Austin Asian American Film Festival 2009

Austin Premiere! The Sundance nominee and all-time highest grossing Korean independent film comes to Austin! In a rural valley in a remote section of South Korea the charming, elderly Mr. Lee is living out his final years alongside his nagging wife and his loyal companion, a forty-year-old ox. Both in poor health, side-by-side Mr. Lee and his ox toil long, difficult days on the Lee farm, growing older in tandem. Although Mr. Lee is near-deaf, he can always hear the ox's bell and he stubbornly refuses to spray insecticides or adopt modern farming technology for fear that his beloved ox may be harmed. With breathtaking cinematography that masterfully captures the majesty and splendor of the South Korean countryside, first-time director Lee Chung-Ryoul has managed to not only tell a layered, heartbreaking narrative, but to encapsulate the beauty of South Korea in evocative images that range from an ox slowly sauntering past a picket line in the city to the elegance of snowfall against a mist-covered mountain. A gentle and deeply affecting story about friendship, nature and the cycle of life, Old Partner is an enchanting and perspective-altering experience. Interesting Facts: Earlier this year, Old Partner broke the South Korean box office record for an independent film. In its opening weeks it beat out The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and other big-budget Hollywood films, catapulting its unassuming leads to the status of celebrities in their native South Korea. The media frenzy over Mr. and Mrs. Lee has risen to such an extent that Old Partner producer Young-jae Goh has made a plea to papparazzi to respect their privacy.

The acclaimed Oscar nominated Persepolis is back for a FREE one-time only outdoor screening on Town Lake! Marjane is a young girl coming of age during the Iranian revolution along with her idealistic family who yearns for a brighter future for their country. From young punk rebel to alienated Austrian expatriate to outspoken political dissident, we follow Marjane’s extraordinary life through the stunning and inventive animation of Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi (on whose life Persepolis is based). This winner of the Jury Prize at the Cannes Festival captures the optimism of a young girl who refuses to let even the most adverse of circumstances dampen her rebellious spirit. Accompanied by the delicious global cuisine of three Austin food vendors (Sushi-A-Go-Go, Satay Thai and Get Sum Dim Sum) and preceded by the phenomenal Iranian band Tehranosaurus, this is an event not to be missed! This is an outdoor evening event, and temperatures are expected to be cool. Please prepare/dress accordingly (eg. light jackets, blankets, etc.).