aipohaku's posterous

The Art Theater in Long Beach

From May 10 to 20, the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival screened an amazing selection of films, including documentaries, shorts and feature length narratives, opening at the DGA in West Hollywood, continuing to the CGV Theater in Koreatown and ending today at the Art Theater in Long Beach, near Little Phnom Penh. There is really never enough time to watch all the movies shown at any film festival but here are my reviews on the handful that I did see my first time attending the LAAPF this year:

Valley of Saints (India) I didn't want to see this Kashmir love story come to an end. A young woman scientist studying the local water supply causes tension between two best friends.  A-

Give Up Tomorrow (Philippines) Powerful Filipino documentary focusing on the corrupt judicial system of the Philippines and the trial of Paco Larrañaga. B

I am a Ghost (USA) A horror story about a ghost that keeps forgetting she's dead. It seemed more of an art film rather than a horror film. A horror film that made you think, it made people question the director's unusual approach to life and death. At the Q & A after the movie, the director ran out of time and encouraged the audience to meet him for beer downstairs to continue the conversation further. C

The Orator (Samoa, New Zealand) My personal favorite of all the films I got to see. Based on the themes of love and forgiveness, The Orator, or O Le Tulafale, gives us a look into Samoan culture, village chiefs, land rights and taro farmers. A+

Two Shadows (Cambodia, USA) Twenty-seven year old Sovanna travels from her home in Long Beach, California, to look for her brother and sister in Cambodia who were believed to have died in the war. Weak execution by writer-director Greg Cahill who claims to have lived in Cambodia extensively. Based on a true story that his friend relayed to him, it felt like seeing Cambodia through an outsider's point of view. I'd like to see a Cambodian story that doesn't portray Khmer women working as escorts or prostitutes. C-

Golden Slumbers (Cambodia, France) A moving documentary about Cambodian films made during the 1960's and 1970's before the Khmer Rouge killed one-fourth of the Cambodian population, including many in the filmmaking community, destroying the films and movie theaters in Phnom Penh. Of the 400 films made during this Golden Age of Khmer Cinema, only about 30 movies remain.  A

Tea is the thing to do in Turkey so I felt quite at home there. You could order tea after your meals at any restaurant but I preferred the tea houses that are scattered throughout Istanbul. You walked in at any time of the day and took your seat anywhere you saw an open table. There were No Smoking signs which were directed at the cigarette smokers so hookahs were allowed. I alternated between regular black tea and the sweet apple tea. Served in tulip shaped glasses with matching saucers, a cup of hot çay, or chai, would cost 1 Turkish lira (TL), less than 50 cents. The beautiful Turkish music playing through the speakers, friends gathering, and the view of the city were free of charge.

Tea cafe photos of May and me taken by each other.

Part two of lunch today at ICS.

India Coffee & Snacks 
23371 Golden Springs Dr.
Diamond Bar, CA 91765 
(909) 396-0350

Met with @inlandempirical for lunch after we decided we were both craving samosas. She recommended a nice Indian coffee and snack place where they make great samosas, those triangular pieces of heaven, and dosas, or Indian crepes. 

The greatest thing about this cafe is that they play Bollywood videos while dining. 

India Coffee & Snacks
23371 Golden Springs Dr.
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
(909) 396-0350

Tonight I'm Not Going Anywhere

Touch

I still can't find that journal from 1997 where I wrote my review on Titanic. I also can't find a health journal I kept in 1998. With these few exceptions, I was able to find the journals and notebooks I've kept throughout most of my life. I'm not sure why I stopped writing between 1989 and 1992 because life has always felt less than normal without documenting something that's happened through the years. Although I wish I were more articulate, I'm glad I took the time to write about whatever was on my mind. Keeping a journal helped me through so much, from being left behind in a foreign country in the sixth grade to being afraid I wouldn't be around to see the last episode of Seinfeld. A few notes through the years.

November 1, 1981

Today my journal is about my experience being left behind. It started when we went to the airport and my father found out that he had misplaced my passport. Everybody was nervous and worried. They just couldn't find out where it went so we still had time to go to the U.S. Embassy. We asked them if we could just go and sign papers in Honolulu. But they said no. That's when I started to cry. They said it was up to the airline. So I still had a chance but by the time I got back my parents boarded the plane. We asked the airline but they said no and that's when I cried again. I saw the plane take off and I knew I had go to back by myself.

(In October 1981, my family and I visited the Philippines for a month after my maternal grandfather suffered a heart attack. One of the assignments that my sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Yoza, assigned was to keep a journal that I had to hand in when I returned to school. As for this entry, my dad misplaced my passport when we were returning from Manila to Honolulu. I may have been left behind but it was one of the best experiences to have stayed behind an extra week. I got to experience the mother land and spend time with my grandfather. He was so glad I got left behind. He told me so as he held my hand in his home. He died the following year. My cousins and I got to know each other even more. We remain close today and still talk about that visit. My dad found my passport as soon as they landed in Hawaii. Thanks to Mrs. Yoza for giving me this journal assignment.)

