Movies to Watch for AAPI Month!Like this list

21 items

• Parasite

  Kisaengch'ung

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  "Parasite" is the first South Korean film to receive an Academy Award nomination, and the first subtitled film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture. Director Bong Joon-ho also won the Oscar for Best Director as well as Best Original…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Nomadland

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  Director Chloe Zhao is the First Asian woman/minority to win an Academy Award for best director for this film based on a 2017 nonfiction book called "Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century". The film is about a woman in…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Past Lives

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  No, I haven't seen "Past Lives" yet, but it's on the top of my list! I am saving this movie for a rainy day when I want to watch something painfully romantic. This is a movie about very close childhood friends who grew up together in South…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Everything Everywhere All at Once

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  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" is about a Chinese-American family and was directed in part by Asian American director Daniel Kwan, part of a director team better known as "Daniels". This Oscar winning film is certainly not for…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Drive My Car

  Doraibu Mai Kā̄

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  "Drive My Car" is based on a story by famous Japanese author Haruki Murakami. This film explores grief and healing.

• Minari

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  Based on director Lee Isaac Chung's real life experiences, Oscar award winning "Minari" is a film about a Korean-American family chasing the American dream.

• The Farewell

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  In "The Farewell" comedian Nora Lum, better known as Awkwafina, takes on an unusually serious role playing a Chinese American, loosely based on director Lulu Wang, who travels with her family to visit her grandmother in China. The family…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Joy Luck Club

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  Released in the year 1993, "The Joy Luck Club" is ground-breaking for being one of the first films made in the U.S. to tell the story of present day Asian-Americans starring a mostly Asian-American cast. The next American film to do this,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Crazy Rich Asians

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  "Crazy Rich Asians" is a story set in Singapore about a Chinese American meeting and clashing with her unbelievably rich fiancé's family. This movie sensation has an entirely Asian cast!

• The Visit

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  Everyone’s favorite twist ending director, M. Night Shyamalan ("Sixth Sense", "Signs", and "Old") was born in India and moved to the U.S. when he was 6 years old. His film "The Visit" is about as scary and twisted as they come!

• The Handmaiden

  Agassi

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  This is an EROTIC thriller. Very heavy emphasis on the erotic. "The Handmaiden" is also a well-crafted and thrilling tale of suspense and revenge by South Korean director Park Chan-Wook.

• Kwaidan

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  Based on a book by the same name, "Kwaidan" is a collection of uncanny and horrific stories from Japanese folklore. This film is very dreamlike.

• Spirited Away

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  "Spirited Away" is one of many wonderful films by the Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, and a great entry point to his work. An Oscar winning animated feature, this film is beautiful, charming, and full of magic. If you are a fan of…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• 夢

  Dreams

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  Based on Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s actual recurring dreams, the film "Dreams" is split up into different surreal segments, each representing a different dream. My favorite is the first segment “Sunshine Through the Rain” about a…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Seven samurai

  Shichinin no samurai

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  "Seven Samurai" is probably director Akira Kurosawa's most famous film. It is considered one of the most important and influential films of all time, the inspiration for the classic western "Magnificent Seven", as well as many other films.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Millennium Actress

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  Japanese animator Satoshi Kon is known for his beautiful and elaborate art style as well as his dense and immersive story-telling. During his too short life he created several animated films for adult audiences, helping change the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• In the mood for love

  Hua yang nian hua

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  "In the Mood for Love" is part of an informal movie trilogy by Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai. How can you describe this film? It's about heartbreak and unrequited love. Full of beautiful quiet moments and stolen glances. Watch with…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Chungking Express

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  That's right! Director Wong Kar-wai is on this list twice! "Chungking Express" is one of my favorite films, it is full of angst and longing. It is also a completely over the top action/comedy. Tony Leung and Faye Wong are both so gorgeous.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

  Wo Hu Cang Long

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  Taiwanese director Ang Lee ("Brokeback Mountain", "Sense and Sensibility", "Life of Pi", and so many more!) directs "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", an action-packed fantasy martial arts film.

• Police Story ; Police Story 2

  Ging Chaat Goo Si ; Ging Chaat Goo Si Juk Jaap

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  If you think that "John Wick" is impressive, just wait until you see all the incredible stunts performed by Jackie Chan in the "Police Story" film series! Chan plays a Hong Kong police inspector who uses his impressive fighting and…Read moreRead more of this annotation