Shu Xian-in red (Qin Hailu) is prettier than Guilin’s wife. Catch PIANO IN A FACTORY and many more Chinese films for free at the 7th Spring Film fest, which will be held from February 1-10, 2013 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

Written

By Jude Bautista

Two women realize that Xu Jiangning was cheating during a mahjong game. Out of pure rage they start slapping him silly, to escape them he bolts out the door. He runs fast for a middle-aged man going through different obstacles. The women corner him in an abandoned alley. The only way out is a precarious climb on to a ledge. Xu climbs easily and sits on the ledge as the women throw rocks not being able to reach him. His brother in law Guilin catches up with them and offers to pay the women 30 RMB. The women leave but Guilin still needs to convince Xu off the ledge.

Guilin (Wang Qianyuan) has to convince Xu Jiangning off the ledge. Catch PIANO IN A FACTORY and many more Chinese films for free at the 7th Spring Film fest, which will be held from February 1-10, 2013 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

from left: Shang Plaza Mktg Officer Mimi Tecson, Shang Plaza Mktg Officer Sheila Castro Santo, Shangri-la Plaza Mktg. Div Head Marline Concio-Dualan, ADMU Editor and Publications Head Julie Javellana-Santos, ADMU Ricardo Leong Center Dir. Sidney Christopher Bata, Confucius Inst. Coordinator Cris Gilbert Garcia and ADMU Ricardo Leong Center Coordinator Marianne Ho. Photo was taken during the press preview of PIANO IN A FACTORY. Catch it and many more Chinese films for free at the 7th Spring Film fest, which will be held from February 1-10, 2013 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

The scene is so funny and absurd it sounds more like a Tito Vic and Joey movie or Enteng Kabisote sequel. But it’s from PIANO IN A FACTORY, screening at the 7^th SPRING FILM FESTIVAL in Shang Cineplex for free from February 1-10, 2013. There are also Chinese action flicks and JASMINE WOMEN starring Zhang Zi Yi and many more films you can watch for free.

Chen Guilin (Wang Qianyuan) and wife Xiao Ju (Jang Shin-yeong). Catch PIANO IN A FACTORY and many more Chinese films for free at the 7th Spring Film fest, which will be held from February 1-10, 2013 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

Daughter Xiao Yuan (Xing Yu) is a piano prodigy. Catch PIANO IN A FACTORY and many more Chinese films for free at the 7th Spring Film fest, which will be held from February 1-10, 2013 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

Guilin played by Wang Qianyuan is just like any other guy going through a divorce. The interesting role has won him Best Actor at the Tokyo International Film Fest. He plays in a band for hire that performs everywhere, funerals, street corners and yes, even weddings. His instrument is the accordion and the occasional duet with the lovely Shu Xian (Qin Hailu). He accepts the fact that he has grown apart from his wife Xiao Ju (Jang Shin Yeong). But can’t allow her to take custody of his daughter Xiao Yuan (Xing Yu), who just happens to be a piano prodigy at age 8. If there’s anything that Guilin has given her it’s his devotion and passion for music and she took to it immediately.

Guilin (Wang Qianyuan) pretends to hear music from cardboard piano he made for Xiao Yuan (Xing Yu). Catch PIANO IN A FACTORY and many more Chinese films for free at the 7th Spring Film fest, which will be held from February 1-10, 2013 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

Xiao Ju has found a more financially successful man. Xiao Yuan wants to stay with Guilin as long as she can go on playing the piano. PIANO IN A FACTORY is the struggle for Guilin to fulfill this need. The film is a very accurate slice of life in China. Guilin’s barkada or group of friends tries to help him with the task. His brother in law Xu who cheats in mahjong is just one of many hilarious characters. One is named Fat head and a mafia-like boss named Brother Ji. The story is similar to the Filipino’s Bayanihan spirit or concept where everybody chips in to help a friend in need.

Guilin (Wang Qianyuan). Catch PIANO IN A FACTORY and many more Chinese films for free at the 7th Spring Film fest, which will be held from February 1-10, 2013 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

It just so happens that they are in one of the industrial areas of China where steel is a prevalent material. Resourcefulness and ingenuity is key as the group realizes that building their own piano is the best solution to their problem. Although the city and location is very crucial to the story, nowhere in the film was it mentioned, not even once.

The lovely Shu Xian (Qin Hailu) with the barkada that helps Guilin (Wang Qianyuan) make a steel piano for his daughter. Catch PIANO IN A FACTORY and many more Chinese films for free at the 7th Spring Film fest, which will be held from February 1-10, 2013 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

The 2 smokestacks have become a landmark in the outskirts of HARBIN in China. Catch PIANO IN A FACTORY and many more Chinese films for free at the 7th Spring Film fest, which will be held from February 1-10, 2013 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

From the opening shot of the film there were two huge smokestacks in the background of Guilin’s band while playing a funeral. They are two huge chimneys that are so wide and tall they call to mind nuclear reactors. Whether they’re nuclear or not was not really clear, only that they’ve become landmarks because of their age. Thank God for YouTube, I was able to identify the pair of smokestacks in a NO RESERVATIONS episode shot in Harbin. It was the episode where host Anthony Bourdain gets ‘drunk under the table’ by Russians and goes ice fishing on a frozen river the very next morning. The smokestacks make an appearance in his train ride on his way to a ski resort.

from left: Guilin (Wang Qianyuan), Wang Kangmei (Tian Yu) and Shu Xian (Qin Hailu) enjoy a hot pot. Catch PIANO IN A FACTORY and many more Chinese films for free at the 7th Spring Film fest, which will be held from February 1-10, 2013 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

