Cinema Escapist
Explore and connect the world through a cinematic lens
Review: Zombie Movie “Get the Hell Out” Satirizes the Spectacle of Taiwanese Politics
BY Jamin Shih
Screened at 2020’s Toronto International Film Festival, Taiwanese zombie flick "Get the Hell Out" offers cartoonish violence, absurdity, and irreverent political satire.
Taiwan’s Stylish Romcom “IWeirDo” Tackles Love and Mental Illness with a Strong Visual Aesthetic
BY Jamin Shih
Taiwanese romantic comedy “IWeirDo” uses a unique aspect ratio and aesthetic to underscore the painful evolution of a budding relationship.
Philippine Documentary “A Thousand Cuts” Traces the Rise of Authoritarian Fascism
BY Jamin Shih
"A Thousand Cuts" tells a disturbing story of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s authoritarian attacks on the free press through an intimate look at Rappler founder...
Japanese Indie Drama “My Identity” Examines a Fractured Taiwanese-Japanese Immigrant Identity
BY Jamin Shih
In her heartfelt debut film “My Identity,” which screens at Japan Cuts 2020, Sae Suzuki explores being misunderstood in a Taiwanese-Japanese immigrant coming-of-age story.
Netflix’s “TWogether” Highlights the Legacy of English in Asia
BY Jamin Shih
Featuring Lee Seung-gi and Jasper Liu, Netflix reality show "TWogether" reveals the traces of colonial English in Southeast and South Asia.
Netflix’s “Rea(L)ove” Raunchily Reveals Japan’s Sexual and Gendered Taboos
BY Jamin Shih
Often contrasted with “Terrace House,” Netflix dating show "Rea(L)ove" highlights the gendered anxieties in contemporary Japanese dating.