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Following what happened in the US during the last decade or so, the quality of Asian dramas has skyrocketed during the last few years, with a significant surge of talent from cinema towards streaming platforms, with Korea definitely paving the way in the regard, and Japan following. The result is quite impressive to watch, since, frequently, the level of these titles is equal to the one of movies.

Without further ado, here are 20 Asian dramas in random order proving the fact in the most eloquent fashion.

1. Cigarette Girl by Kamila Andini

“Cigarette Girl” is not a typical story of two broken hearts crushed by unfortunate circumstances, a trope over-used in the soap opera format. It also has a bit of history to offer alongside a basic insight into the women's hardships in Indonesia not such long time ago. “Your duty is to clean the house and find yourself a husband...

It is a fact during the last few years, that TV series have become part of film festivals, with a number of them screening a sample (usually a couple of episodes), probably since their quality nowadays γετσ closer and closer and frequently even surpasses that of movies. Iranian “The Actor” a 20-episode series is definitely one of those, as it became evident when we watched the first two episodes in Thessaloniki.

“The Actor“ is screening at Thessaloniki International Film Festival

In what is probably one of the greatest intros ever to appear in any kind of screen, a group of people are traveling through a remote area in Iran, when the first of two cars has to change a tire. One of the people in that car is changing it, another is dancing to “Losing My Religion” while two girls are staying inside. In the other car, a man and his fiance are waiting,...

Welcome to Global Breakouts, Deadline’s fortnightly strand in which we shine a spotlight on the TV shows and films killing it in their local territories. The industry is as globalized as it’s ever been, but breakout hits are appearing in pockets of the world all the time and it can be hard to keep track… So, we’re going to do the hard work for you.

This week we head to Iran, where filmmaker Nima Javidi’s debut TV series has been winning awards and generating plenty of attention. Taking inspiration from the Bard himself, the show follows two friends who use their acting skills to help solve cold cases. What could possibly go wrong? Plenty, it turns out. Having won the Series Mania Grand Prize, attracting the attention of thousands of important attendees at the annual Lille confab, The Actor’s creator and seller now have their sights set globally.

For writers of hardboiled fiction, the private eye could act as a conduit, an unmoored guide moving freely across social ranks and situations. For director Nima Javidi – whose new series “The Actor” is the first Iranian production to premiere in competition at Series Mania – the thespian might play a similar role.

“Shakespeare said that all the world’s a stage,” Javidi tells Variety. “And that all the men and women are merely players, assuming different roles depending on their situations and what they want to achieve. I thought it was fascinating [to put performers in those private detective roles and have them], overcome obstacles, solve problems, and save themselves and others from difficulties by using their acting abilities.”

Led by Venice best actor winner Navid Mohammadzadeh (who recently anchored Saeed Roustayi’s Cannes-acclaimed “Leila’s Brothers”), “The Actor” follows Ali (Mohammadzadeh) and Morteza (Ahmad Mehranfar), two down-and-out performers with little to their names but a derelict theater for which they can barely make rent.

About Elly (Darbareye Elly) Cinema Guild Reviewed by: Harvey Karten for Shockya. Databased on Rotten Tomatoes. Grade: B+ Director: Asghar Farhadi Screenplay: Asghar Farhadi, story by Azad Jafarian Cast: Golshifteh Farahani, Shahab Hosseini, Taraneh Alidoosti, Merila Zare’I, Mani Haghighi, Peyman Moaadi, Ra’na Azadivar, Ahmad Mehranfar, Saber Abbar Screened at: Critics’ link, NYC, 4/4/15 Opens: April 9, 2015 There may be cultural differences between Americans and people in the non-Western world, but one truth is universal: thou shalt not lie. Lying may get you somewhere in the short run, but ultimately as Walter Scott said, “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” Not to be [ Read More ]

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