Art Attack: A Clockwork Orange, Deaf Teen Angst, Exhibits Ending Soon

It’s a quieter week for Beijing’s cultural landscape, so maybe it’s a good time to finally finish watching all those TV shows you’re working on. Or, you can catch up on some great indie films by Chinese filmmakers at BC MOMA, watch some disturbing dystopia a la Electric Shadows’ Cine Club or check out one of several art exhibits closing up shop in the next week.

Song of Silence is the cinematic debut by director Chen Zhuo. The protagonist, Jing, is a hearing-impaired teenager who gets a little too close to her uncle, so is sent to live with her policeman father and his pregnant musician girlfriend. It’s the perfect setup for long silent shots of young Chinese angst and unbearable family tensions. Should be a fun time. For more, check out the Variety review and this article on Sina.com. Screening is Thursday, July 12.

BC MOMA’s also doing another showing of The Sword Identity, the brainy, back-to-basics kung fu flick. That’s showing tomorrow night.

Dystopia’s so hot right now, and the screening organizers at Electric Shadows are capitalizing on that with some great dystopian cinema at their Riverbank Cine Club. This week’s showing: Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange. This is the movie that made me swear never to use contact lenses, because it made me feel extremely squeamish about forcing my eyes open ...

Also, several art exhibits are closing this week, so take a look below. If you’ve been thinking of checking any of those out, better get there soon. We recommend Ji Yunfei’s "Water Work". They’re not as eye-catching or colorful as you might be used to with Chinese contemporary art, but if you take a moment to quiet down and look closely, you'll find the paintings are witty and incisive portraits of modern society.

As usual, details for everything below. Stay dry.

EVENTS

Jul 7
Film: The Sword Identity
An answer to cheesy over-the-top wire-fu, this brainy flick offers a purist’s look at the lore and finesse of martial arts. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students and seniors), RMB 25-30 (members). 7.30pm. BC MOMA (8438 8258)

Jul 8
Film: Purple Butterfly
Zhang Ziyi, Liu Ye and Li Bingbing impress in this 2003 film of love and intrigue during the Japanese occupation. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students and seniors), RMB 20-25 (members). 4pm. BC MOMA (8438 8258)

Jul 11
Film: A Clockwork Orange
Grab your droogs and catch this Kubrick classic. RMB 40. 7.30pm. Riverbank Bar & Café (6506 8277)

Jul 12
Film: Song of Silence
A motley family comprising an artist, a deaf teen, a cop and a pregnant musician try to get along in Hunan. Also showing on Jul 15 and Jul 29. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students and seniors), RMB 25-30 (members). 7.30pm. BC MOMA (8438 8258)

EXHIBITS - LAST CALLS:

Qiu Shihua
Until Jul 8. New oil paintings and earlier works by one of China’s revered older artists. Free. Galerie Urs Meile (6433 3393)

Break the Silence
Until Jul 15. Spanish artist Pere Ibanez creates works in the theme of domestic violence for this fundraising exhibit. Free. La Plantation Gallery (6433 6920)

Ji Yunfei: Water Work
Until Jul 15. Ji Yunfei’s first solo exhibition explores historical memory using Chinese in painting and scrolls. RMB 10, free (Thu). UCCA (8459 9269)

Jiang Weitao: Gap
Until Jul 15. Enjoy Jiang’s trademark abstract watercolors in this latest exhibit of his works. Free. Red Gate Gallery (6525 1005)

Song Kun: A Thousand Kisses Deep
Until Jul 15. Song Kun’s deep sea paintings and provocative (often naked) human figures almost glow, showing off her extraordinary sensitivity to light and color. RMB 10, free (Thu). UCCA (8459 9269)

Photo: Fact.co.uk