SCREENINGS
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WORLD PREMIERE WITH LIVE SCORE
27 June 2022, 8pm · Sheffield DocFest Sheffield City Hall, Memorial Hall
Plus Q&A with Esther Johnson, Xo Xinh and Lisa Brook
‘Esther Johnson’s film brings together a trove of archive and contemporary footage for a thrilling, unorthodox portrait of Vietnam, screened with live music composed by Xo Xinh.
Between tourist promotions and Hollywood films lies another Vietnam, whose stunning landscape has been evocatively captured from the country’s most accessible form of transport: the motorbike. Like her ground-breaking 2016 work Asunder, Johnson’s new film employs old and new footage in inventive ways to challenge preconceived stereotypes. It also explores the role of the motorbike – often the only suitable mode of transport for navigating Vietnam’s vast arterial system of tiny country roads – within the country’s history and culture.
Accompanying Johnson’s evocative montage is Xo Xinh’s electronic score, performed live, conveying in equal measure the film’s sense of wonder.’
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WORLD PREMIERE WITH 5.1 SOUND MIX
9 November 2022, 9pm · Leeds International Film Festival Vue at The Light, Leeds
Plus Q&A with Esther Johnson and Lisa Brook
‘We’re delighted to welcome director Esther Johnson and producer Lisa Brook for an introduction and Q&A.
An illuminating and highly creative documentary featuring past and present stories of freedom in Vietnam, Esther Johnson’s Dust and Metal combines archive film, contemporary footage, and a stunning soundtrack to highlight an unorthodox history of Vietnam. Showcasing motorbikes at the very core of Vietnam’s recent history, this unique film, directed by Esther Johnson, swoops and swoons to the sounds of engines and horns while paying homage to the country’s remarkable cinematic history, creating an unparalleled symphony of Vietnamese life.’
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21 April 2023, 5.30pm · REAL Documentary Festival Phoenix Cinema, Leicester
Plus Q&A with Esther Johnson
Director Esther Johnson will also participate in the Industry Panel Adventures in Archive at 4pm