Category: Cha Review of Books and Films
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [ESSAY] βThe Violence of Being Understood: Rio Shimamotoβs First Loveβ by Tyran Grillo Click HERE to read all entries in Chaon First Love. Rio Shimamoto (author), Louise Heal Kawai (translator). First Love. Honford…
![[ESSAY] βThe Violence of Being Understood: Rio ShimamotoβsΒ πΉπππ π‘ πΏππ£πβ by Tyran Grillo](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Rio-Shimamoto-First-Love.png)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] “Green Trojan Horses: Trees, Power, and the Chinese State in Cheng Li’s Contested Environmentalisms” by Jennifer Eagleton Cheng Li. Contested Environmentalisms: Trees and the Making of Modern China. Stanford University…
![[REVIEW] “Green Trojan Horses: Trees, Power, and the Chinese State in Cheng Li’s πΆπππ‘ππ π‘ππ πΈππ£ππππππππ‘ππππ ππ ” by Jennifer Eagleton](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/contested.png)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] “Acknowledging the One-Inch Line of Subtitles: On Dal Yong Jin’s Understanding the Korean Wave” by Sahar Othmani Dal Yong Jin. Understanding the Korean Wave: Transnational Korean Pop Culture and Digital…
![[REVIEW] “Acknowledging the One-Inch Line of Subtitles: On Dal Yong Jin’s ππππππ π‘ππππππ π‘βπ πΎπππππ πππ£π” by Sahar Othmani](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/acknowledging-the-one-inch-line-of-subtitles-on-dal-yong-jins-understanding-the-korean-wave.png)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] “Queering the Continent: The Many Lives of Queer Asia” by Farid Hamka J. Daniel Luther and Jennifer Ung Loh (editors), ‘Queer’ Asia: Decolonising and Reimagining Sexuality and Gender, Zed Books, 2019.…
![[REVIEW] “Queering the Continent: The Many Lives of Queer Asia” by Farid Hamka](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/queer-asia-decolonising-and-reimagining-sexuality-and-gender.png)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] “Mommy Makes the World Go Round: The Boy and the Heron v. When Marnie Was There” by William Carlo Antonio Sanchez Click here to read all entries in Chaon The Boy and…
![[REVIEW] “Mommy Makes the World Go Round: πβπ π΅ππ¦ πππ π‘βπ π»ππππΒ v.Β Β πβππ ππππππ πππ πβπππ” by William Carlo Antonio Sanchez](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/the-boy-and-the-heron-v.-when-marnie-was-there-by-william-carlo-antonio-sanchez.png)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [ESSAY] “Reading MarΓa Teresa Ogliastri’s From the Diary of Madame Mao: Poetry, Politics and Memories of the Cultural Revolution” by Ming Wan All entries in Cha on Madame Mao. MarΓa Teresa…
![[ESSAY] “Reading MarΓa Teresa Ogliastri’s πΉπππ π‘βπ π·ππππ¦ ππ ππππππ πππ: Poetry, Politics and Memories of the Cultural Revolution” by Ming Wan](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/from-the-diary-of-madame-mao.jpg)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] “Joanne Leowβs Exhumations: The Body as Counter-Archive in Singapore” by Aleithia Low Joanne Leow. Exhumations: Inside the Body of a Petrostate. Alchemy by Knopf Canada, 2026. 216 pgs. βWhen is a…
![[REVIEW] “Joanne Leowβs πΈπ₯βπ’πππ‘ππππ : The Body as Counter-Archive in Singapore” by Aleithia Low](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/joanne-leow.-exhumations-inside-the-body-of-a-petrostate.png)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] βHong Kong, Cantopop and the Memory of Home: Emma-Lee Mossβs My Cantopop Nightsβ by Susan Blumberg-Kason Click HERE to read all entries in Chaon My Cantopop Nights. Emma-Lee Moss. My Cantopop…
![[REVIEW] “Hong Kong, Cantopop and the Memory of Home: Emma-Lee MossβsΒ ππ¦ πΆπππ‘ππππ πππβπ‘π ” by Susan Blumberg-Kason](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/emma-lee-moss.-my-cantopop-nights-a-memoir-in-songs.png)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] “Picked Up by Wingtips: Tammy Lai-Ming Ho’s Hula Hooping” by Jonathan Han Tammy Lai-Ming Ho. Hula Hooping, Chameleon Press, 2015. 108 pgs. Tammy Lai-Ming Ho at the launch of Hula…
![[REVIEW] “Picked Up by Wingtips: Tammy Lai-Ming Hoβs π»π’ππ π»ππππππ” by Jonathan Han](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/hh1.jpg)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] βBeyond the Activist: Discovering the Man Behind Katski FloresβsΒ Edjopβ by Bryan Elijah Trajano Katski Flores (director). Edjop, 2026. 122 min. Martial Law remains one of the darkest chapters in Philippine…