June 5, 1987

It's 6:45 pm. It's getting warmer now. Only one and a half weeks left of school. Swimming in PE is getting on my nerves. In History I had the highest score on a chapter quiz on Watergate. There's a quiz on East of Eden on Monday. I have a feeling my grades are gonna go up in History and English. I have S.A.T. testing tomorrow. I have to study. 

July 27, 1987

Nothing much happened today. 

6:15 am - Woke up and listened to Lost in Emotion by Lisa Lisa a couple of times. 

6:50 am Changed/Breakfast 

7:30 am Went to Ria's house for a ride to school 

7:50 am Talked to Alison 

8 am Geometry class (booring!) Test 

10:05 am Talked to Sherri and Eugene 

10:15 am Civics class. Took test, etc. 

2-3:30 pm Homework and wrote letter to Marion 

6 pm Talked on phone, dinner 

8 pm Watched TV 

9 pm Mom permed my hair 

10:30 pm Writing in journal with rollers still in hair. 10 more minutes and no more rollers. Yay!

December 12, 1994

One final down, three to go. I got to school at 7:30 am and ate breakfast at Carl's Jr. Studied at the University Center, the very cold and air-conditioned U.C. Went to the music listening room to take a much needed break. Bought the LA Times newspaper. They're giving away Miss Saigon tickets so I filled out an entry form. Walked around the cafeteria to look for Jackie and Amy. Went back to my studying and instead was found by them. We ate lunch to-go at Rama Thai and sneaked it into an empty classroom and crammed for our finals. Yesterday we had a room at the University Center. Eugene, Darlene, Troy, Tracy, Jackie, Amy, Steve, Mary Jane and I ate and crammed. We goofed off but got serious eventually.

December 18, 1994

I'm sitting under trees that are losing their leaves. It's beautiful this time of year. The sun is warming my back. I can smell the incense one of the vendors is selling outside of the campus bookstore. The cappuccino stand has a band playing sweet folk songs with acoustic guitar in the background. The students stop to see what each vendor has to offer. The first booth has a big $5 sign referring to its booth of framed pictures. But when you look closely, it's only the small desk size prints that are $5. Van Gogh's prints go for $25 and up. The incense woman is wearing a festive Santa hat. She's standing next to her chair looking at all the students passing by and is greeting them one by one as they pick up the different sticks scented with vanilla bean, blueberry and one called ecstasy. They're gathered now around the cappuccino stand to watch the new singer. This time it's a young woman singing Bonnie Raitt, "Turn down the lights..." The guy after her is good, "Even though we ain't got money. I'm still in love with you honey." 

Cal and Neeta stopped by to ask me what I was working on in my notebook, "Oh this? I'm writing to a dear friend." We wished each other good luck on final exams. 

More applause and more customers at the coffee stand. What a great gimmick. Put a band in front of the coffee stand and the students drink it up. Well I'll see you! I'm going to stand in line for a cappuccino. Cheers!

June 14, 1993

My interview went well last Friday. I got along great with the interviewer, Amy. She lives in ___ too so we had something in common. I felt we hit it off. She laid all these rules for me: 

Only lipstick and no other makeup can be worn. No more than two necklaces, no hoop or dangling earrings, no bracelets or anklets. No colored nail polish. No tattoos. In other words, I'm joining the monastery.

Amy concluded that I should probably hear from them in 1 to 1 1/2 weeks for a second interview. Also Amy gave me a pointer. She knows Karen will ask, "What is your weakness?" She said that most people that don't have any weaknesses don't get hired so she left me with that to think about. Well at about noon that same Friday, I got a call from Amy. I'm going on a second interview on Thursday at 10:30 am! It's still 50/50. 

Fall 1994

Yesterday was my first day back to work since the summer season. It felt kinda weird since I haven't been back in while. I worked the Fantasyland (dungeon) shift 5 pm to 12:30 am. Marion was there. Bruce and Tina were closing supervisors. They’re pretty cool. Tonight I’m in Adventureland closing 4 pm to 12:30 am. I was tempted to call in sick and work on my Excel project

January 1, 1995

Happy New Year!

I worked Adventureland last night from 7 pm to 3:30 am. I worked two Christmas shifts in a row (1993 and 1994), two summer shifts, two New Year shifts, and hopefully only one summer (1993) of Grad Nite shifts (9:30 pm to 6 am). Jan 2 was supposed to be my last day for the winter season but I spoke with my scheduler and I picked up an open shift for Friday, January 6. Michael Eisner was in the Park last night so that added to the chaotic excitement. We were budgeted for x guests but actually x guests showed up for New Year's Eve. It was a mad house.

(In college I worked for that mouse in Anaheim for over two years as an admin assistant assisting the Duty Manager who was in charge of closing the park. I memorized walkie talkie codes since that's how the manager and I would communicate while he/she was out and about in the park while I was in the office. There was never a dull moment. I'd have to document guest incidents, attractions breaking down, and security alerts such as counterfeit bills circulating, to name just a few tasks. My main job at the end of the night was helping the manager complete and type up the Duty Manager report to be distributed the following morning. It was a great place to work, more stressful than fun, but it got in the way of school.)