Harbin was occupied and even built by the Russians some time in its history. No surprise, PIANO IN A FACTORY uses a lot of Russian music as a soundtrack. Engineer Wang (Wang Qianyuan) the designer of the piano consults a Russian text. Food also plays a part in this film the barkada gets together over hotpot at home, grilling and sautéing meat right on the dinner table. Guilin’s best friend Kang Mei (Tian Yu) is a chef who feeds them. It also doesn’t hurt that Big Liu (Zhou Kui) is a butcher. Will the fruit from their labor of love bring together a father and his daughter?

right: Engr Wang (Wang Zaoqin) briefs the crew on the plans. Catch PIANO IN A FACTORY and many more Chinese films for free at the 7th Spring Film fest, which will be held from February 1-10, 2013 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

SPONSORS list: Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Confucius Institute, Ateneo Celadon, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Credit Suisse, Film Development Council of the Philippines, Limketkai Center, ChaTime, Richprime Global Inc., CitisecOnline Financial, Chevrolet, Flexo Marketing, Raphyten Marketing, Lyric Piano, Baby Mossimo Kids, First Estan Trading, Teresa Marble, Footzone Greenhills.

In cooperation with Educational organizations: Xavier University, Ateneo de Cagayan University, Sacred Heart School, Ateneo de Cebu, Ateneo de Davao University, University of San Carlos, Ateneo de Ilo-ilo, Santa Maria Catholic School, And the other FDCP venues are Baguio, Davao, Iloilo, and Marawi cities’  Cinematheques.

MEDIA SPONSORS: Business World, Chalk Magazine, HerWord.com, RX93 and Chinoy TV

From left: ADMU Celadon team Regine Yu, Terzeus Dominguez, George Pang, Shangri-la Plaza Mktg. Div Head Marline Concio-Dualan, ADMU Editor and Publications Head Julie Javellana-Santos, ADMU Ricardo Leong Center Dir. Sidney Christopher Bata, Confucius Inst. Coordinator Cris Gilbert Garcia and ADMU Ricardo Leong Center Coordinator Marianne Ho. Photo was taken during the press preview of PIANO IN A FACTORY. Catch it and many more Chinese films for free at the 7th Spring Film fest, which will be held from February 1-10, 2013 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Plaza Mall.

From left: Riski(Sato Chiaki), Wara (Ishihara Satomi), Dino (Yagira Yuya), Gimo (Tanaka Kei) and Shio Kanjiya Shihori

Written by

Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

( Note today is the last day you can catch the Eiga Sai fest in Shangri La Plaza Cineplex. The Eiga Sai will be in Cebu, Davao and in UP film institute by August)

A small gesture of affection becomes the concept for a website that gives a lot of people hope. ‘The Bandage Club’ is part of the Eiga Sai Japanese film fest running at the Shangri-la Plaza Cineplex from July 1 to 11, 2010. Fans can catch Anime classics and other notable Japanese films free of charge.

Wara (Satomi Ishihara) is a jaded high school student who is convinced that love doesn’t exist in the world. That is until she meets Dino (Yuya Yagira) a rebellious devil may care kind of guy who seems to have empathy for those who are in emotional pain. When Dino sees a bandage on her wrist for an accidental cut he immediately assumes that she tried to commit suicide. Even if Wara was just cutting vegetables, she admits that she is still hurting from her parents’ divorce.

Dino uses her bandage and ties a bow in between railings and asks, “This is for your pain. Doesn’t it make you feel better?” Wara is so touched she shoots the bow with her cell phone and shows it to her barkada or group of friends. They in turn are so touched that they come up with the idea of putting up a website asking people about their emotional hang-ups, the places they want bandaged and why. Upon request the group goes to the place bandages up the object, takes a photo and uploads it. The website becomes a huge hit and gets a flood of requests from people.

Kanjiya Shihori plays the lovable Shio, who looks like a teenage Sharon Cuneta

Shio  may be the most childlike of the group and is often brought to tears with the slightest provocation. Actress Kanjiya Shihori who plays her is a teenage and Japanese version of Sharon Cuneta. For those who saw Sharon during her ‘Mr. DJ’ days, Shio is a very kawaii (cute) reminder of that time. Shio may be the prettiest in the group and also takes out her depression on food (just like Sharon). Both Shio and Wara have part time jobs as promo girls for ham in a supermarket. They use their teenage looks to call attention to ham products.

Because of the flood of requests in the website Wara decides to contact her two best friends who used to be part of her circle. The two former members of her gang also got into a big fight before they left. Tempo (Megumi Seki) is tall and has model-like features. She looks down on her less fortunate friends because she lives in an expensive upscale apartment. Riski (Chiaki Sato) is a rocker chick in black leather who had to stop schooling to get a job since her dad was laid off.

Filipinos especially teenagers will love watching this film seeing that the Japanese youth are just as obsessed with their cell phones as they are. The barkada concept and blossoming romance between the Bandage Club members will definitely be a selling point. And yet, this is a lot more than your typical teenybopper coming of age film. It deals with a lot of relevant issues raging from child abuse, divorce and teenage violence.

Sharon Cuneta during the PNoy Inauguration in black, from left Sen. Pangilinan, daughter KC and Jim Paredes

Technology is also a part of the storyline. The usage of lesser known cell phone features are seen in the movie. In one scene Wara needs to instantly read her email from her cell. It may be the last message from someone whom they suspect may end her own life. The internet, cell phones are all just tools to communicate. The important thing is what you say and your intention in using these tools. If it is good then it brings people together.

The Bandage Club is based on an award winning novel by Arata Tendo published in 2006. Last year he won the Naoki Prize for it. It also became a popular manga or comic book that was able to harness the teenage market. After a strong showing at the box office, producers also had the unique idea of screenings in major Karaoke establishments. The soundtrack includes the acoustic guitar and voice of Humbert Humbert. The style is similar to Filipina singer / songwriter Cynthia Alexander.