Written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Chong Keat Aun, the film showcases a career-defining performance by international icon Fan Bingbing and secured three major wins at the 62nd Golden Horse Awards, marking an მნიშვნელოვანი milestone for Malaysian cinema. From May 10 to 14, Chong Keat Aun will lead Fan Bingbing alongside Bai Run-yin, Natalie Hsu, and Pearlly Chua on a nationwide tour across Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Melaka, Penang, and Kedah, where they will meet fans throughout the country, with full tour details to be announced.
Inspired by folk legends of a mysterious witch in the paddy fields of Kedah, “Mother Bhumi” is set in the 1990s, where land disputes in a Siamese village give rise to strange and unsettling occurrences. By day, the protagonist lives as a farmer, but by night she becomes a ritual healer, caring for her community while resisting dark forces and confronting deeply rooted tensions surrounding borders, ethnicity, power, and patriarchy. Combining elements of magical realism, female empowerment, and land-related issues, the film received eight nominations at the 62nd Golden Horse Awards and won Best Leading Actress, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Film Song. Through her powerful portrayal of the “Kedah Witch,” Fan Bingbing earned her first Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress.
The film has also gained international recognition, having been selected for the main competition at the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival and the 28th Udine Far East Film Festival. At Udine, Fan Bingbing will be honored with the Golden Mulberry Award for Outstanding Achievement, sharing the recognition with legendary Japanese actor Kōji Yakusho.
About the Author
