AEMS: Events

AsiaLENS
AEMS Documentary and Independent Film Series
at the Spurlock Museum

AsiaLENS is a series of free public film screenings and lecture / discussion programs -- organized by AEMS in collaboration with Spurlock Museum -- presenting recent documentary and independent films on issues reflecting contemporary life in Asia.

Local and visiting experts introduce the films and lead audiences in post-screening discussions.

All AsiaLENS screenings are FREE and open to the public.

For Spring 2017, screenings will be held on the third Tuesdays of February, March, and April at Spurlock Museum, located at 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL.

Full schedule for Spring 2017 is listed below.

Information on past screenings:Fall 2008, Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016

AsiaLENS Upcoming Spring 2017 Calendar:

Punch
Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - 7:00 pm
Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL

Playing With Fire: Women Actors of Afghanistan
Tuesday, March 14, 2017 - 7:00 pm
Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana IL

Don't Think I've Forgotten
Tuesday, April 11, 2017 - 7:00 pm
Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL

Punch
Directed by Lee Han. 2011. 107 minutes. Korea. Korean with English subtitles.

Introduction and post-screening discussion by AEMS.

Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - 7:00 pm
Spurlock Museum, Knight Auditorium, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL

My Life in China

Description:

PUNCH is a coming of age film set in an impoverished Seoul neighborhood. One of Korea’s most popular films of 2011, it follows the life of a high school student who is more talented at fighting than at studying. His homeroom teacher seems to enjoy tormenting him. His disabled father struggles to support him. He doesn’t know anything about his mother, but discovers that she isn’t even Korean. The movie succeeds through its interesting and sympathetic portrayals of a diverse set of characters.

Presented as part of “South Korean Millennials: Coming of Age in the Twenty-first Century” co-sponsored by Indiana University

Resources:

View a trailer of the film here.

Playing With Fire: Women Actors of Afghanistan
Directed by Anneta Papathanassiou. 2014. 58 minutes. Afghanistan. In Afghan (Dari) with English subtitles.

Introduction and post-screening discussion by Katayoun H. Salmasi (critic / playwright / director), former vice president of the Iran Theatre Critics Association, and advisor Iranian Cultural Alliance at UofI.

Tuesday, March 14, 2017 -7:00 pm
Spurlock Museum, Knight Auditorium, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL

Threads

Description:

Banned under Taliban rule (1994-2001), Afghan theater is experiencing a comeback with many women at the forefront. Filmmaker Anneta Papathanassiou exposes pervasive erosions of Afghan women’s rights. Her timely, eye-opening documentary perfectly captures art’s transformative power and the dangers these courageous women face to do the work they love.

Resources:

View a trailer of the film here.
Distributed by Women Make Movies.

Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll
Directed by John Pirozzi. 2015. 106 minutes. Cambodia. English with subtitles.

Tuesday, April 11, 2017 - 7:00 pm
Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL

Introduction and post screening discussion online with LinDa Saphan, Ph.D., Associate Producer, Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten; Assistant Professor of Sociology, College of Mount Saint Vincent.

My Life in China

Description:
Through the eyes, words and songs of its popular music stars of the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, this feature length documentary examines and unravels Cambodia’s tragic past, culminating in the genocidal Khmer Rouge’s dismantling of the society and murder of 2,000,000 of its citizens. Combining interviews of the surviving musicians themselves with never-before-seen archival material and rare songs, the film tracks the twist and turns of Cambodian music as it morphs into rock and roll, blossoms, and is nearly destroyed along with the rest of the country.

Resources:
Film Website: dtifcambodia.com.
Distributed by Argot Pictures, online store.

Reviews:
A list of interviews can be found here.

Last Updated March 3, 2017.


