Chinese-Malaysian filmmaker Tan Chui Mui's deeply personal film, "Barbarian Invasion," will hit movie theaters in China on Aug. 10 after receiving the Jury Grand Prix at the Golden Goblet Awards of the 2021 Shanghai International Film Festival. 

Tan Chui Mui (right) speaks to the host of the premiere of "Barbarian Invasion" in Beijing, Aug. 2, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Elemeet]

Tan wrote, directed and stars in "Barbarian Invasion," playing the lead role of Moon Lee, an acclaimed actress. Having retired from acting, Moon is now a full-time mom and divorcee, who seizes the opportunity to work with director Roger Woo (Pete Teo). Tasked with a physically demanding role in a martial arts film that aspires to be the Southeast-Asian "Bourne Identity," Moon undergoes intensive training. However, her confidence is shaken when she learns that her ex-husband, Julliard, has also been cast in the movie. The film explores Moon's professional and personal life through a film-within-a-film narrative device.

As a big fan of renowned South Korean director Hong Sang-soo, Tan said at the premiere in Beijing on Aug. 2 that while the concept of a film within a film is not new, this particular film is always centered around life. In the movie, the character of Woo, who serves as an alter ego for Tan, shares his thoughts with Moon, saying, "When I was young, film was everything to me. Now, at this age, everything is like a film for me. Everything is a film."

Tan Chui Mui and Nik Hadiff Dani in a still from "Barbarian Invasion." [Photo courtesy of Da Huang Pictures]

"I think it's normal to be concerned about oneself. I'm concerned about myself rather than the movie. It revolves around my anxieties and troubles, so it's quite introspective," Tan said at the Beijing premiere. 

Tan has lived an extraordinary and diverse life. By nine years old, she had already published a children's magazine, and her thirst for knowledge led her to read an entire encyclopedia by 12. At 17, she contributed a weekly column to a student paper. Pursuing her passion, she earned a degree in computer animation at 21 and ventured into filmmaking. At 27, she directed her first film, "Love Conquers All." Later in life, at 38, she became a mother and took up martial arts training at 41 for the film.

"In 'Barbarian Invasion,' there is a direct exploration of the body," she said. "After becoming pregnant, I felt like I had lost control over my own body. So, during that time of making the movie, I wanted to regain control over my body. Self-discovery is also about reconnecting with the body. Many aspects in the film are fluid. I wanted to experience being a barbarian, to let my own body go through the experiences, not someone else's body, hence not another actor. So, I didn't do it for the sake of the film; I did it for life."

Director Tan Chui Mui on the set of "Barbarian Invasion." [Photo courtesy of Da Huang Pictures]

Tan, a leading filmmaker and pioneer of the Malaysian New Wave, has played a significant role in bringing international attention to Malaysia's independent film scene. Her debut feature film, "Love Conquers All," earned her several awards at renowned film festivals, including the New Currents Awards and Fipresci Prize at the Busan International Film Festival. "Barbarian Invasion" then earned her a top award at the Shanghai International Film Festival in 2021.

Tan sees herself as a "barbarian" who questions rules and traditional film narratives, and her goal is to break established norms and challenge the status quo. She said: "I don't have ambitions to do things perfectly, to make a great film. I'm more interested in breaking some previous orders and norms. I am that barbarian."

She is passionate about nurturing aspiring filmmakers in Malaysia and the region through initiatives like Next New Wave, SeaShorts and her own indie film production company, Da Huang Pictures. But she noted that with the rise of training camps, film schools and film festivals supporting young directors, experienced mentors are being brought in to guide them and prevent unnecessary mistakes. This has resulted in the emergence of many excellent works. However, there is a danger in guiding filmmakers solely on predefined paths, leading to the production of "cookie-cutter films."

Tan Chui Mui meditates with a monk in a still from "Barbarian Invasion." [Photo courtesy of Da Huang Pictures]

"My personality is such that if I'm given two choices — one with a guaranteed outcome and the other unknown — I would opt for the uncertain path, even without knowing its destination," she said. "I'm willing to embrace the unknown, even if it means making mistakes along the way. So, when people ask me for advice or counsel for young directors, I often suggest disregarding others' advice and instead immersing themselves in firsthand experiences. Success often has limited models, while mistakes can bring forth countless variations."

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