San Diego Asian Film Festival 2009

THE CLONE RETURNS HOME, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, is a compelling meditation on the paradox of life and death, and the meaning of love and family. Set in an imaginary future, this quiet film transposes complex emotional drama into the realm of science fiction by exploring the influence of cloning on human memory and experience. In a career performance, Mitsuhiro Oikawa plays Kohei Takahara, a Japanese astronaut who is killed in an accident in the line of duty. But fortunately, scientists have been able to clone Kohei in a radical experimental procedure to bring him back. But contrary to their expectations, the clone awakens with his consciousness is trapped in a period of his childhood when his twin brother dies in a tragic accident. One day while walking in the forest, the clone finds his legacy human’s body and carries it off in a journey, believing it to be the body of his deceased twin. Filled with stunning imagery and haunting stillness, THE CLONE RETURNS HOME combines subtly nuanced sci-fi with a uniquely Japanese perspective on themes of family, love, life and death. Award-winning director Wim Wenders ( Wings of Desire ) served as executive director on the film. And CLONE’s director Kanji Nakajima received the prestigious Sundance/NHK International Filmmakers Award for the original screenplay. Co-presented by: Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana San Diego Film Critics Society Japan Film Society

On a January 2000 trip to Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, filmmaker Anne Bass came across Sokyannara “Sy” Sar, a sixteen year-old boy who moved her immensely with his amazing natural charm and grace as a dancer. DANCING ACROSS BORDERS peeks behind the scenes into the world of dance and chronicles the intimate and triumphant story of a boy who was discovered - and then transformed - from a Cambodian folk dancer to a polished and professional Western ballet dancer. The film is full of mesmerizing footage of Sy’s performances, including one with legendary composer Phillip Glass at the Vail International Dance Festival. Bass follows the young man’s ascension into the art world as least-likely rising star – from the countryside of Southeast Asia to the stage of the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. Sy's charm and determination to succeed are awe-inspiring and delightful to watch, revealing the hardships he is willing to endure to realize his dream. Director Anne Bass scheduled to attend Oct 23 and 25 screenings. Co-presented by: Eveoke