Fantasia 2023: Our Review of ‘A Chinese Ghost Story’

Posted in Fantasia 2023, Festival Coverage, Movies, Retrospective, Theatrical by - July 24, 2023
Fantasia 2023: Our Review of ‘A Chinese Ghost Story’

Fantasia is a film festival which features a number of modern releases. Some of these films (Talk to Me) will literally get a release during the festival’s duration. But the festival also contains a robust rep cinema package. Each and every year, there are a number of films which are due restorations, or have been recently restored. This year’s highlights include a retrospective of the work of Czech master Juraj Herz. There’s also a thrity-five year anniversary screening of the Korean classic Chilsu and Mansu and a screening of the recently restored Peppermint Candy from Lee Chang-dong.

One of the other treats at the festival includes a 35mm print of A Chinese Ghost Story, one of the last revered wuxia costume dramas. In some senses, it’s a touch foolhardy for me to be reviewing an immortalized classic that’s over thirty-five years old. I highly recommend the film. But I have a feeling that if you’re someone who likes films iowth titles like A Chinese Ghost Story, then chances are you either already saw the film, or—much like myself—you had it on your watchlist for a while. To make a long story short, I loved it.

The print I was fortunate enough to see was clearly someone’s lovingly cared for copy that has sat in a basement somewhere for years. Mistranslations abounded throughout the film’s subtitles. All of this added to the delightful charm of the film. I know all too well the tendency to want to seek out the latest and greatest offerings that a festival has to offer. However, it’s always good to check out some of a festival offers in terms of repertory cinema. Because a film festival is about a celebration of what this medium has to offer, in all of its forms.

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This post was written by
Thomas Wishloff is currently an MA student at York University. He is new to the Toronto Film Scene, but has periodically written and podcasted for several now defunct ventures, and has probably commented on a forum with you at some point. The ex-Edmontonian has been known to enjoy a good board game, and claims to know the secret to the best popcorn in the world.

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