	AsiaLENS AEMS Documentary and Independent Film Series at the Spurlock Museum AsiaLENS is a series of free public film screenings and lecture / discussion programs -- organized by AEMS in collaboration with Spurlock Museum -- presenting recent documentary and independent films on issues reflecting contemporary life in Asia. Local and visiting experts introduce the films and lead audiences in post-screening discussions. All AsiaLENS screenings are FREE and open to the public. For Spring 2017, screenings will be held on the third Tuesdays of February, March, and April at Spurlock Museum, located at 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL. Full schedule for Spring 2017 is listed below. Information on past screenings:Fall 2008, Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016 AsiaLENS Upcoming Spring 2017 Calendar: Punch Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - 7:00 pm Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL *Playing With Fire: Women Actors of Afghanistan* Tuesday, March 14, 2017 - 7:00 pm Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana IL *Don't Think I've Forgotten* Tuesday, April 11, 2017 - 7:00 pm Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL Punch Directed by Lee Han. 2011. 107 minutes. Korea. Korean with English subtitles. Introduction and post-screening discussion by AEMS. Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - 7:00 pm Spurlock Museum, Knight Auditorium, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL Description: PUNCH is a coming of age film set in an impoverished Seoul neighborhood. One of Korea’s most popular films of 2011, it follows the life of a high school student who is more talented at fighting than at studying. His homeroom teacher seems to enjoy tormenting him. His disabled father struggles to support him. He doesn’t know anything about his mother, but discovers that she isn’t even Korean. The movie succeeds through its interesting and sympathetic portrayals of a diverse set of characters. Presented as part of “South Korean Millennials: Coming of Age in the Twenty-first Century” co-sponsored by Indiana University Resources: View a trailer of the film here. *Playing With Fire: Women Actors of Afghanistan* Directed by Anneta Papathanassiou. 2014. 58 minutes. Afghanistan. In Afghan (Dari) with English subtitles. Introduction and post-screening discussion by Katayoun H. Salmasi (critic / playwright / director), former vice president of the Iran Theatre Critics Association, and advisor Iranian Cultural Alliance at UofI. Tuesday, March 14, 2017 -7:00 pm Spurlock Museum, Knight Auditorium, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL Description: Banned under Taliban rule (1994-2001), Afghan theater is experiencing a comeback with many women at the forefront. Filmmaker Anneta Papathanassiou exposes pervasive erosions of Afghan women’s rights. Her timely, eye-opening documentary perfectly captures art’s transformative power and the dangers these courageous women face to do the work they love. Resources: View a trailer of the film here. Distributed by Women Make Movies. Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll Directed by John Pirozzi. 2015. 106 minutes. Cambodia. English with subtitles. Tuesday, April 11, 2017 - 7:00 pm Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL Introduction and post screening discussion online with LinDa Saphan, Ph.D., Associate Producer, Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten; Assistant Professor of Sociology, College of Mount Saint Vincent. Description: Through the eyes, words and songs of its popular music stars of the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, this feature length documentary examines and unravels Cambodia’s tragic past, culminating in the genocidal Khmer Rouge’s dismantling of the society and murder of 2,000,000 of its citizens. Combining interviews of the surviving musicians themselves with never-before-seen archival material and rare songs, the film tracks the twist and turns of Cambodian music as it morphs into rock and roll, blossoms, and is nearly destroyed along with the rest of the country. Resources: Film Website: dtifcambodia.com. Distributed by Argot Pictures, online store. Reviews: A list of interviews can be found here. Last Updated March 3, 2017.		In This Section: AsiaLENS Series AAS Film Expo AAS-in-Asia Film Expo ICAS Film Expo News Asian Film Festival Discussions with Filmmakers Educator Events Other AEMS Film Screenings AsiaLENS Screenings: Upcoming Spring 2021 __________________________ Edo Avant Garde Online viewing: Friday, Feb 19, 5p through Friday, Feb 26, 5p Online filmmaker discussion: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 4 pm (registration required) __________________________ Finding Yingying Online viewing: Friday, Apr 2, 5p through Friday, Apr 9, 5p Online filmmaker discussion: Tuesday, April 6, 2021 5 pm (registration required) __________________________ All AsiaLENS online screenings and discussion programs are FREE and open to the public. co-sponsored by: Spurlock Museum