TNLI Listing of Weekend Events (10/28-30)

Movies

■ Doctor Strange (奇異博士) / Science Fiction, Fantasy / PG-12 / Trailer

Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is the world's top neurosurgeon until he is involved in a car accident that crushes his hands. He embarks on a journey of healing only to be drawn into the world of the mystic arts by meeting the immortal Ancient One (Tilda Swinton). Ancient One offers to help Stephen in exchange for Strange becoming their latest disciple in a Secret War against the supernatural evils of the universe.

The film features the Marvel Comics character of the same name, and is the 14th film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film is directed by Scott Derrickson, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, Scott Adkins, Mads Mikkelsen, and Tilda Swinton.

■ Forêt Debussy (德布希森林) / Drama / PG-12 / Trailer

Deep in the barren mountains, a mother (Lu Yi-ching) and a daughter (Gwei Lun-mei) live an isolated quiet life. Before living in seclusion, the daughter was a pianist who lost her husband and son. The mother decided to take her away and hid her in the mountains where no one could ever find them, believing this was the only possible way for her daughter to survive. Nevertheless, they have to face nothing but themselves ever since, as well as to confront the endless forest.

“Forêt Debussy” is the Opening Film of 2016 Kaohsiung Film Festival. Directed by Kuo Cheng-chui (郭承衢), it stars Gwei Lun-mei (桂綸鎂) and Lu Yi-ching (陸弈靜).

■ Happiness (幸運是我) / Drama / PG / Trailer

After the death of his mother, Chan Kai-yuk (Carlos Chan) moves from Guangzhou to Hong Kong and attempts to reunite with his father (Chin Siu-ho) who has abandoned them and entered a new marriage. Since Chan cannot afford the housing rent, he seeks help from Tse Yuen-fan (Kara Wai), who he randomly encountered and helped at a wet market. After Tse is diagnosed with mild cognitive disorder, Chan flees the flat since he fears that he has to take care of her. However, after seeing Tse searching for him recklessly in nearby areas, Chan remembers his own late mother and therefore returns…

“Happiness” is a Hong Kong drama film directed and written by Andy Lo (羅耀輝). Centered on the story of a cognitive disorder patient, the film stars Kara Wai (惠英紅), Carlos Chan (陳家樂) and Cya Liu (劉雅瑟).

Music

■ Sabine Meyer & Münchener KammerOrchester (單簧管天后─莎賓‧梅耶與慕尼黑室內樂團) / Oct. 31 / National Concert Hall

Sabine Meyer is a world-renowned instrumental soloist. It is partly due to her that the clarinet, a solo instrument previously underestimated, recaptured the attention of the concert platform.

Cooperating with the famous chamber orchestra Münchener Kammerorchester, Sabine Meyer is going to bring the audiences her skilled program Werke von F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy and W. A. Mozart at National Concert Hall on Oct. 31.

■ Rustavi Choir Georgian Voices (喬治亞魯斯塔維合唱團 傳奇之聲) / Oct. 28 & Oct. 30 / Cloud Gate Theater (雲門劇場)

Rustavi Choir is the Georgian folk choir singing for the famous play, Song of the Wanderer (流浪者之歌), of the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre (雲門舞集). The Rustavi Choir's performance style synthesizes the powerful, rough-hewn sound characteristic of the traditional regional folk choirs, with a newer, cleaner, more finely-honed aesthetic whose orientation is towards concert presentation.

“Rustavi Choir Georgian Voices” is going to perform at Cloud Gate Theater with Lin Hwai-min (林懷民), the founder of the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, introducing the audience to the music before the performance.

Theater

■ Every Night Crosstalk (夜夜說相聲) / Oct. 28 – Oct. 29 / The Metropolitan Hall (台北城市舞台)

“Crosstalk,” or “Hsiangsheng” (相聲) in Chinese, is a traditional Chinese stand-up comedy. Its character is marked by its unique ability to incorporate social and political critique into its format of jokes, storytelling and opera singing.

“Every Night Crosstalk” is a collection of five of the best segments from previous Xiangsheng productions aand plays that incorporated Xiangsheng style, including The Complete History of Chinese Thought, Mumble Jumble, Total Women, and Millennium Teahouse.

■ Assembly Dance Theatre X TIEN, Hsiao-Tzu “The Hole” (組合語言舞團 X 田孝慈《洞 / The Hole》) / Oct. 29 – Oct. 30 / New Taipei City Arts Center (新北市藝文中心演藝廳)

“The Hole” is 2016 Assembly Dance Theatre (組合語言舞團) annual production. Tien Hsiao-tzu (田孝慈), new generation Taiwanese choreographer, presents “Hole,” her first full-length piece in 3 years. Starting from self-identify and the quest of desire, Tien explores life through tensions.

Exhibitions

■ 2016 Taipei Art Photo Show (2016台北攝影藝術博覽會) / Oct. 28 – Oct. 31 / Huashan 1914 Creative Park

One of the most important photography exhibitions in Asia, the Taipei Art Photo Show (TAPS) endeavors to promote the beauty of photography. The 2016 TAPS invites famous photographers and artists to exhibit their works at Huashan 1914 Creative Park, aiming to show the visitors different features of art photography.

First Editor: J. Michael Cole
Second Editor: Edward White