This week Andy and James take a look at Mongolian cinema. With If Only I Could Hibernate in UK cinemas, Andy chat's to the director Zoljargal Purevdash. Meanwhile regular easternKicks contributor Amarsanaa Battulga joins us to chat about Mongolian cinema in general.  This episode’s handy timecodes 00:00:32 - Introduction. 00:01:44 -  Zoljargal Purevdash interview: If Only I Could Hibernate.00:32:58 - Putting Mongolian cinema in context. Why do we only see coproductions? What do local audiences really watch?01:06:03 - Outro.  If Only I Could Hibernate is in UK cinemas now, released by Conic Films

James and Andy are back with another look at the latest releases on streamers and in cinemas for March. This episode’s handy timecodes 00:00:32 - Introduction. 00:02:20 - The Oscars! 00:11:35 - Shudder, with a sudden appearance of 2000's Uzumaki. 00:15:48 - Amazon Prime, including Suddenly in Dark Night, Doctor (2013) and KKN di Desa Penari: Luwih Dowo, Luwih Medeni. 00:25:04 - Netflix, including Officer Black Belt, Indigo, Shake, Rattle and Roll Extreme, The Parades and The Pig, The Snake and the Pigeon. 00:50:28 - Cinema picks, including Monster, Drift and Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus. 01:00:56 - Outro. 

James and Andy are back with another look at the latest releases on streamers and in cinemas for February. This episode’s handy timecodes 00:19 - Introduction02:33 - Shudder, with Dain Said's Blood Flower06:53 - Netflix, including Badland Hunters, Home for Rent, The Last Wife, Past Lives, The Bridge Curse – Ritual26:08 - Amazon Prime, including Expats, Zu Warriors, The Fallen Bridge36:57 - Cinema picks, including The Moon Thieves, Perfect Days, Evil Does Not Exist47:46 - Outro

James and Andy ring in the New Year with another look at the latest releases on streamers and in cinemas for this month. This episode’s handy timecodes 00:33 - Introduction01:41 - Special announcement: Focus Hong Kong's Chinese New Year screenings06:34 - Amazon Prime, including The Long Walk, Chasing the Dragon, Sakra, The Tiger, and Derailed27:46 - Netflix, including Bad Lands, Badland Hunters, The Abandoned, A Very Good Girl, and The Brothers Sun41:56 - iPlayer, Decision to Leave48:46 - Cinema picks, including In Broad Daylight, Ping Pong, and The Scent of Green Papaya56: 00 - Teaser for future episodes...58:53 - Outro

James and Andy curate a selection of new and recent releases from streaming platforms, cinema and more.  This episode’s handy timecodes 00:19 - Introduction02:29 - Streaming picks...03:43 - Netflix, including Sweet Home Season 2, Believer 2 and Hard Days16:27 - Amazon Prime, including Ashiap Man, The Family, Kwaidan and Third Window24:08 - Cinema picks, including Godzilla Minus One, Yoshiki: Under The Sky and Raging Grace 21:52 - Outro

In the first of a new format, James and Andy curate a selection of new and recent releases from streaming platforms, cinema and festivals. Plus Andy catches up with Geran and Walid director Areel Abu Bakar in trendy Hackney Wick.  This episode’s handy timecodes 00:00:19 - Introduction00:02:36 - But first, what easternKicks Picks IS, and what it ISN'T00:06:24 - Streaming picks, including Ballerina, Yellow Door 90’s Lo-Fi Film Club and In my Mother’s Skin.00:39:44 - Cinema picks, including Back Home, Past lives and Where the Wind Blows.00:46:49 - Areel Abu Bakar interview01:03:16 - Festival roundup, including BFI London Film Festival and London Korean Film Festival.01:21:52 - Outro

James and Andy look back on Ann Hui's unsung ghost comedy Visible Secret, newly released by Radiance Films and screening in London, as well as more Hong Kong horror in the form of new cinema release Back Home.  This episode’s handy timecodes 00:35 - Introduction01:38 - Visible Secret introduction06:40 - Great talent in front and behind the camera14:09 - The plot16:57 - Lost in the crowd - why was it overlooked?36:20 - Back Home44:51 - Outro

