Director: 

Woo Ming Jin

Genre: 

Drama

Country/Region of production: 

Malaysia / Indonesia

Synopsis:

The film tells the story of a pair of twin brothers living in a peaceful coastal town in Malaysia. After their mother's early death and their father starting a new family, the boys become each other's only support. The younger brother, who is slow in speech, is often bullied by his peers, while the older brother shoulders the heavy pressure of growing up as he protects his sibling. When a beautiful and mysterious English teacher enters their lives, the brothers' once unbreakable bond begins to waver. Adolescent confusion and jealousy quietly take hold, and an emotional storm about love, loyalty and growth slowly unfolds.

Why we recommend it:

Director Woo Ming Jin is one of the leading figures of the Malaysian New Wave cinema. This film bears the distinct style of his previous works. If you enjoyed his earlier films, this one is not to be missed. With quiet, restrained and poetic cinematography, the film focuses on adolescent sentiments, brotherly bonds and the pain of youth. On the surface, it tells an emotional triangle among teenagers; at its core, it explores loneliness, attachment, boundaries and self-identity. Tender yet incisive, the film asks "how do intimate relationships reform in the face of an intruder?" Viewers will also appreciate the stunning scenery of Southeast Asia. The dampness and tranquility of the coastal town stand in sharp contrast to the inner world of the adolescents, lending the film both authentic Malaysian texture and the cold poetic aesthetic of Southeast Asian auteur cinema, with a unified and sophisticated visual style.