The trailer for Netflix’s upcoming docuseries ‘Midnight Asia: Eat. Dance. Dream.’ was released on Dec. 23, giving audiences a sneak peek at the rich nightlife of six major Asian metropolises.
The series was previously announced by the streaming platform on Dec. 14 in a statement written by Original Documentary Programming Manager Aloke Devichand. It aims to feature the cities’ different food, drink and music scenes, as well as the “night owls who shine in the dark,” on the basis that nighttime highlights the cities’ most “playful” sides.
“The show not only acts as a guide to these nocturnal worlds,” the announcement read, “but also provides a riveting look into stories of chasing dreams, unconventional passions or a drive to express individualism in a city teeming with millions.”
Over the course of six episodes, “Midnight Asia” introduces a range of characters from Seoul, Manila, Bangkok, Tokyo, Taipei and Mumbai. Among them are 85-year-old noodle shop owner Sumiko Iwamuro, who leads a double life as DJ Sumirock across Tokyo dance scenes; a Korean brewer who envisions a modern take on a traditional drink; Taipei drag kings; and Bangkok superheroes.
The trailer offers a first look at the vibrant lives of the cities’ night owls and the sights and sounds by which they recognize their own homes – sizzling night market foods, elaborate drag shows, a thriving indie music scene beneath the globally embraced K-pop hits. Each featured narrator offers a unique take, from their fighting rings to their dance floors, on what night does to their city, but each reflects a common theme of new life and liberation.
“For me, night means freedom,” says a young man from India featured in the trailer. “The city actually seems like it’s coming alive, and it just makes me realize how lucky I am to be in this place.”
The upcoming documentary is part of a wave of global Asian documentaries recently released by Netflix, including Thailand’s “Hope Frozen” (2020), which earned a historical Emmy win this year, as well as the popular “House of Secrets” (2021) from India.
“Midnight Asia: Eat. Dance. Dream.” will be available to stream on Netflix beginning on Jan. 20, 2022.
Feature via Netflix Philippines
