29 Feb – Italian fashion brand Miu Miu has announced Malaysian filmmaker, Tan Chui Mui as the director of the 27th commission from Miu Miu Women's Tales. Miu Miu Women's Tales is a short-film series that invites today's most profound and original female directors to investigate vanity and femininity in the 21st century. The short film directed by Tan titled, "I AM THE BEAUTY OF YOUR BEAUTY, I AM THE FEAR OF YOUR FEAR" follows Gita, a young woman grappling with her past and seeking solace amidst a sisterhood in Malaysia. As Gita confronts her inner demons through martial arts training, Tan intricately weaves themes of strength, femininity, and cultural heritage. Tan's compelling narrative invites audiences to delve into the complexities of identity and resilience, ultimately questioning the essence of fear and beauty in the modern era. "A girl from China who comes to Malaysia to search for herself" is how Tan describes her new film for Miu Miu, "but the search can only be inwards." At one point, we see Gita spend time with an Indian flower seller, where she's taught about the ancient myth of Kali, goddess of time, destruction, death and change. "Through wrestling with what we fear the most," Tan explains, "we find our inner strength, and we find our own beauty." Tan Chui Mui made her directorial debut in 2006 with "Love Conquers All", a film that garnered numerous accolades at international film festivals.
Her subsequent works, including "Barbarian Invasion" that won the Jury Grand Prix at the 24th Shanghai International Film Festival Golden Goblet Awards, and "Just Because You Pressed the Shutter?" that won the 2022 Jimei x Arles Discovery Award have further solidified her reputation as one of Malaysia's most visionary filmmakers. Tan's new episode for Women's Tales, starring Sdanny Lee (also known as Dany Lee) and Jo Kukhatas among others, will premiere at Yongfu C52 in Shanghai on 12 March 2024. The short is available afterwards on Miu Miu digital channels and on MUBI globally.