You Mean the World to Me (film)

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You Mean the World to Me
Directed by Saw Teong Hin
Screenplay bySaw Teong Hin
Based onHai Ki Xin Lor
2014 stage play
by Saw Teong Hin
Starring
Cinematography Christopher Doyle
Production
company
Distributed byGood Move Media [1]
Release dates
  • 4 May 2017 (2017-05-04)(Malaysia)

  • 5 October 2017 (2017-10-05)(Singapore)
(Taiwanese Mandarin Audio) [2]
Running time
96 minutes
Country Malaysia
Language Penang Hokkien

You Mean the World to Me (Chinese :海墘新路; Tâi-lô: Hái-Kînn Sin-Lōo) is a 2017 Malaysian semi-autobiographical drama film directed and written by Saw Teong Hin, based on his stage play. The film, set in 1970s Penang, [1] is the first Malaysian film that is entirely in Penang Hokkien. [3] The film's Chinese name, 海墘新路 (Hái-Kînn Sin-Lōo), refers to a Hokkien nickname for Victoria Street in George Town, Penang.

Contents

Development

The film's script was written based on Saw's family history and his estranged relationship with his mother. [4] After the script was finished, Saw had desires of turning it into a film but lacked enough money to do so. He presented the script to several parties who were interested in the project but they had conditioned that the film be made in Mandarin instead, to which Saw refused. [5] Thus, he decided that the script be made into a stage play first. The play, under the name of Hai Ki Xin Lor, was held in 2014 during the George Town Festival to receptive audiences. [5] [6] The success of the play helped open doors for him to get funds to turn the play into a feature film. [7]

Music

The film's theme song, "感謝妳 (Kám-siā Lí/Kám-siā Lú)" was performed by Taiwanese singer Chao Chuan. [8]

Cast

Awards

YearAwardCategoryRecipient(s) and nominee(s)Result
201729th Malaysia Film Festival [9] Best ScreenplaySaw Teong HinWon
Best Music ScoreDavid Koon Wei GeeWon
Best New ActorJohn TanWon

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References

  1. 1 2 Shackleton, Liz (12 February 2017). "Good Move picks up Malaysian drama 'You Mean The World To Me'". Screen Daily. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  2. "杨雁雁新片挑战槟城福建话 爱女跟班不哭闹配合度十足 - 8频道新闻及时事节目" (in Chinese). Channel 8, Singapore.
  3. Bissme S (21 April 2017). "A family affair". The Sun . Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  4. Cheang, Michael (27 April 2017). "Why this movie is filmed entirely in Penang Hokkien". Star2 . Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  5. 1 2 Cheang, Michael (19 December 2014). "Malaysia's first ever Penang Hokkien film is on the way". Star2. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  6. Dinesh Kumar Maganathan (3 September 2014). "Hai Ki Xin Lor: A tale of redemption". Star2. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  7. Bissme S. (21 April 2017). "A family affair". The Sun . Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  8. Cheang, Michael (14 April 2017). "Taiwan singer Zhao Chuan was worried about singing a song in Penang Hokkien". Star2. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  9. Qarami Hashim (23 September 2017). "'Adiwiraku' Diumum Filem Terbaik FFM29". mStar Online (in Malay). Retrieved 12 October 2017.