Snow in Midsummer
五月雪
Directed byChong Keat Aun
Written byChong Keat Aun
Produced by
  • Wong Kew Soon
  • Chow Wai Thong
  • Gene Yao
  • Jennifer Jao
Starring
CinematographyHsu Chih-Chun
Edited byGoh Ai Chen
Music by
  • Yii Kah Hoe
  • Chong Keat Aun
Production
companies
Release dates
  • September 4, 2023 (2023-09-04) (Venice)
  • November 9, 2023 (2023-11-09) (GHFF)
  • November 17, 2023 (2023-11-17) (Taiwan)
Running time
116 minutes
Countries
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
  • Taiwan
Languages
  • Cantonese
  • Hokkien
  • Malay
  • Mandarin

Snow in Midsummer (Chinese: 五月雪; pinyin: Wǔ Yuè Xuě) is a 2023 historical drama film[1] directed by Chong Keat Aun. A Malaysian, Singaporean and Taiwanese co-production, the film has been selected for the Giornate degli Autori International Competition, a parallel section of the Venice International Film Festival, where it had its global premiere.[2][3][4] Snow in Midsummer leads the race for this year’s Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan with nine nominations, including best narrative feature, best director and best supporting actress.[5][6][7]

Premise

Snow in Midsummer is set in Kuala Lumpur at two different periods of time: first on May, 13, 1969, and then, on May 13, 2018; it revolves around Ah Eng, a young man, and his mother who lose contact with the father and brother of the first amid political riots, in the first part, and, in a second chapter, the remembrance of this moment 49 years later.

Cast

  • Wan Fang as Ah Eng
  • Pearlly Chua as Dou E
  • Rexen Cheng as Hokkien Boy
  • Pauline Tan as Eng's mother
  • Peter Yu as Kooi
  • Alvin Wong as Fong

Production

Snow in Midsummer is Chong Keat Aun's second feature film after The Story of Southern Islet (2020).[8][9]

Jment Lim, founder of SunStrong Entertainment,[10] is the executive producer of the film, which was previously honored with the ‘French CNC Cash Award’ at the 2020 Golden Horse Film Project Promotion,[11][12] and has also received support from the Singapore Film Commission (SFC)’s Southeast Asia Co-production Grant (SCPG), TAICCA's Taiwan International Co-funding Programme (TICP) [13] and the Taipei Film Fund from the Taipei Film Commission (TFC).[14]

Filming was wrapped by August 2022.[15]

Themes

Historical and political background

Snow in Midsummer deals with the 13 May incident.[16] [17][18]

Chinese Opera

The film is also described as follows: "Perhaps best of all, it’s a loving depiction of traditional Chinese opera, with the first part of the film set among the milieu of live performance and the second part paying a wistful tribute to the art form."[19]

The two chapters of the films are associated with a classic Chinese play of the Yuan dynasty, that gives its title to the film, Snow in Midsummer (also commonly referred to as The Injustice to You E or Snow in June and later adapted into opera). The play explores the themes of corrupt powers and wrongful legal decisions. In an interview, Chong Keat Aun underlined the connection between the political background and the presence of the play in the film: "The Chinese opera “Snow in June” holds significant importance in the film’s narrative. Chong Keat Aun explains that on that fateful night in May, an opera singer died and was buried in the same cemetery. During his research, he discovered a member of that opera troupe who revealed that they were performing “Snow in June,” an ancient story dating back to the Ming Dynasty. This story revolves around women who suffer abuse and escape their hometown, making a solemn vow: if they are truly innocent, snow will fall even in the summertime. Chong Keat Aun sought to intertwine the film’s narrative with that of the opera, creating a layered and poignant storytelling experience."[18]

