KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 — Mother Bhumi is set for a nationwide cinema release soon, with anticipation for the film steadily building among audiences.
Pavilion Kuala Lumpur hosted director Chong Keat Aun and the cast of Mother Bhumi yesterday for a meet-and-greet session with fans.
The cast members included Chinese star Fan Bingbing, Taiwanese child actor Bai Run-yin and veteran local actress Pearlly Chua, all of whom joined the first stop of the film’s promotional tour across Malaysia.
Despite heavy rain, thousands of fans gathered at the mall to see the cast.
Fan, who takes on the lead role of Hong Im in the film, has not participated in a movie promotional tour for some time, making her appearance in Malaysia especially meaningful.
She said she was deeply touched by the overwhelming support shown by fans across the country.
“It feels a little fresh for me,” she said with a smile.
“I’m very happy to see so many people coming out to support the film.”
Fan also said that she enjoyed working with the Malaysian production team and hoped to reunite with Chong for another project in the future.
Fan Bingbing greets fans at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur during a promotional event for ‘Mother Bhumi’. — Picture courtesy of Click Entertainment
Praising the director’s storytelling style, she said the role she plays in the film is unlike any character she has portrayed before.
“I hope audiences will focus on the story and the character. This role is very different from my previous works, so I hope people will give more encouragement and support to the film,” she said.
Taiwanese child actor Bai Run-yin, who plays Fan’s son Ah Koon in the movie, revealed that he had practised chanting scenes with Chong through video calls before filming began.
He later entertained the crowd by reciting a “spell” on stage and jokingly assured fans: “It’s a blessing spell, so don’t worry!”
In the spirit of Mother’s Day, veteran actress Pearlly Chua, who plays Har, wished all mothers a “Happy Mother’s Day” and added a touch of mystery by teasing her role in the film, saying audiences would get to see her “transform into a beast”.
‘Mother Bhumi’s’ unique story and global success
The story of Mother Bhumi brings to cinema screens a tale inspired by local folklore and set in 1990s Kedah.
The film follows a Siamese village grappling with land disputes that give rise to eerie and unexplained phenomena.
By day, the protagonist is a farmer and by night, she becomes a ritual healer, tending to her community while confronting dark forces.
It explores themes of borders, ethnicity, power and patriarchy, blending magical realism with female empowerment and land rights issues.
Mother Bhumi has earned global recognition since its world premiere at the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival last October.
It received eight nominations at the 62nd Golden Horse Awards, winning three — Best Cinematography, Best Original Film Song and Best Leading Actress for Fan.
The film will begin screening nationwide on May 14.
Director Chong told Malay Mail that, as a Kedah-born filmmaker, he hopes audiences will appreciate seeing stories from Kedah brought to the big screen, as such portrayals are still rarely seen in local cinema.
“This film isn’t just for the Kedah community but for the whole of Malaysia.
“Let us watch and see how this film portrays the era of the 1990s, a time when Malaysian politics was in turmoil, so there is a certain historical background that audiences will come to understand.
“This is not just a story about a bomoh, it also reflects a background that holds great significance in Malaysia’s history,” he said.
Chua added that after Malaysians watch Mother Bhumi, she hopes many will appreciate the rural beauty the country offers, especially in Alor Setar.
She also hopes audiences will recognise the hard work that goes into padi cultivation, saying it is something that needs to be experienced firsthand.
“Another takeaway is that the land should be respected — you have to respect your land,” she said.
