Malaysian-born, Taiwan-based filmmaker LAU Kek-Huat became interested in his grandfather’s life as he tried to get to know more about his long-absent father. After his grandfather died young, his name and past became a family taboo. It turns out that he was involved with the Malaysian Communist Part...(Read more)
Malaysian-born, Taiwan-based filmmaker LAU Kek-Huat became interested in his grandfather’s life as he tried to get to know more about his long-absent father. After his grandfather died young, his name and past became a family taboo. It turns out that he was involved with the Malaysian Communist Party (MCP), a group synonymous with terrorism in Malaysia’s history. But what remains of this historical taboo reveals the flickering pasts of those who once sacrificed themselves for their beliefs.
Through tracing the MCP’s history and interviewing former members, LAU saw a group of nostalgic comrades who, though in their later years, still brimmed with ideals. From the fight against the Japanese army during WWII and the resistance to British rule, to the country’s independence, Malaysia was in a constant state of change owing to its complicated ethnic and national demographic. The director incorporates many popular love songs into the film, each using similar melodies to Malaysia’s national anthem, to evoke continual evolution of Malaysian identity.
Chinese title: | 不即不離 |
Year: | 2016 |
Director: | LAU Kek-Huat |
Duration: | 84min |
Length: | Feature |
Category: | Documentary |
Genre: | History |
Theme: | History、Society |
Color: | Color |
Format: | DVD |
Sound: | Stereo |
Language: | Mandarin, Hokkien, Malay |
Subtitle: | Chinese, English, Malay |
Producer: | CHEN Jing-Lian, Stefano CENTINI, Alex TAN |
Camera: |
LAU Kek-Huat |
Editor: | LAU Kek-Huat |
Music: | LIN Hung-Tao, TANG Ya-Jhu, HUANG Nian-Yong |
Excluded for public screenings: | Licensed to all regions except: Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand |
Royalty period: | June 1, 2018 – May 31, 2023 |
Licensing contact: | The film is for non-profit screening only. Regarding the conditions for screening, please contact Taiwan Cinema Toolkit: toolkit@mail.tfi.org.tw For commercial licensing, please contact Activator Marketing Company: ivymavis@gmail.com |
Festival list: | 2018 Taiwan International Documentary Festival - Merit Prize in Taiwan Competition, Grand Prize for Chinese Documentary Award 2016 Singapore International Film Festival 2016 Busan International Film Festival |