'Forge' Review: Jing Ai Ng's Art Crime Thriller Shines at SXSW 2025
By
Christian Zilko
An everything bagel for the brain. Substantive, layered, well-seasoned.
Summary
A review of Jing Ai Ng's directorial debut 'Forge,' a film about Miami-based painter Coco Zhang who lives by the ethos that "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." The film premiered at SXSW 2025 and is described as one of the best films from the festival, blending art crime thriller elements with a compelling character study.
Key quotes
· 3 pulled'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery' is little more than a platitude. To Coco Zhang, it's an ethos that's worth building an entire creative existence around.
Jing Ai Ng's directorial debut 'Forge' is one of the best films to emerge from SXSW 2025.
Utopia's Circle Collective will open 'Forge' with week-long theatrical runs in Los Angeles beginning May 15 at the Landmark Nuart Theatre, followed by New York beginning May 22 at Quad Cinema.
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