Golden Horse Turns 60: 'Snow in Midsummer'
Telling the story of one of Malaysia's most infamous historical tragedies, "Snow in Midsummer" leads this year's Golden Horse Awards with nine nominations.
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00:00 (people shouting)
00:03 On May 13th, 1969, one of the most pivotal moments
00:07 in modern Malaysian history
00:09 unfolded on the streets of Kuala Lumpur.
00:11 It was a bloody riot that left hundreds dead
00:15 and the country in a state of emergency.
00:17 The event, known today as the May 13 incident,
00:21 lives on in the minds of many Malaysians,
00:23 including film director Chong Kit Un.
00:26 (Chong speaking in foreign language)
00:31 The riots came days after the 1969 general election,
00:44 when two mostly ethnically Chinese opposition parties
00:48 made significant gains on the ruling Malay coalition.
00:52 It sparked ethnic violence,
00:54 which official figures say led to 196 deaths.
00:58 (Chong speaking in foreign language)
01:02 The story of Snow in Midsummer
01:19 follows a mother and daughter
01:22 who lose contact with the rest of their family
01:24 amid the riots,
01:25 and the daughter's attempts
01:27 to face her family's tragic past five decades later.
01:31 Chong draws inspiration from traditional Chinese opera
01:35 for much of the story, visuals, and even the film's title.
01:39 (bell ringing)
01:42 (Chong speaking in foreign language)
01:48 (bell ringing)
01:51 (Chong speaking in foreign language)
01:55 More than a love letter to theater and film,
02:20 Chong wants his movie to be a wake-up call for Malaysia.
02:25 Drawing comparisons to Taiwan's own dark history,
02:28 he highlights the importance of governments
02:31 learning from the past.
02:32 (Chong speaking in foreign language)
02:50 Snow in Midsummer is currently screening
02:52 in cinemas in Taiwan,
02:54 and has been nominated for nine awards
02:56 at the 60th Golden Horse Awards,
02:59 including Best Cinematography, Best Director,
03:02 and Best Narrative Feature.
03:04 Justin Wu and Rhys Ayres for Taiwan Plus.
03:07 [BLANK_AUDIO]