![[REVIEW] βBeyond the Activist: Discovering the Man Behind Katski FloresβsΒ πΈππππβ by Bryan Elijah Trajano](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ering-the-man-behind-katski-floress-edjop-1.jpeg)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] “Up Close, A Portrait” by Jose P. Mojica The face serves as the most recognisable feature of an individual. It captures oneβs expressions and character, revealing a persona even without…
![[REVIEW] “Up Close, A Portrait” by Jose P. Mojica](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/https-blanc.phexhibitsgallery-3a-patch-a-portrait.jpg)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] “Witness and Knowledge: Reading Victoria Changβs Trees” by Anna Nguyen Also read Anna Nguyen’s reivew ofIldikΓ³ Enyediβs Silent Friend π» Victoria Chang. The Trees Witness Everything, Copper Canyon Press, 2022. 125…
![[REVIEW] “Witness and Knowledge: Reading Victoria Changβs Trees” by Anna Nguyen](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/victoria-chang-cha.png)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [ESSAY] “Asian Pirates? In a Musical?” by Shanon Shah Zhui Ning Chang (director). Asian Pirate Musical, Upstairs at the Gatehouse, 28 Julyβ2 August 2026. I have always been drawn to people…
![[ESSAY] “Asian πππππ‘ππ ? In a ππ’π ππππ?” by Shanon Shah](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/asian-pirate-musical-2.png)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] “The Everyday Kindness of Sho Miyake’s All the Long Nights” by Sam Yu Wing Chan Sho Miyake (director). All The Long Nights, 2024. 119 min. As all the long nights screen,the…
![[REVIEW] “The Everyday Kindness of Sho Miyake’s π΄ππ π‘βπ πΏπππ πππβπ‘π ” by SamΒ Yu Wing Chan](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/all-the-long-nights.jpeg)
-
[ESSAY] “The Unstuck City: Dorothy Tse’s City Like Water” by Luca Griseri Click HERE to read all entries in Chaon City Like Water. Dorothy Tse (author), Natascha Bruce (translator). City Like Water, Graywolf Press, 2026. 112 pgs. The novel resembles a dΓ©collage precisely because…
![[ESSAY] “The Unstuck City: Dorothy Tse’s πΆππ‘π¦ πΏπππ πππ‘ππ” by Luca Griseri](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/city-like-water-dorothy-tse-cha-an-asian-literary-journal.jpg)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] “From Korean Nostalgia to Filipino Gunita: Jalz Zarateβs Sunny” by Bryan Elijah Trajano Jalz Zarate (director). Sunny, 2024. 122 min. Sunny (2011), directed by Kang Hyoung-chul, has been one of…
![[REVIEW] “From Korean Nostalgia to Filipino Gunita: Jalz Zarateβs ππ’ππ𦔠by Bryan Elijah Trajano](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/jalz-zarate-sunny.png)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [ESSAY] “Singing in Hiragana: On The Chronicles of Japan” by Mario Rustan All entries in Chaon The Chronicles of Japan Matthieu Felt (translator). The Chronicles of JapanβVolume I: Age of the…
![[ESSAY] “Singing in Hiragana: On πβπ πΆβππππππππ ππ π½ππππ” by Mario Rustan](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/71mw8p3wrll._sl1500_.jpg)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] βFathers Arenβt Mountains: A Closer Look at Buddhisagarβs Karnali Bluesβ by Abhinav Tulachan Buddhisagar (author), Michael Hutt (translator). Karnali Blues, Penguin Random House, 2022. 422 pgs. What role does a…
![[REVIEW] βFathers Arenβt Mountains: A Closer Look at Buddhisagarβs πΎππππππ π΅ππ’ππ β by Abhinav Tulachan](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/buddhisagar-author-michael-hutt-translator.-karnali-blues-.png)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [ESSAY] “Tony Leung in the Cinema: Between Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur” by Liew KH Tony Leung WKW went to Bangkok to film In the Mood for Love because there was…
![[ESSAY] “Tony Leung in the Cinema: Between Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur” by Liew KH](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/images-1.jpeg)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [ESSAY] “Reading Cinema Beyond Geopolitics: Rey Chowβs Sentimental Fabulations, Contemporary Chinese Films” by Jessica Morris Rey Chow. Sentimental Fabulations, Contemporary Chinese Films: Attachment in the Age of Global Visibility, Columbia University…
