Overview
If you fall into one (or all) of the following categories — cinephile, culture vulture or need-something-to-do-on-Wednesday-night — we have something that'll pique your interest. The Art Gallery of NSW is gearing up for a two-month-long showcase of Chinese cinema.
Neon Gods will run alongside the upcoming Heaven and Earth in Chinese Art: Treasures from the National Palace Museum, Taipei exhibition. The series is a celebratory showcase of works from the most remarkable directors of Chinese language cinema in the 20th century — think Ang Lee, Edward Yang, Hou Hsiao-Hsien and Tsai Ming-liang.
Presented on rare 35mm film print sourced from both national and international archives (film stock nerds rejoice), this series features everything from action classic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to revenge odyssey Rebels of the Neon God to the once-forgotten landmark of queer cinema The End of the Track.
Boasting a cast of what the gallery's curator of film, Ruby Arrowsmith-Todd, describes as "rebels, action heroines and queer outsiders", the retrospective promises to reacquaint you with, or introduce you to, some of the most innovative, bold and significant films in sinophone cinema history.
Neon Gods is running from Wednesday, February 20 to Sunday, May 5. Screenings will take place at 2pm and 7.15pm on Wednesdays and 2pm on Sundays. For the full program and to reserve tickets, vist the website.