2022 film Return to Seoul, September 8 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's University Center for International Studies (UCIS) will present the 2022 film Return to Seoul on September 8.

On an impulse to reconnect with her origins, Freddie, 25, returns to South Korea for the first time, where she was born before being adopted and raised in France. The headstrong young woman starts looking for her biological parents in a country she knows so little about, taking her life in new and unexpected directions.

It plays from 6:00 pm in 121 Lawrence Hall (map) and is free and open to the Pitt community.

2022 documentary Beyond Utopia, about families attempting to escape North Korea, in Pittsburgh October 23 and 24.

The 2022 documentary Beyond Utopia will play in Pittsburgh on October 23 and 24. A summary, from the Sundance Film Festival where the documentary made its premiere earlier this year:

A suspenseful look at the lengths people will go to gain freedom, Beyond Utopia follows various individuals as they attempt to flee North Korea, one of the most oppressive places on Earth, a land they grew up believing was a paradise. At the film’s core are a mother desperate to reunite with the child she was forced to leave behind, a family of five — including small children and an elderly grandmother — embarking on a treacherous journey across the Yalu River and into the hostile mountains of China, and a man of God on a mission to help these desperate souls. Leaving their homeland is fraught with danger — severe punishment if caught and possibly even execution — as well as potential exploitation by unscrupulous brokers. Family members who remain behind also may face retribution. Yet these individuals are driven to take the risk.

Gripping, visceral, and urgent, Madeleine Gavin’s film embeds the viewer with these family members as they attempt their perilous escape, palpably conveying life-or-death stakes. The result is a singular, illuminating, and unforgettable experience.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, the AMC Classic in Greensburg, and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Hit Chinese movie No More Bets (孤注一掷) in Pittsburgh, from August 31.

The 2023 Chinese movie No More Bets (孤注一掷) will play in Pittsburgh from August 31.

The film is about a Chinese programmer and a model who, enticed by the promise of high-paying jobs, find themselves trapped in a foreign country as prisoners of a ruthless gang, and forced into online gambling fraud.

No More Bets has just finished its fourth week as the highest-grossing film in China. It plays locally at AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

University of Pittsburgh library orientations in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, September 5 and 6.

The University of Pittsburgh Library System will hold orientation sessions for international students and visiting scholars in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. The Chinese and Japanese sessions will be held on September 5, and the Korean session on September 6. Registration is required and can be completed online.

Would you like to know...

A librarian who speaks your native language?
The difference between academic libraries in the U.S. and libraries in your home country?
The many wonderful services that the library offers to help your area of study and research at Pitt?
If so, please attend our library orientation sessions.

Shadyside's Nakwon Garden to reopen soon after nearly 9-month hiatus.

via @s_backs 

A sign on Nakwon Garden says "Open Soon," which should put an end to its nearly 9-month hiatus. The Korean restaurant in Shadyside closed on January 1 and hinted at reopening in the future, though the official website's URL has expired and both Google and Yelp marked the restaurant as "permanently closed." Nakwon Garden opened in 2014 and was one of the few places where Korean BBQ was available in Pittsburgh, though a few new establishments are coming soon to change that.  Nakwon Garden is located at 5504 Centre Ave. (map).

2023 Chinese animated movie Warrior King (雪域少年) in Pittsburgh, through (at least) August 30.

The 2023 Chinese animated movie Warrior King (雪域少年), which opened in Pittsburgh yesterday, will remain here through at least August 30.

In this epic true story inspired by the legend of King Gesar, a young man grows up in exile in a world overrun by demons and monsters. When evil forces threaten his home, he returns to save his people and embrace his destiny as great hero and ruler.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, and tickets are available onilne. Please note, the movie is dubbed in English when it plays here.

Mozart Management hiring Bilingual (Mandarin+English) Property Manager.

Mozart Management is hiring a Bilingual (Mandarin+English) Property Manager for its apartments around Pittsburgh's East End.

East End property management company seeks an experienced professional with excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills to serve as a liaison between management and our residents, many of whom are international. Responsibilities would include coordinating & accommodating resident requests, enforcing management’s regulations, lots of personal contact via email and phone, and a wide variety of other property management tasks. A valid driver’s license is needed, and some weekend work will be required during the spring & summer months.

The ability to speak both English & Mandarin fluently an absolute must. Customer service and computer skills required, with prior property management/real estate experience highly preferred. Full time position ranging from $20-25 per hour with available bonus, plus generous vacation time and a competitive benefits package, including a 401K plan.

2003 Korean film Oldboy (올드보이) in Pittsburgh to remain in Pittsburgh-area theaters through (at least) August 30.

The 2003 Korean film Oldboy (올드보이), which has been playing in Pittsburgh since August 16th to mark its 20th anniversary, will remain here through (at least) August 30. A synopsis from the distributor:

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Park Chan-Wook’s cinematic masterpiece, Oldboy will be released in theaters, restored and remastered in stunning 4K. After being mysteriously kidnapped and imprisoned with no human contact for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su (Choi Min-sik) is suddenly released without any explanation. In a twisted game of cat and mouse, he has only five days to retrace his past, track down his captors, and get his revenge.

It will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

2023 Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival, September 16 at Mellon Park.

The Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Center will present the 2023 Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival on September 16 at Mellon Park.

Big News, Folks! Mark your calendars for the 2023 Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival - the pinnacle annual event of our local Chinese community!

When: Saturday, September 16th, 2023, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Where: Mellon Park, Pittsburgh (6518 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206)

We're expecting a turnout of over 5000 participants for a day filled with culture, cuisine, and entertainment - all for FREE!

Taste authentic Asian cuisine

Enjoy enchanting music and dance performances

Witness masterful exhibits by world-renowned artists and craftsmen

Play exciting games and much more!

For more info, check out the official event page: https://pghccc.org/

See you there for a celebration of Chinese culture like no other in Pittsburgh!

The festival is free and open to the public and will be held at Mellon Park in Shadyside (map) from 11 am to 6 pm.

Little Corner Grill House coming soon to Oakland.

A new restaurant serving hot pot, Little Corner Grill House, is coming soon to North Oakland. It will be at 301-303 N. Craig St. (map), in the spot most recently occupied by Rumi's Grill, and is from the team behind Hundred Miles Crepes, a Chinese food truck that parks on Fifth Ave. on the Pitt campus. Though it's not open yet for dine-in, it has a menu on the Fantuan delivery service showing more than a dozen varieties of hot pot. Ownership says the restaurant should be fully open in a few days.