wai editor and mentor) Patrick Tam’s first film in seventeen years, After This Our Exile. The movie focuses on a one-time playboy (played by Aaron Wok) now way past his prime who violently struggles with rising debts and the potential breakup of his family. The gala party at Revival preceding the screening will feature video animation from Lai Chung Poon.

Other flicks of note include:

First-time feature director Ham Tran’s Journey from the Fall, about a Vietnamese family torn apart by war. (November 18, 9 p.m., Innis Town Hall)

Curtis Choy’s What’s Wrong with Frank Chin?, a documentary about the prominent and intensely controversial Asian-American activist and novelist whose legacy is still hotly debated. (November 18, 1 p.m., Innis Town Hall)

Hong Kong-born Canadian video artist Ho Tam’s Books of James, a heartfelt look at longtime friend, artist James Wentzy’s struggle with AIDS. (November 16, 7:30 p.m., Innis Town Hall)

Colma: The Musical, Richard Wong’s fresh and interesting look at early adulthood in a San Francisco suburb where the dead outnumber the living. (November 17, 9:30 p.m., Innis Town Hall)

Indonesian film critic and director Joko Anwar’s Joni’s Promise, a slick, fun and youthful look at love and movies. (November 19, 5 p.m., Innis Town Hall)

Singapore Ga Ga, a colourful doc from Tan Pin Pin looking at the rich street culture of an increasingly international city state. (November 19, 1 p.m., Innis Town Hall)

For the complete Reel Asian schedule, see www.reelasian.com/schedule.php. The Reel Asian Film Festival runs November 15 to 19.