L'idole
French |
| thu 04 sept | 5.30pm | cinema 1* |
|
Director/writer - Samantha Lang
Mr. Zao (James Hong), a retired Chinese chef, has lived for years in an old Paris apartment building, where his neighbours treat him as an intriguing exotic while he does his best to behave like one.
Now, at 70, he's about to retreat altogether. He has booked himself into one of God's plusher waiting rooms - a retirement home out of town, where he plans to sit and watch the flowers grow until his time comes. 
But when Sarah (Leelee Sobieski) moves in next door, his interest in the theatre of life is abruptly revived, for she is an actress who doesn't need a stage to put on a show. Leaving her apartment door open, she takes to lolling about in glamorous nightwear and having noisy sex with a lover. The neighbours are scandalised. Mr. Zao is not.
He cancels his departure plans and he and Sarah become friends.
*This screening includes directors chat with Samantha Lang.