coming of age, brotherhood, self-discovery, poverty
Fifteen-year-old Ali lives in a small coastal town with his fraternal twin, Amir, who communicates in a way only Ali understands. When their father remarries a younger bride, he sends the boys to live and work at a salted fish factory run by an old acquaintance, Lonny. There, they’re thrust into a harsher rhythm of life. At school, they become targets of the local bully, Edi, and his gang. Their days take an unexpected turn with the arrival of a new English teacher, awakening both boys’ restless adolescent hearts. But when tragedy strikes, Ali is forced to confront loss, loyalty, and the fragile borders between childhood and adulthood.
Toronto International Film Festival 2025
Busan International Film Festival 2025
Woo Ming Jin is one of Malaysia’s leading contemporary filmmakers, known for intimate portrayals of Southeast Asian life. A graduate of Ohio University, his films have screened at major festivals such as The Tiger Factory (Cannes 2010), Woman on Fire Looks for Water (Venice 2009), and The Second Life of Thieves (Busan 2014). His poetic and nuanced storytelling often explores themes of family, identity, and human alienation. Beyond directing, he co-founded Greenlight Pictures, a production company that has played a key role in advancing Malaysian independent cinema internationally.