This episode Colette Balmain joins James and Andy to chat about Tokyo Melody, a 1985 documentary that recently resurfaced at Japan Cuts 2023 about Ryuichi Sakamoto, and to chat about the great musician, innovator and composer's legacy. Yonah Sichrovsky speaks to the film’s director Elizabeth Lennard. Meanwhile, Frank Djeng, king of audio commentaries, shares his thoughts on Sakamoto. Plus we have the return of the easternKicks picks! All in this bumper-packed show! This episode’s handy timecodes 00:00:32 - Introduction00:02:09 - We discuss Tokyo Melody00:16:30 - Yonah chats to Elizabeth Lennard00:40:28 - Sakamoto's legacy00:52:33 - Frank Djeng remembers Sakamoto00:56:19 - Sakamoto's legacy continued01:07:20 - easternKicks picks01:22:48 - Outro

This episode James and Andy introduce the lineup for two summer events for new-ish UK festival Focus Hong Kong, curated by some rather familiar names. This episode’s handy timecodes 00:32 - Introduction01:42 - What is Focus Hong Kong? The full disclosure...04:55 - Memories to Choke On, Drinks to Wash Them Down11:16 - Made in Hong Kong15:58 - Where the Wind Blows21:44 - A Guilty Conscience24:43 - Let it Ghost27:53 - Nomad (Leslie Cheung)36:26 - Outro You can see the full details for Focus Hong Kong on the official website: focushongkong.uk

Andy chats to Filipino filmmaker Mikhail Red while at Udine Far East Film Festival, while James and Andy take a trip through highlights of his career so far and the latest hit starring Nadine Lustre, DELETER. This episode’s handy timecodes 00:33 - Introduction02:13 - Career highlights13:28 - Deleter26:58 - Andy chats with Mikhail Red54:27 - Outro Deleter had its International Festival Premiere at 25th Far East Film Festival 2023. You can find the EXCLUSIVE shots from Red's next film Friendly Fire here.   

This episode Andy and James are joined by Yonah Sichrovsky to chat about Brotherhood of the Wolf, returning to home media in a new 4K restoration. Yonah also chats to star Mark Dacascos himself about the film, appearing in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Iron Chef! This episode’s handy timecodes 00:00:33 - Introduction00:02:09 - Highlights from Mark Dacascos's career00:07:00 - Crying Freeman - Christophe Gans and Dacascos's first collab00:12:37 - Brotherhood of the Wolf00:47:46 - Yonah chats to Mark Dacascos01:05:10 - Outro Brotherhood of the Wolf is released on UHD, Blu-Ray and DVD from 15th May by Studiocanal.

Oh, the Calamity! The Calamity of Snakes! Andy and James discuss the controversial exploitation flick, released by Unearthed Films in a glorious 2K restoration, and wonder... just where is the fourth floor? Listen in if you dare, but don't get too distracted knitting. That might not be a bundle of wool... This episode’s handy timecodes 00:33 - Introduction02:53 - The new restoration11:24 - Background to the production and cast15:55 - The "plot"!!!18:10 - The missing floor mystery19:39 - Snake carnage22:28 - Context and style32:01 - The unavoidable bad side44:06 - Outro Calamity of Snakes is released on Blu-Ray and DVD from April 25th by Unearthed Films

This episode Kay Hoddy chats to the director of 2022 Oscar nominated Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, Pawo Choyning Dorji. Meanwhile, James gives us a rundown of recent releases on the streaming platforms.  This episode’s handy timecodes 00:00:33 - Introduction00:01:58 - Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom intro00:05:46 - Pawo Choyning Dorji interview00:34:25 - Review of the film00:45:07 - James Mudge's streaming roundup01:12:37 - Outro Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom is released in UK cinemas from 10th March by Peccadillo Pictures.

