PROMISING Japan-based filmmaker Edmund Yeo's has a new movie, 'The Age Of Goodbyes', which has been shortlisted as one of the in-development projects for the 23rd Hong Kong — Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF23).
Yeo is best-known for his Best Director win at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2017 for 'Aqerat' (We,The Dead).
In a recent interview, he said the novel-based 'Age Of Goodbyes' takes place in 1969.
"In Ipoh, our heroine Du Li An meets and falls madly in love with Lin Sang, who one day disappears from her life. A few years later, she marries a gangster and becomes the stepmother to a teenage girl, Lau Lin.
"And one day, Lin comes home with her new lover, Mong, who looks exactly like Lin Sang.
"Mong insists that he is Lin Sang's twin brother, but he could be lying."
It is Yeo's love for the works of novelist Li Zi Shu that inspired him to adapt the story into a film.
"Zi Shu has always been one of the most critically acclaimed Malaysian writers. She has won major literary awards in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia since the early 2000s.
"Most of her works are set in Ipoh, where she is from," he added.
ROMANCE, HEARTBREAK, INTRIGUE
Yeo first read 'The Age Of Goodbyes' — the author's 2012 debut novel — in 2023. He completed reading it over a weekend.
"The novel is set in the late 1960s until the 1980s. It is a story full of romance, heartbreak and intrigue."
"Zi Shu's vivid descriptions of Ipoh during those tumultuous times gave me a strange feeling of homesickness, even though I never experienced that era."
Yeo's mother grew up in Ipoh with her seven siblings.
"I felt a strong urge to preserve the memories of my mother through this film. So I reached out to Zi Shu and she said yes to the adaptation."
Yeo and his team will begin shooting in March, although the cast is yet to be confirmed.
"All I can say for now is, it is an international cast from Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand.
"Aside from being a love story, it is a search of one's identity and roots," he said.
EXPLORING HUMANITY
The main characters in Yeo's films are usually different facets of himself, or people he has known.
He is primarily influenced by Edward Yang, whose films offer a novelistic exploration of humanity and societal change.
Yeo also admires Pedro Almodovar's flamboyant style, particularly his vibrant depiction of passion and heartbreak.
Among the Malaysian films he has liked are Jin Ong's 'Abang Adik', Amanda Eu's 'Tiger Stripes', Chong Keat Aun's 'Snow In Midsummer', and Nik Amir's 'Imaginur'.
"We are entering a new golden age of Malaysian cinema, where different types of films with different cinematic languages are on the international stage." he said.
On his creative team, Yeo said they are in pre-production and come from diverse cultural backgrounds.
"It is a matter of finding the perfect balance and respecting one another as we strive to make something special together."
FOR THE LOVE OF IPOH AND JAPAN
Asked what he loves about Ipoh, Yeo said its visually striking limestone hills, intriguing caves and cave temples, and old streets hold a certain cinematic charm
"It is a place filled with wonder and undiscovered beauty."
On living and working in Japan, he said the country has a rich history and people there honour films, music, art and literature.
"I find the creative environment very nurturing in Japan."
Yeo has always wanted to be a filmmaker.
"Before doing my masters and doctorate in film at Waseda University in Tokyo, my education in Malaysia was pretty much the same as everyone else.
"Then I went off to Perth for a degree in Marketing and Management. I also minored in English Literature, knowing that if I wanted to make films, I would have to more aware of the possibilities of storytelling."
Yeo has a couple of projects in the pipeline.
"One is a historical epic set in Japan and Malaysia while the other is a sci-fi horror romance that might be set in Taiwan."
Malaysia
