The Story of Southern Islet

Yan, her husband Cheong and their two young sons live in a village in northern Malaysia, close to the Thai border. Cheong accidentally damages the neighbour’s fence trying to catch a snake, which triggers a series of mysterious events. Cheong believes he has upset the Malay god Datuk Gong, but Yan, who wasn’t raised on this popular belief, has her doubts. She’d rather take Cheong – who has become ill in the meantime – to hospital than to the shamanic healer.

The Story of Southern Islet is set in 1987 and is based on the filmmaker’s childhood, during which his father became severely ill. The atmospheric story, shot largely using beautiful long shots, completely accepts the fact that not everything can be explained rationally. A voice in a cave, a ghost on a ship – Yan’s spiritual journey is just as natural as her daily shop at the market.