Sleepless Society: Insomnia – Thai thriller review

Dan Wild

During lockdown I started watching Thai TV. I’ve been to Thailand three times and Bangkok is one of my favourite cities. So I started learning a bit of the language too. Thanks to streaming services we can see that acting, production and screenwriting talent is evident all over the world. Every stand-alone instalment in the …

Netflix Lupin review, with notes on French culture

Dan Wild

Omar Sy stars as Assane Diop, son of African immigrant Babakar, who is betrayed by an influential businessman. Babakar Diop (Fargasse Asandé), accused of theft, is imprisoned and ends his life in a cell, unable to live through the loss of face. But not before he introduces Assane to Maurice Leblanc, creator of the Arsene …

Tientsin Mystic review 河神 (Season 1) Make way for the River God

Dan Wild

Fog swirls over a bridge in 1920s Tianjin. A well-dressed young man is fleeing a group of ruffians. He runs onto the bridge. He’s trapped. He jumps into the river. He struggles underwater, trapped by some seaweed. A long-faced man appears in front of him, upside down. The next day Ding Mao, son of the …

Against the Tide review – Singapore drama

Dan Wild

Mind Game review – Malaysian drama

Dan Wild

Breakout review 破天网 – Underworld Singapore drama

Dan Wild

Singapore’s acting scene is one happy family. I was led to Breakout (破天网, Pò tiān wǎng) (2010) by following the link for Jeanette Aw after watching The Dream Job (2016). As Yáng Niànqīng (杨念青) Aw plays jaded and unstable daughter of ruthless underworld figure Yáng Tiānwēi (杨天威). Yang is played with barely contained menace by Guō Liàng (郭亮) …