Since the first movie house opened in Iran in 1905, the country has had a long cinematic history. The U.S. State Department currently discourages travel to Iran, but Museyon Guide Mikael Awake braves the journey. Join him as he explores Iran from the massive metropolis of Tehran to the remote village of Koker, and discover Iran’s rich film culture ... Read More »
Category Archives: Asia, Oceania, Africa
Great Southern Filmscapes: Australia + New Zealand
From the rugged outback to Sydney’s famous skyline, Australia (and its neighbor New Zealand) offers the camera landscapes and lifestyles full of contrast, inspiring everyone from Bollywood directors to Disney’s Pixar—who animated Sydney for Finding Nemo. Melbourne local Gemma Blackwood is your guide for an “armchair tour” of the Land Down Under. About Your Guide: Gemma Blackwood had an ... Read More »
The Every War, The Every Eden: Thailand + Cambodia
Thailand and Cambodia have complex histories, shaped, in part, by the countries that surround them, and on film Thailand has often stood in for its war-ravaged neighbors. Follow Museyon Guide Jose Lustre, Jr., to find out which city played both Saigon and Phnom Penh and visit the region’s more idyllic attractions, including Cambodia’s famous temples, stars of In the ... Read More »
A Cinematic City, Old and New: Tokyo, Japan
From Godzilla to Lost in Translation, join Eija Niskanen as she traces Tokyo’s celluloid history. Explore the city’s signature blend of nostalgia (in neighborhoods like Ginza and Nihonbashi), youth (Harajuku and Akihabara) and progress (in Roppongi and Shibuya), and see why Tokyo is the perfect setting for a sci-fi film. About Your Guide: Eija Margit Niskanen has her M.A. ... Read More »
Inside and Beyond the Tourist Traps: Seoul, South Korea
More and more, foreign audiences are paying attention to Korean cinema, thanks in part to Bong Joon-ho’s unexpected monster-movie hit, 2006’s The Host. Get a crash course in South Korea’s cinematic history and join Elise Yoon as she leads a tour of landmarks in Seoul and beyond, accessible even to a first-time visitor. About Your Guide: Elise Jongeun Yoon is ... Read More »
Nocturne: The City in Pictures: Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong has changed a lot since the ‘90s, when the city was pumping out more than 200 films a year. But directors are still drawn to the city, with its colonial past and capitalist present. Join Scarlet Cheng for a tour of the city’s landmarks and spend a day with director Zhang Yimou. About Your Guide: Scarlet Cheng ... Read More »