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 Precious is a compassionate, closely observed study of the traumatized adolescent Clareece Precious Jones who’s abused by her parents – the father, because he rapes and impregnates her; the mother, because she allows him to do so.Challenged by life so harshly that even an adult can hardly handle, Precious is determined to emerge from her abusive childhood and create a future for herself and her babies. Gabby Sidibe, as the title character, gives a heartbreaking yet at the same time empowering performance.

Jean-Dominique Bauby led a glamorous life as editor of the French Elle until the day he was hit by a massive stroke, which left him completely paralysed – except for his brain and one good eye. Starting with one blink for “yes” and two for “no”, Bauby gradually developed a communication system with the help of a speech therapist. Using his blinks, he spent over a year dictating his thoughts to an editor, and the result is the novel The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – the basis for Julian Schnabel’s life-affirming, award-winning (Best Director at Cannes) film.

 Lu Chuan (Kekexili) takes an unflinching look at the atrocities that took place during the Nanjing Massacre that began in 1937, where mass amount of Chinese civilians were executed and thousands of women were captured and raped by the Japanese army. Lu does not dwell on sentimental excess or nationalist indignation; he simply lets the events unfold in a matter-of-fact manner. Shot austerely in black and white, the result is a balanced and determined look at the horrors of war.

This is the story of Yentown, a Tokyo ghetto inhabited by immigrants from all over Asia. The story revolves around a group of poverty-stricken immigrants, to whom a sudden twist of fate gives the opportunity to literally make money and thus realize their dreams. Shot with handheld camera, tinted with laughter, violence, sadness and imagination, Swallowtail Butterfly is impossible to be pinned down to a single genre. Juxtaposing the music of Frank Sinatra and Yentown Band is only of the many eccentricities found in the film.

Three different women, at three different stages in their lives, allow their relationships to live out in Taipei – an aspiring pop star, a flighty air hostess and a flower shop owner. Sylvia Chang,has taken stories created by the three leads and created a film of refreshingly non-intertwining stories.Their conflicts vary, but touch on very basic, common themes: identity, belonging, the quest for companionship, and simply getting by in the mixed-up modern world. 

Philip Yung’s debut, produced by Ann Hui, centres on Hong, a typical teenager facing all sort of problems a teenager would encounter: a girlfriend that’s never pleased, a father what won’t stop drinking and a mother that won’t stop watching TV. Frustrated with life, Hong seeks consolation in a mainland prostitute. Question is: does that solve his problems? Using largely improvised dialogues, Glamorous Youth exudes a refreshing degree of honesty as it explores issues of school, relationships and family in a way that teenagers can recognise and relate to.

She loves you. Truly. But not forever. That is what Tom has to come to terms with. Writing copies for greeting cards, the aspiring architect Tom finds his everlasting love when Summer shows up at work as his boss’ assistant. As hinted in the title, their story lasts for not more than 500 days. What’s more important though, is the journey and not the destination, right? That how Marc Webb thinks anyway, and that’s why he chooses to tell us the story in a shuffled order. It is not confusing; it is nothing by honest, because that’s how remembrance works. Marc Webb’s debut is an absolute charmer.

 Tian Kuo goes from place to place delivering rice sets to hungry customers. His daily routine is never the same again the day he falls for Yang Yang, whose sister is practising swimming for Deaflympics. Tian Kuo cannot talk to Yang Yang, but feelings can be expressed and felt through many other ways. Cheng Fen-fen’s sincere portrayal of an unusual puppy love is sure to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

 Manu and Philippe face a dilemma that has challenged many other couples, gay or straight: one wants a baby, the other doesn’t. Since gay adoption is not an option in France, Manu convinces Fina, an illegal Argentinean to enter into a marriage of convenience with him. Fina will be a surrogate mother to Manu’s baby, and she gets her permit to live in France. The plan sounds fine, except that in life, things often do not turn out the way they’re planned. Featuring two marginalized social groups (gays and immigrants),Baby Love certainly is a romantic comedy with a twist.