![[ESSAY] “Reading Cinema Beyond Geopolitics: Rey Chowβs ππππ‘πππππ‘ππ πΉπππ’πππ‘ππππ , πΆπππ‘ππππππππ¦ πΆβππππ π πΉππππ ” by Jessica Morris](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/sentimental-fabulations-contemporary-chinese-films-attachment-in-the-age-of-global-visibility.jpg)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] “Theory after Academia: The Frenchmen, A Loverβs Discourse, and the Return to Everyday Life” by Anna Nguyen β Emily Eakin. The Frenchmen: Or, My Life in Theory. Penguin, 2026. 496…
![[REVIEW] “Theory after Academia: πβπ πΉππππβπππ, π΄ πΏππ£ππβπ π·ππ πππ’ππ π, and the Return to Everyday Life” by Anna Nguyen](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/theory-after-academia-cha.png)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] “Jiang Qing, Power, and Historical Vilification: MarΓa Teresa Ogliastri’s From the Diary of Madame Mao” by Jennifer Eagleton All entries in Cha on Madame Mao. MarΓa Teresa Ogliastri (author), Yvette…
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] “Unfortunately, I Return to Panahon: Glenn Baritβs Cleaners and the Materiality of Memory” by Richell Isaiah Flores Glenn Barit (director). Cleaners, 2019. 79 min. Critical for me is the word…
![[REVIEW] “Unfortunately, I Return to ππππβππ: Glenn Baritβs πΆπππππππ and the Materiality of Memory” by Richell Isaiah Flores](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/glenn-barit-director.-cleaners-1.jpg)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] “Mapping Belonging in Sonia Bahlβs Eighteen Inches Apart” by Namrata Sonia Bahl. Eighteen Inches Apart, Fingerprint, 2026. 362 pgs. In Eighteen Inches Apart, Sonia Bahl turns to the fleeting encounters…
![[REVIEW] “Mapping Belonging in Sonia Bahlβs πΈππβπ‘πππ πΌππβππ π΄ππππ‘” by Namrata](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/eighteen-inches-apart-by-sonia-bahl.jpg)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] βConan, A Barbarian: Inside Bulong, the Filipino Obsessionβ by William Carlo Antonio Sanchez β Chito S. RoΓ±o (director). Bulong, 2011. 105 min.β Curry Barker (director). Obsession, 2025. 100 min. Curry…
![[REVIEW] βConan, A Barbarian: Inside π΅π’ππππ, the Filipino πππ ππ π πππβ by William Carlo Antonio Sanchez](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/bulong-2011-and-obsession-2025.png)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] βRevisiting Farewell My Concubine: Is Devotion Enough to Keep Art Alive?β by Stella Kwok Chen Kaige (director). Farewell My Concubine, 1993. 172 min. Like everyone in the audience, I was…
![[REVIEW] βRevisiting πΉππππ€πππ ππ¦ πΆππππ’ππππ: Is Devotion Enough to Keep Art Alive?β by Stella Kwok](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/images.jpeg)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] “The Body Remade: On Sarah Wangβs New Skin” by Kailee Haong Ellis Sarah Wang. New Skin, Little, Brown and Company, 2026. 448 pgs. “Body horror” receives a new definition in…
![[REVIEW] “The Body Remade: On Sarah Wangβs πππ€ ππππ” by Kailee Haong Ellis](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/sarah-wang.-new-skin-.jpg)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [ESSAY] “The Ecstasy of Love: The Precarious Line Between Reality and Illusion in Kiwi Chow’s Beyond the Dream” by Hilda Wong Kiwi Chow (director). Beyond the Dream, 2019. 120 min. Is…
![[ESSAY] “The Ecstasy of Love: The Precarious Line Between Reality and Illusion in Kiwi Chow’s π΅ππ¦πππ π‘βπ π·ππππ” by Hilda Wong](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/beyond-the-dream.webp)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [REVIEW] “The Weight of Change: Shuang Xuetaoβs Hunter” by Seiya Tanase All things Jeremy Tiang in Cha. Shuang Xuetao (author), Jeremy Tiang (translator). Hunter, Granta Books, 2025. 288 pgs. In a…
![[REVIEW] “The Weight of Change: Shuang Xuetaoβs π»π’ππ‘ππ” by Seiya Tanase](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/shuang-xuetao-author-jeremy-tiang-translator.-hunter-granta-books.jpg)
-
θΆ FIRST IMPRESSIONS θΆ REVIEW OF BOOKS & FILMS [ESSAY] “Scattered Thoughts and Admiration for Her Name Upon the Strand and Other Tammythings: A Partial Retrospective” by Cyril Camus Click here to read all entries in Chaon An Extraterrestrial π»…
![[ESSAY] “Scattered Thoughts and Admiration for π»ππ ππππ ππππ π‘βπ ππ‘ππππ and Other Tammythings: A Partial Retrospective” by Cyril Camus](https://chajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/books-by-tammy-lai-miing-ho.png)