01 / 12
01 / 12
Mother Bhumi
地母
CHONG Keat Aun
- 129 min
- 2025
- Fiction
- Mandarin, Hokkien, Thai, Malay
- English Subtitles
North American Premiere
Content Advisory: This film contains scenes of disturbing content
The 62nd Golden Horse AwardsBest Leading Actress (FAN Bingbing), Best Cinematography, Best Original Film Song
In the late 1990s, in a village along the Malaysia–Thailand border, land disputes rooted in the colonial era continue to unsettle the community. Hong Im (FAN Bingbing), a widowed farmer raising two children on her own, tends the fields and advocates for her neighbours by day; by night, she lifts curses and performs exorcisms for the villagers. When her buffalo mysteriously disappears and the government official responsible for land affairs goes missing, a series of strange occurrences unsettles the village. Hong Im bears the wounds of history in her own flesh, seeking to appease the grievances and restless spirits that have long haunted the land.
Director
CHONG Keat Aun is a Malaysian writer-director. His debut feature, The Story of Southern Islet (2020), won Best New Director at the 57th Golden Horse Awards, as well as the FIPRESCI Prize and NETPAC Award. His second feature, Snow in Midsummer (2023), premiered at Venice Days and was subsequently selected as the opening film of the 2023 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, receiving nine nominations at the Golden Horse Awards. The following year, the film won the Firebird Award for Best Film in the Chinese-language Young Cinema Competition at the 48th Hong Kong International Film Festival. His third feature, Pavane for an Infant (2024), had its world premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival. His latest feature, Mother Bhumi (2025), received eight nominations at the 62nd Golden Horse Awards, winning Best Leading Actress, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Film Song.
Credits
- DirectorCHONG Keat Aun
- Principal CastFAN Bingbing, Natalie HSU, BAI Run-yin, Pearlly CHUA
- ProducerWONG Kew Soon, Stefano CENTINI, Zoey TENG
- ScreenplayCHONG Keat Aun
- CinematographerLEUNG Ming Kai
- Production DesignerSOON Yong Chow
- Costume DesignerElaine NG
- EditorErik MOH
- SoundTU Duu-chih, Fiona CHANG
- MusicYII Kah Hoe, CHONG Keat Aun