A convincing set-up, a surprising punchline.
The basic elements of a joke reveal to us that humour, for the most part, arises from incongruity—when something happens that defies expectation. As we live through one of humanity’s most dissonant epochs, comedy is perhaps now more relevant than ever. Seeking catharsis through the chaos, a pure, involuntary expression emanates from within—laughter.
For its first programme of 2022, Asian Film Archive presents hahaha, a celebration of one of cinema’s most pleasurable genres. Featuring ten films across five different decades; from the side-splittingly slapstick and wrly deadpan to the satirically political and downright surreal, expect a delightful assortment of comic stylings to tickle your senses.
Be it a nervous giggle, a hearty guffaw or a cheeky chuckle, laughing with fellow audiences blurs the line between filmgoing as a solitary experience and as communal participation. At a time when gatherings face ever-fluctuating scrutiny, we invite you to the cinema yet again to sit together with friends and strangers and have a good time—masks still on of course.
hahaha: a season of comedy will screen at Oldham Theatre from 7 January – 27 February 2022.
The 10 films in the lineup are:
Hahaha (하하하) (2010, dir. Hong Sang-Soo)
It Must Be Heaven (2019, dir. Elia Suleiman)
Kamome Diner (かもめ食堂/Kamome shokudō) (2006, dir. Naoko Ogigami)
Men Who Save the World (Lelaki Harapan Dunia) (2014, dir. Liew Seng Tat)
Money Has Four Legs (ခြေလေးချောင်) (2020, dir. Maung Sun)
Pendekar Bujang Lapok (The Bachelor Warriors) (1959, dir. P. Ramlee)
Rent-A-Cat (レンタネコ/Rentaneko) (2012, dir. Naoko Ogigami)
Summer Snow (女人四十) (1995, dir. Ann Hui)
Sweetie, You Won’t Believe It (Zhanym, ty ne poverish) (2020, Yernar Nurgaliyev)
Symbol (しんぼる/Shinboru) (2009, dir. Hitoshi Matsumoto)
Oldham Theatre’s opening hours
Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, 22 December 2021. Scroll below to click on the film/showtime to purchase tickets.
Friends of AFA members may select the “Friends of AFA” option and enter your membership number if you wish to redeem your remaining complimentary tickets.
For further assistance, please contact us at ticketing@asianfilmarchive.org
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