Latest news with #ChongKeatAun
South China Morning Post
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Pavane for an Infant movie review: Fish Liew in absorbing Malaysian ‘baby hatch' drama
3/5 stars By turns absorbing and unsatisfying, Malaysian drama Pavane for an Infant throws a spotlight on a thankless vocation in dire need of compassionate support, but does so at the expense of a propulsive narrative upon which to hang its pointed observations. Malaysian-born actress Fish Liew Chi-yu returns to her homeland after developing a robust career in the Hong Kong film industry to play a worker at a baby hatch centre in Kuala Lumpur. Amid this vibrant, multicultural society, the services of this facility – where babies can be anonymously left – are in constant demand, but they also draw ire and violent criticism from some sectors who condemn their work as amoral and in direct violation of religious traditions. Play Pavane for an Infant is written and directed by Chong Keat Aun, who made a splash with his previous feature, Snow in Midsummer (2023), which addressed the violent post-election protests that ravaged the Malaysian capital back in 1969. Chong's new film reinforces his intention to dissect his nation's complex identity, where Muslims, Christians, Hindus and a variety of indigenous groups wrestle to live together harmoniously.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fan Bingbing Starrer ‘Mother Bhumi' Nabbed by Rediance Ahead of Cannes Market (EXCLUSIVE)
Beijing-based sales outfit Rediance has acquired worldwide rights to 'Mother Bhumi,' the Fan Bingbing-starring drama from acclaimed Malaysian filmmaker Chong Keat Aun. The company has released an exclusive still from the production as buyers head to the upcoming Cannes Film Market. More from Variety Lloyd Lee Choi's 'Lucky Lu' Lands French Distribution Ahead of Cannes' Directors' Fortnight Premiere (EXCLUSIVE) Hubert Bals Fund Teams With Brazil's Spcine, RioFilme, Projeto Paradiso on Pioneering Development Initiative (EXCLUSIVE) Argentine Icon Diego Peretti's Directorial Debut 'Death of a Comedian' Gets First Trailer (EXCLUSIVE) The film centers on Hong Im, a widowed farmer who leads a double life – tending paddy fields by day and serving as a ritual healer for villagers by night. When confronted with revelations about her husband's death, she struggles to maintain equilibrium while seeking resolution for herself and her children. The cast also includes Taiwan's Bai Run-yin (Golden Horse winner 'Old Fox') and Hong Kong's Natalie Hsu ('Suk Mung') as Hong Im's son and daughter, respectively. Chong has established himself as a rising voice in Malaysian cinema. His debut 'The Story of Southern Islet' (2020) earned him Best New Director honors at the Golden Horse Awards and a Fipresci prize at Hong Kong International Film Festival. His follow-up, 'Snow in Midsummer' (2023), premiered at Venice and took home the Firebird Award at Hong Kong, while his most recent work 'Pavane for an Infant' bowed at Tokyo International Film Festival last year. 'We have closely followed Chong's cinematic evolution since his critically-acclaimed debut. We're also utterly captivated by Fan Bingbing's career-redefining performance through daring characterization in this film,' said Meng Xie, CEO of Rediance. 'We anticipate sharing this masterful work with global cinephiles and industry partners alike.' Fan's past credits include 'Lost in Beijing,' 'Buddha Mountain' and 'I Am Not Madame Bovary.' While Fan remains one of China's most recognizable stars, 'Mother Bhumi' sees her undergoing a physical transformation for the role. 'There is no such thing as a good or bad looking character in a movie. Even during the filming, some of my friends would not recognize me when they came to visit me,' she revealed during a press conference last year. 'I think this shows how committed the whole production team was in helping me transform into Mother Bhumi.' The film is produced by Malaysia's Janji Pictures Production and Southern Islet Pictures alongside Italy's Volos Films Italia. Producers include Wong Kew Soon ('Snow in Midsummer'), Stefano Centini ('Heads or Tails,' 'Magellan') and Zoey Teng ('Pavane for an Infant'). Walter Fasano, known for his editing work on 'Call Me by Your Name,' serves as editing consultant. At Cannes, Rediance's slate also includes Critics' Week documentary 'Imago' by Déni Oumar Pitsaev and 'Lili' by Zhaoguang Luo and Shuhan Liao in the Short Films Competition. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
