The City in South East Asian Cinema

The hum of neon signs, the buzz of motorcycle engines, the hustle and bustle of night markets — the city in South East Asian cinema is a site of possibilities and improbabilities, a place of exploration, exploitation and imagination. In this visual lecture, we will travel through Manila, Bangkok, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur (with a brief stopover in Hong Kong), seeing how filmmakers from the region have depicted their chosen cities and the array of characters who inhabit them. This illustrated talk will include moving images from films by Lino Brocka, Chatrichalerm Yukol, Babyruth Villarama, Lucky Kuswandi and more. 

Suyin Haynes is a Malaysian British freelance journalist and lecturer. She is currently working towards her MA in South East Asian Studies at SOAS, University of London. This event is based on her research on gender and sexuality in South East Asian cinema. Thank you to Daryl Rainbow for creating the amazing illustration to accompany this event!  

Access and event info (with thanks to Crip Cinema Archive)

• Please arrive from 7pm — the talk will start at 7.15pm and will run for roughly an hour with time for discussion afterwards. There are no reserved seats.

• Atlas Cinema has level access but there is rocky ground leading down the slope from the pavement to the cinema space.

• There is an accessible toilet available.

• Atlas Cinema is outside underneath a railway arch and sheltered, but please do to bring layers and wrap up warm. The space is well-ventilated -- masks are optional.

• Content notes: if you’d like a nuanced description of what to expect, please get in touch.

• This is my first screening and feedback is welcomed! If something isn't working for you, please get in touch: suyin.haynes@gmail.com.

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