The second issue of criticine.com is also out. So rather than have me write about it, let Alexis Tioseco, the editor of criticine, do it instead...
It's been an exhausting past few months. I
apologize for the delay in putting this issue out,
but it is with great pleasure that I introduce it
to you.
A hot-topic of late has been Martyn See's
Singapore Rebel, a documentary on Dr. Chee Soon
Juan, Singapore's Democratic Party leader. Banned
in Singapore, the film's mere existence appears to
outweigh its actual content. It's director See has
become somewhat of a cause celeb because of the
film, challenging the Singapore censors. He has
recently completed another film that is sure to
stir up talk-- Zahari's 17 Years, about left-wing
journalist Said Zahari, who was arrested in 1963
and imprisoned for 17 years for allegedly being a
communist. In this issue Vinita Ramani examines
the Singapore government's reaction to Singapore
Rebel and their implications, while examining the
content of the film itself-- something that most
commentators have neglected to do
Short films have played a vital role in the
development of Southeast Asian Cinema in recent
years, but unless you hound filmmakers themselves
for copies (I've had to do this on many occasion)
or catch a rare public screening, chances are, you
won't get to see them. This is something the Asian
Film Archive is trying to change. Ben Slater
examines the contents of their recently released
Singapore Shorts Collection.
Still in Singapore, Khoo Gaik Cheng samples Be
With Me, the new film from director Eric Khoo
after an 8 year absence, which opened the 2005
Cannes Director's Fortnight.
The buzz in Malaysia in 2005 was Yasmin Ahmad's
Sepet ("Slanted Eyes"). Reaping awards abroad and
box office success at home; it is a film many in
Malaysia consider to be an important breakthrough
work. Little discussed, however, is Yasmin's
previous work, Rabun ("My Failing Eyesight"), a
made-for-television movie that some, Malaysian
filmmaker Amir Muhammad included, claim is better
than Sepet. Hassan Muthalib offers a review.
Indonesian cinema has counted a strong year in
terms of numbers, but have the works fulfilled
their promise? Tag-team Paul Agusta and Lisabona
Rahman give a month-by-month blow of the past
twelve months in Indonesian cinema.
On the Philippine front, Noel Vera guest
programmed a selection of Filipino films for the
Rotterdam International Film Festival. He sends in
a piece on his experience presenting the works,
and the reactions of some prominent critics to it,
ending on a moving personal note. In a review of
Vera's Critic After Dark, the book that launched
the idea for the program in Rotterdam, I appraise
the unique position he occupies as a critic in the
Philippines.
Raya Martin's journal was a popular piece from the
first issue. Also writing from abroad, he checks
in with his second journal entry as part of the
Rsidence du Festival de Cannes. Sit with the old
and young: my extensive interviews with the sage,
Lav Diaz and the upstart, Ato Bautista are also up
for reading.
Lastly, but certainly not least, Benjamin McKay
thinks out loud: "Are there indeed possibilities
for new ways of writing about Southeast Asian
cinema? Read the article to understand why he's
asking. And then write us to let you know what you
think.
Until the next issue...
Alexis A. Tioseco
Editor, Criticine