I have a journal I kept when I was 27 and first diagnosed with cancer on May 7, 1998. I can't find it but I remember worrying about the final episode of Seinfeld that would air exactly one week later on May 14. What if I didn't make it out of surgery? I'd miss the last episode! Well today marks 14 years since the day of that finale. Although I survived the surgery, I could have done without that final episode. What a disappointment. 

Sorting through my diaries and notebooks, I noticed that my all-purpose journal eventually evolved into subsidiary journals. A separate journal for movies, travel, health and other thoughts. 

To your health and to taking notes.

Happy Friday! Questions are from Friday 5.

1. If you could get on a plane tomorrow, where would you go for a
 week?  I’d like to see all fifty states before I’m fifty and I’ve got 12 more to go. If I could leave tomorrow, I’d travel to Oklahoma and Kansas, explore the old west and maybe lend a hand on a farm. Where would you go for a month? It’s been a long time (@kinije visiting me in 2001) since I’ve been to Hawaii so I would love to visit, preferably in the cool rainy season. I’d try to add another island in addition to Oahu. Does anyone know if there are volunteer opportunities on Ni’ihau?

2. Where do you want most to return to? France. My sister and I were in Paris a year ago exactly and we had a few side trips planned but didn’t do any of them because we were enjoying Paris so much. We spent a few days in the heart of the Latin Quarter where we had a great view of the neighborhood from our hotel window. This hipstamatic shot was from our window. We’d cross the street to the corner boulangerie, pick up coffee and a flaky pain chocolat and just sit and watch the people walk by. Another day we’d order crepes from the crepe stand and walk to the Pompidou Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral. We walked and took the subway everywhere and even saw Midnight in Paris at midnight in Paris at UGC cinema. All roads lead back to Paris!

 3. What was your most memorable meal or drink while traveling? In Cambodia, they have these picnic-style lunch huts where they cook right there at your side. You choose the fish, vegetables, meat, soup and condiments from the servers walking by. My friends offered me this condiment that had a Cambodian name that translated to: ant eggs marinated in ant urine. I made a face. So my friend explained, “You know when you get an ant bite and it hurts? That sting you feel is from their urine.” That bowl of it between the soup and the shredded mango with fish sauce, well I tried it with the fish. It was sour but in a good way. Hey, when in Rome...Good words to live by. I loved drinking pressed sugar cane juice that they served in to-go plastic bags.  So your belly’s full on fish, vegetables and rice. What to do next? Recline in the hammocks that are hanging overhead! Don’t wake me! I loved these lunches.

by @fvancini

4. What is the most breathtaking view in your city? I love the view from the Getty Center, my favorite museum in Los Angeles. It wouldn't matter what the exhibits were. This is one place where I enjoy the architecture, grounds and views just as much as the art.

by @jssutt

How about from your travels? I love the view of the island high above the harbor from Victoria Peak in Hong Kong. May and I took the tram up here and stayed for a long time. They had a great cafe called The Pacific Coffee Company that had great views so we just stared out into the harbor, enjoying our coffee.

5. What's the most touristy thing you've done? I took a free walking tour of Budapest with a huge group of Brazilians. There were tourists from other countries but a majority of our group was from Brazil. A lot of European cities offer free walking tours so we thought we'd try it. We met our tour leader in front of the lion fountain in Vorosmarty Square around 9 am. I enjoy being part of tour groups sometimes but not one this big. There was about 50 of us. We asked our tour guide which bath house she recommended and she helped us narrow it down to the Szechenyi thermal baths. We had planned on another group tour in Prague but decided on walking on our own. In case you're wondering, the suggested tip for our two-hour walk was equivalent to about $9 US dollars but I tipped a little more since we had an overall great experience with our two guides.

I received a message this week asking how I knew about the film festivals that I'd mentioned, specifically the South East European Film Festival that ended this past Monday at UCLA. I'm pretty new to film festivals even though I'd heard about them all my life. I attended my first one in Los Angeles two years ago where I saw a Romanian film called Katalin Varga. From there I was hooked. Where the heck is Romania? And how come I'd never heard of Romanian movies? The cinematography, acting and story made me more curious.

Almost two years later, I'm still interested in Romanian movies because I'm still discovering them. A lot of times you hear the term Romanian New Wave but I wouldn't know the difference between what is or isn't new wave. I just know there is something about them that's different than what I'm used to. First it's the language, the scenes but there's also something else I can't explain. I guess that's the new wave part.

A couple of months ago I searched the web for Romanian films and I saw that Berkeley and Stanford Universities hosted a Romanian Film Festival each year and I emailed them to see if there were any screenings in Los Angeles. Unfortunately they weren't aware of any but they'd forward my inquiry to someone who might know and a few weeks later I received an email about the South East European Film Festival (SEEFest).

SEEFest wouldn't be all about Romanian movies but that's okay I'd watch even one if they had it. The bonus is that they'd have Turkish movies too which I recently started getting into. There were other countries represented like Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, and Bulgaria but I don't feel the connection right now.

Speaking of Katalin Varga, here's my review:

There's a boat scene (1:30) that I still remember as being the best part. Still gives me chills.

The trailer: