Year Without A Summer

Presented By: Asian Film Archive and The Arts House

2010 | Malaysia | 90 min | Malay with English Subtitles | Rating TBC

With the moonlight as a backdrop, old friends Azam and Ali look back on their childhood. Returning to the coastal village that he was so eager to flee as a child, Azam, now a successful musician reconnects with his friend Ali. Together with Ali's spirited wife, Minah, the three embark on a lengthy night time fishing expedition and tiptoe around the reasons for Azam's long absence. Minah's demonstration of holding her breath underwater leads to Azam's going underwater too and this triggers a retrospective look at the childhood days of the two friends. 

Shot in the Malaysian village where the director was born, this film weaves myths and stories through the main character. It captures the reminisces of childhood friends while portraying the themes of patience and desire, intertwining fantasy and reality, past and present.    

Director's Bio: TAN Chui Mui (1978, Kuantan, Malaysia) has worked as a columnist for local newspapers and magazines. She directed some short films before making her feature
debut Love Conquers All in 2006 that won the Tiger Award at the 36th International Film Festival Rotterdam. Her second feature, Year Without A Summer was awarded the Special Mention (Cinema of the Future) at the 13th Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema.

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