What's New in China: July 26
What's New is a recurring column that looks at the new films, music, books and DVD releases in and/or about Mainland China.
Books: Han Han - The Problem With Me: And Other Essays About Making Trouble in China
China’s most famous writer/race car driver links up with Simon & Schuster for his second collection translated into English. The Problem With Me: And Other Essays About Making Trouble in China mixes Han Han’s satirical insights in topics like contemporary Internet culture with hilarious stories like surviving an incredibly awkward middle school reunion. Available from August 2 on Amazon.
Film: Triple 9
Australia director John Hillcoat (The Road) brings his gritty touch to this ensemble crime thriller featuring Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejioor, Aaron Paul, Woody Harrelson and Kate Winslet. The story follows a team of criminals and cops who perform heists for the Russian Mafia. Opens nationwide on July 27.
Music: Boring Productions
After bursting onto the scene last year with the Full Label co-signed tribute to influential UK label Sarah Records and the alluring full-length debut of local shoegazers Chestnut Bakery, the Shenzhen lo-fi label has gifted the indie scene with a couple new cassette releases. Bedroom Pop Rules the World is a primer for the label’s summer featuring Shenzhen’s Milkmustache, Shaoxing’s The Cheers Cheers, Texas’ Dripping Wet and the mysterious Atta Girl. Days later, Milkmustache’s debut EP Imagine Us Together dropped - four tracks of classic shoegaze indie pop with the cassette version coming with a boardgame. Available at Boring Productions’ Bandcamp.
Music: Jason Hou - Origin
The brilliant Beijing electronic label Do Hits! presents the avant-garde producer’s “latest audio cyberpunk film.” Hou debuted the official video for ‘Build’ at the inaugural (and hella packed) Boiler Room i Beijing and Origin lives us to that early hype - a primitive mix of seemingly disconnected influences from Chinese ethnic folk music samples to Latino grooves. Available at Do Hits! Bandcamp.
TV: Quantico
Sohu has scored the streaming rights to the hit American thriller centered around the FBI Academy in Quantico. Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra has successfully crossed over to Hollywood, winning a People’s Choice Award as FBI Academy recruit Alex Parrish, who is suspected of committing a terrorist attack that was masterminded by one of the recruits. Streamable on Sohu.
Have a tip about a new release? Get in touch at arts@urbanatomy.com with the subject 'What's New.'
For more past What's New columns, click "Read more" below.