With the new series Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre debuting on Netflix, James and Andy are joined by self-confessed Ito fans Colette Balmain and Niina Doherty to chat about his works and how they've been adapted to film and television over the years.  Has anyone done him justice...? This episode’s handy timecodes 00:00:33 - Introduction00:01:37 - Junji Ito in context  00:10:46 - Early adaptions00:12:34 - Tomie film and TV series00:34:12 - Uzumaki (2000)00:40:05 - Other adaption in early 2000s 00:44:22 - Gyo Tokyo Fish Attack (2012)01:47:37 - Junji Ito Collection (2018) and Junji Ito Maniac (2023)01:00:50 - Uzumaki, Tomie and other potential adaptions01:13:55 - Outro Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre is streaming now on Netflix.

It's time for the End of Year Show! James and Andy look back on 2022, the highs and lows. Did anything change for Asian film? What were the big releases and trends? Will there be ranting about that certain recent survey? There's only one way to find out: listen!!! This episode’s handy timecodes 00:00:32 - Introduction00:01:53 - What were the big releases?00:08:25 - Decision to Leave, innit?00:25:16 - Other key cinema releases00:41:37 - Trends, what have we seen from different countries00:50:22 - The home entertainment renaissance 00:47:46 - Legacy and influence01:01:45 - The Sight and Sound '100 Greatest Films of All Time'01:26:35 - Takeaways from 2022?01:32:36 - The end of the End of the Year Show!

To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of its original release, Stephen Palmer joins Andy and James to discuss the Infernal Affairs Trilogy starring Tony Leung and Andy Lau. Meanwhile, Phillip O'Connor shares his thoughts on the inevitable fates of our protagonists.  This episode’s handy timecodes 00:00:32 - Introduction00:03:00 - Context and concept00:08:25 - Creative team00:11:50 - Infernal Affairs00:25:19 - Infernal Affairs II00:40:29 - Infernal Affairs III00:47:46 - Legacy and influence00:51:53 - Phillip on the inevitability of fate01:05:42 - The Departed01:18:09 - Conclusions01:23:39 - Outro  The Infernal Affairs Trilogy is available now on Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.

James and Andy take a look at Asian films screening at the 66th BFI London Film Festival 2022, and Andy chats to the director of Liquor Store Dreams, So Yun Um.  This episode’s handy timecodes 00:00:32 - Episode introduction00:01:27 - On to the festival, and the many films from Korea (?)00:18:14 - So Yun Um interview, Liquor Store Dreams00:37:18 - Films from Japan00:39:09 - Films from Thailand and beyond, plus documentaries and more00:52:25 - Thoughts on the festival01:06:07 - Outro The BFI London Film Festival 2022 takes place from 5th to 16 October. See the official site for listings. 

On the first anniversary of the show debuting on Netflix and with a big win at the Emmys, we look back at the impact of Squid Game and ask what it really means for the future of both the creators and cast, and Korean film and TV in general... This episode’s handy timecodes 00:32 - Episode introduction02:13 - For those that missed it...(what?)14:02 - The success of the show, and creators and cast26:40 - What does that mean for other shows?44:57 - Wrapping up48:37 - Outro

James and Andy chat exclusively about Focus Hong Kong's Making Waves, a Hong Kong screening programme coming to London from 8 to 10 July. Full disclaimer, they might have had something to do with it... This episode’s handy timecodes 00:31 - Episode introduction01:43 - An introduction to Focus Hong Kong05:00 - The Making Waves programme06:19 - Comrades, Almost A Love Story and Peter Chan holo-presence13:41 - July Rhapsody18:32 - Anita22:34 - Hand Rolled Cigarette24:51 - Breakout Brothers26:48 - The First Girl I Loved28:24 - Tales from the Occult35:43 - Outro Making Waves takes place at the Soho Hotel and Garden Cinema from 8th to 100th July. Check the website for more details. 

To celebrate the global release of gruesome horror The Sadness on Shudder, James and Andy chat through the film, with an exclusive interview with the films director, Rob Jabbaz. This episode’s handy timecodes 00:31 - Episode introduction01:54 - The Sadness, a quick explainer08:39 - Rob Jabbaz interview28:11 - Reactions to the interview34:52 - easternKicks Picks!42:40 - Outro The Sadness is available to exclusively stream on Shudder from 12th May.