Family Ingredients & Hula at LA Asian Pacific Film Festival 5/10
Family Ingredients and Hula: The Merrie Monarch's Golden Celebration is coming to LAAPFF! We are honored that both films were designated Special Features in this year's festival. Special thanks to the Community Co-Presenter, our friends at the Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum (PIEAM)!
Saturday, May 10
12:30 PM
Art Theatre of Long Beach
Synopsis
For devotees of ethnic and homestyle cooking and anyone who sit transfixed before the intricacies of different cuisines on display on The Food Network and other cable television programming, you will get a kick out of FAMILY INGREDIENTS, director Ty Sanga's brainchild of a documentary that unites and put into humorous conversation (and competition) two top chefs —Town Restaurant owner Ed Kenney and James Beard Award-winner Alan Wong, co-founder of Hawaii Regional Cuisine — on their understanding of the roles that culture, home, and family play in the art of cookery. In a vein similar to that of EAT, PRAY, LOVE, they help us understand the much deeper connection between where one come from and the food that we consume. Kenney asks Wong about the two dishes that he identifiy most with his childhood. When Wong picks the dishes his mother always used to cook for him growing up in Hawaii — tamago kake gohan (raw egg over rice) and miso soup — they go search for their key ingredients. They look in on local farms and factories in Hawaii, but also return to the place where these recipes originated from —Japan.
At this point, we traverse JIRO DREAMS of SUSHI terrain as the two chefs, in their respective Anthony Bourdain mode, invite us along for the journey and make us privy to an open dialogue on organic food, farming and ancient recipes handed down for many generations. As their travels press on, director Sanga slowly brings into focus the true nature of both chefs. With Alan Wong’s disarming smile and Ed Kenney’s contagious laughter, the cuisine and cultures are illuminated with humility, intimacy, and quirkiness. Between scripted monologues and loose conversation, the focus is consistently drawn to learning about and interacting with those so passionately committed to traditional, sustainable, natural approaches to food. Enjoy this broad and entertaining look into the depths and origins of Hawai'ian fare, America’s original fusion cuisine.
Synopsis written by: Adapted from CAAMFest Program Notes, Hyphen Magazine Review
Hula: The Merrie Monarch's Golden Celebration
Directed by: Roland Yamamoto 2013 | 56 min.
Section: Special Presentations
Premiere: Los Angeles
Countries: United States
Synopsis
“Hula is the language of the heart, therefore, the heartbeat of the Hawaiian people.” These are the words uttered by King David Kalākaua describing the importance of the traditional dance. Although everyone has either heard of or seen a hula performance, few outside of the Hawaiian islands understand the rich cultural history and elaborate storytelling behind the fluid motions. HULA: MERRIE MONARCH’S GOLDEN CELEBRATION provides a deeper look into the 50th anniversary of the namesake festival and its performers. Launched in 1964, named in honor of King David Kalākaua, who was sometimes referred to as the “Merrie Monarch,” the festival sought to revitalize Hilo's fallen economy and boost the morale of its people. The hula competition was introduced in 1971. Yamamoto and Kalama, members of the original production team that started the first television coverage of the fest in 1981, bring us this retrospective look on the vast impact it has had on promoting a better understanding of this most iconic Hawaiian art form and cultural tradition.
Interviews given by various key players in the festival’s golden anniversary, including respected kumu hula (hula teachers), competition judges, and former Miss Aloha Hula title winners, reveal tight-knit bonds forged through the competition. Within the world of hula, everyone is ohana, or family. Kumus proudly speak of their graduating pupils, who dance together for the last time at the festival. Former dancers recount their joy at being able to reunite with each other on the now world-renowned stage. Behind-the-scenes footage and competition segments from the 2013 Merrie Monarch Festival provide rich stimulation for the eyes and ears. The chants and moves of the dancers exude a captivating energy that can be appreciated by all, whether they're familiar with the cultural aspect of hula or not. The reverence the Hawaiians hold for the Merrie Monarch Festival, as well as the passion they have for their craft, is evident throughout the film.
Synopsis written by: Adapted from CAAMFest Program Notes, Hyphen Magazine Review
The 30th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival will be presented May 1 – May 11, 2014 at the Directors Guild of America; CGV Cinemas; and The Art Theatre of Long Beach. A key highlight of the month-long Asian Pacific Heritage Month activities, the Film Festival is produced by Visual Communications, the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts center, and enjoys broad support from cinema artists and audiences alike.
Since 1983, the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival has presented nearly 4,000 films and videos by Asian international and Asian Pacific American artists, and additionally features seminars and panels, in-person guest appearances, and filmmaker awards. The Film Festival continues to be the largest festival of its kind in Southern California and is the premier showcase for the best and brightest of Asian American and Asian international cinema.
Categories: Film Festival