I'm actually at the airport now, waiting to fly off to Rotterdam within the next two hours.
On the 27th, RIVER OF EXPLODING DURIANS will be having its European premiere there. So is Woo Ming Jin's SECOND LIFE OF THIEVES (which I produced and co-wrote). I guess both films are linked in many ways, so it's unsurprising that they will both have their European premieres on the same day.
Blurb from the Rotterdam website for RIVER OF EXPLODING DURIANS:
"Edmund Yeo prepared thoroughly for his first film. He first made a series of short films, some of which were also seen in Rotterdam; he studied for a long time in Tokyo and became an erudite young filmmaker.
For his feature debut, he returned to Malaysia - maybe the Malaysia of his childhood, because the film is set at a secondary school. There is a romantic story about two students, but also an element borrowed from the recent political history of the country. The government of Malaysia gave an Australian company that processed ‘rare Earth metals’ (a process that is potentially radioactive) permission to set up their factory on the East coast of Malaysia. In its own country, the company had been banned because of its environmental effects.
The secondary school pupils and their teacher are suddenly confronted with a threat to their surroundings and have to make a political choice. In an ambitious story with many dramatic twists, Yeo shows the disturbed order in his country."
Trailer for RIVER OF EXPLODING DURIANS and SECOND LIFE OF THIEVES
River of Exploding Durians - Trailer 【榴梿忘返】 预告片
《榴槤忘返》主要讲述一群中六生面对即将袭来的稀土厂一阵慌乱，人生产生了变化之余，在反对稀土厂的过程中，这群学生产生革命情感和一些单纯的爱慕情怀。A coastal town is turned upside down by the construction of a radioactive rare earth plant. An idealistic teacher and a group of high school students find themselves battling for the soul of their hometown. Based on real-life events, River of Exploding Durians is a sweeping tale of Malaysian history and its youth, where people are enveloped by politics and sadness while searching for love. #riverofexplodingduriansStarring: Zhu Zhi-Ying 朱芷瑩, Koe Shern 高圣, Daphne Low, Joey 梁祖仪Written, directed and edited by Edmund YeoProduced by Woo Ming Jin and Edmund Yeo Executive producer: Eric YeoDirector of Photography: Kong PahurakProduction designer: Edward Yu Chee BoonMake-up and wardrobe: Kay WongSound: Minimal Yossy PrapapanMusic: Woan Foong Wong
Posted by River of Exploding Durians 榴莲忘返 on Saturday, October 18, 2014
THE SECOND LIFE OF THIEVES trailer【偷·情】 预告片
THE SECOND LIFE OF THIEVES trailer is up! The film will next screen at the Rotterdam International Film Festival next week:)
Posted by The Second Life of Thieves 偷·情 on Saturday, January 17, 2015
