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.