Reception

Snow in Midsummer received positive reviews. A review at Loud and Clear stated "Undoubtedly, Snow in Midsummer is going to be more impactful for those in the audience who know about the May 13 acts of violence in Kuala Lumpur and may have a strong cultural memory of the event. Nonetheless, the impressive sound design and camerawork allow us to sympathize with this historical event through the eyes of the main character. The film is heartbreaking in its recollection of such a significant moment in Malaysian politics, one that the general public should know more about since it has such an impact on our present, as the film so brilliantly shows us with its time jump to 2018. "[20] Another review compared the film to Hou Hsiao-hsien's A City of Sadness[21] while a third stated, "Snow in Midsummer leaves behind the lavish reconstitution of the past, for an approach closer to the cinema of Apichatpong Weerasethakul (the scene with the mobile excavator disturbing the resting place of ghosts is a clear reference to his masterpiece Cemetery of Splendour), halfway between harsh reality and strong spirituality. The emotions conveyed are just as powerful in both cases, whatever the era displayed and the pictorial approach opted for.'[22] An independent reviewer praised the slow pace but astute sense of rhythm of the film, and the simplicity and strength of the plot[23]

References

  1. ↑ Furlan, Sara (2023-09-02). ""Wu Yue Xue – Snow in Midsummer" e le rivolte che sconvolsero la Malesia". Taxidrivers.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-09-09.
  2. ↑ "Venice's Giornate Degli Autori Unveils 20th Edition Line-Up". Deadline. 2023-07-27.
  3. ↑ "Venice Days: has unveiled the lineup for its 2023 edition". The Hollywood Reporter. 2023-07-27.
  4. ↑ "Venice Days Launch – Full Lineup". Variety Magazine. 2023-07-27.
  5. ↑ "'Snow In Midsummer' Heads Nominations For Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards". Deadline. 2023-10-03.
  6. ↑ "Close Race for Golden Horse Film Awards Sees 'Snow in Midsummer' Take Nine Nominations". Variety Magazine. 2023-10-03.
  7. ↑ "Malaysia's 'Snow In Midsummer' heads 60th Golden Horse Awards nominations". Screen Daily. 2023-10-03.
  8. ↑ "SNOW IN MIDSUMMER". Venezia News. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  9. ↑ Desbois, Erwan (2023-09-04). "Venice 2023 review: Snow in Midsummer (Chong Keat Aun)". International Cinephile Society. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  10. ↑ "The Global Premiere of SunStrong Entertainment's "Snow In Midsummer" At The Venice International Film Festival - SUNSTRONG ENTERTAINMENT". 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  11. ↑ "Golden Horse Film Project Promotion 2020 Winners". Variety Magazine. 2020-11-18.
  12. ↑ "FPP 2020 Winners". Golden Horse Film Festival Official. 2020-11-18.
  13. ↑ "Snow in Midsummer - Taiwan Pavilion Presented by TAICCA". TAICCA.
  14. ↑ "Malaysian riot drama 'Snow In Midsummer' wraps shoot ahead of Busan launch". Screen Daily. 2022-08-23.
  15. ↑ Wong2022-08-23T14:56:00+01:00, Silvia. "Malaysian riot drama 'Snow In Midsummer' wraps shoot ahead of Busan launch". Screen. Retrieved 2023-09-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ↑ Ntim, Zac (2023-09-05). "'Snow In Midsummer' Clip: First Look At Venice Days Title From Malaysian Chinese Director Chong Keat Aun". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  17. ↑ "Snow in Midsummer" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  18. 1 2 Corte, Laura Della (2023-09-08). ""Snow in Midsummer (Wu Yue Xue)" Film 2023 interview with Director Chong Keat Aun". Fred Film Radio. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  19. ↑ "VIFF 2023: Snow in Midsummer". Vancouver International Film Festival. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  20. ↑ Chinnici, Clotilde (2023-09-04). "Snow in Midsummer: Venice Film Review". Loud And Clear Reviews. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  21. ↑ Gorham, Luke (2023-09-07). "Snow in Midsummer — Keat Aun Chong [Venice '23 Review]". In Review Online. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  22. ↑ Desbois, Erwan (2023-09-04). "Venice 2023 review: Snow in Midsummer (Chong Keat Aun)". International Cinephile Society. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  23. ↑ admin (2023-09-04). "Mostra de Venise | Critique : Snow in Midsummer". Le Polyester (in French). Retrieved 2023-09-08.
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