19/09/2025

LYFE FRIDAY | SEPT 19, 2025

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Malaysian Paper

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Voice of generations R EVERED as one of the most influential icons in the Chinese music world, singer-songwriter and o Jonathan Lee performs on Nov 22

applause than I deserve. I’m just a songwriter. As I grow older, I want to weave my ageing, my fears and my uncertainties into my music. And I hope that those who listened to my songs in their youth can still feel – even after all these decades – that I understand the feelings they’ve never spoken aloud.” His world tour invites audiences on a journey through Lee’s musical legacy. More than a concert, it is an intimate experience that revisits the origins of his most celebrated works, rekindling the melodies and lyrics that have accompanied listeners through life’s defining moments. With a setlist featuring beloved classics, such as Hill , Common Folks’ Song and I Truly Love You , Lee promises to once again stir emotions and touch hearts. Known for his sincerity and warmth, he engages with audiences like an old friend – sharing reflections and stories that resonate universally. Each performance is a celebration of his extraordinary career and a testament to the profound bond he shares with his fans. The latest edition “sought not only to further expand its long-standing role as a platform for discovering emerging Asian talent, but also to effectively showcase the works of acclaimed Asian masters”, festival director Jung Han-seok said. Karen Park, the festival’s programme director, said the lineup was designed to honour Asian cinema in the way it wishes to be understood. “I believe it is meaningful that an Asian film festival, which understands Asian culture and its linguistic and historical contexts, evaluates Asian films and offers its own perspectives on them,” she said. Auteur Chan-wook – best known for Old Boy – which

producer Jonathan Lee is set to make a return to Malaysia with his Those Songs Through the Years World Tour on Nov 22 at 8pm at the Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil. This upgraded world tour marks Lee’s comeback to the iconic 10,000-seat arena stage – his first performance there in 11 years, promising fans an evening of timeless classics and heartfelt storytelling. Throughout his illustrious career, Lee has written and produced more than 300 iconic songs, collaborating with nearly 70 artistes and leaving an enduring mark on generations of music lovers. From tender love ballads to profound reflections on life, his works have resonated deeply with audiences across the global Chinese community for over half a century. Reflecting on his journey, Lee once shared with fans: “You’ve been far too kind, giving me more Chan-wook’s star-studded murder comedy recently opened Asia’s biggest film festival, which launched its first fully fledged competition lineup as South Korea projects its soft power worldwide. The 30th edition of Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) arrives after the global success of critical works exploring Korean culture and experiences, such as Squid Game , Parasite and this year’s megahit KPop Demon Hunters . The festival, which has long focused on emerging talents in the region, has undergone a revamp this year, launching its first major competition section

Lee’s world tour will revisit the origins of his most celebrated works. Jointly presented by Star Planet and Live Nation, tickets for Lee’s Malaysian performance will go on sale today. Park Chan-wook’s murder comedy opens Asia’s biggest film festival CELEBRATED director Park

featuring 14 titles – including four South Korean pictures. The section includes seasoned Chinese director Zhang Lu’s Gloaming In Luomu and Taiwan’s megastar Shu Qi’s directorial debut Girl , and will be judged by juries headed by South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin.

thrust him into the international spotlight in 2004 – returns to Busan with his latest feature No Other Choice , after it featured at the Venice Film Festival which ended earlier this month. Based on American writer Donald E. Westlake’s 1997 novel The Ax , the film, this year’s BIFF opener, follows a desperate laid-off worker who decides to kill off

South Korean actors Lee (left) and Son attend a press conference for the opening film No Other Choice at the 30th Busan International Film Festival. – PICS FROM AFP

Future of Asian cinema This year’s edition features 241 official entries from 64 countries, including 90 world premieres. Among them is Hana Korea , a North Korean refugee drama with Pachinko star Kim Min-ha, and The People Upstairs , from South Korean actor-director Ha Jung-woo, which centres on the issue of inter-floor noise. BIFF will also host a singalong screening of Netflix’s K-pop fantasy hit KPop Demon Hunters . As for emerging talents, there has been a “wave of exciting new voices emerging” in Asia, “especially in short films where sensitive themes are

tackled with remarkable freedom”, said Park Sung-ho, one of BIFF’s programmers. “In much of Asia, freedom of expression is still not widely guaranteed, yet within shorts, young directors have revealed their individuality in striking ways, offering reasons to feel optimistic about the future of Asian cinema,” he said. Among the star-studded guests are Asia’s celebrated auteurs Bong Joon-ho and Jia Zhangke, French actress Juliette Binoche, American star Milla Jovovich, KPop Demon Hunters director Maggie Kang and Hollywood auteur Michael Mann. – AFP

potential competitors for a new job. It stars South Korea’s top actors – Squid Game star Lee Byung-hun and Crash Landing on You actress Son Ye jin – in the lead. The film was warmly received at Venice in August, with specialist outlet Variety calling it a “dazzling murder comedy” and a “masterclass in controlled chaos”. The opening film marks a shift from last year’s choice of Netflix’s period war drama Uprising , which drew criticism in South Korea’s cinema community given BIFF’s tradition of championing theatrical films.

Son stars in No Other Choice .