It has become a habit to pray for sunny weather during the last week in April which is when the Far East Film festival in Udine, Europe's biggest showcase of popular Asian cinema, usually takes place. However, the FEF was moved to the first week of May this year, and so far it seems that the rain won't be as daring in May as it is in April - the meadow in front of the Teatro, the festival's centre, is covered with sun chairs and those who are not in the cinema or sipping coffee from Cafe Beltrame (a cafe in Udine known for the best almond croissants in the world) are bathing in the sun.
There seems nothing unusual about this year's Far East Film, and that is the most unusual thing about this event and this place - even after more than ten years, it has kept its atmosphere despite growing in all directions and reaching for Asian film enthusiasts into more remote countries every year.
I went for a light lunch in the Udinese Cafe in front of the Teatro - two familiar faces sitting at one of the small tables, the same quizzical exchange with the bar owner, bruschette as delicious as ever... and after you step out, the same dilemma - a quick nap, or a Japanese thriller? No one lets you stay as off-guard when it comes to festival pretensions as the Far East Film.
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