Global Courant
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s recent successes on the international film stage will boost the film industry as local talent finds ways to express their creativity and overcome censorship without having to go abroad.
In March, the country had its first Oscar winner in the form of Malaysian star Michelle Yeoh, who won the Best Actress award for her performance in the indie sci-fi film Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022), which is also the first time that an Asian won the prize.
In May this year, filmmaker Amanda Nell Eu became the first Malaysian to win an award, the Grand Jury Prize, during the Cannes International Critics Week with her debut film Tiger Stripes. It was also shown at the Sydney Film Festival held from June 7 to 18.
Another Malaysian, Adele Lim, was one of the co-writers of Disney’s animated film Raya And The Last Dragon, which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2022.
Yet the local film industry generally does not enjoy the international exposure of the films of its Asian neighbors such as Thailand and South Korea.
Yeoh’s success can be attributed to the fact that she had started her career in the Hong Kong film industry in the 1980s before moving to Hollywood.
But other talents, such as Eu, are now also recognized without having to leave the country.
Made in Malaysia, the 37-year-old filmmaker’s debut offering is a unique “body horror” film, about a girl who enters puberty and begins to undergo horrific physical changes, transforming into a tiger-like creature.
She told The Straits Times that she drew inspiration from her own body and experiences.
“I like to use my body as a storytelling tool. One of the most violent changes that go through your body is puberty. It is a profound change for everyone. So I wanted to explore that thrill and of course, you know, puberty is like a body horror sometimes because especially when you don’t know what’s happening to you, it can be incredibly terrifying,” she said.
The release of the film in Malaysia is under discussion.
When asked if she thinks Malaysians can only succeed in the local film industry if they venture abroad, Eu said, “At the end of the day, Tiger Stripes is a Malaysian film, I live in Malaysia.”
What helped her was working with international partners, for which she received government grants from eight countries — Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Germany, France and Qatar — she said. She has also submitted the film to many other international competitions.
