Malaysian Director Chong Keat Aun Spotlights Abandoned Babies Crisis in Tokyo Selection ‘Pavane for an Infant’

Malaysian director Chong Keat Aun‘s latest feature “Pavane for an Infant,” starring acclaimed actor Fish Liew, makes its world premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival, taking on the pressing social issue of abandoned babies and women’s rights in Malaysia.

The film follows a female social worker operating a baby hatch facility, exposing the challenges women face in Malaysia’s male-dominated society. Liew, known for her roles in “Lazy Hazy Crazy,” “A Guilty Conscience” and “Anita,” leads the social drama that aims to resonate beyond Malaysian borders.

The project originated from Chong’s encounter with a baby hatch organization in 2016. “I will never forget the heartbreaking words of a female activist: ‘We work tirelessly day and night to save newborns, but many religious leaders accuse us of being a place that promotes incest. They say one day we will face divine punishment,'” Chong recalls.

The film, backed by Malaysia’s SunStrong Entertainment (which also invested in Chong’s “Snow in Midsummer”), took shape after the pandemic when the director revisited the facility. “During the lockdown, unplanned pregnancies and sexual assaults had increased, leading to more abandoned babies,” says Chong. The story was further inspired by his interview with a young assault survivor.

“In a country where conservatism is growing, even the baby hatch faces discrimination and opposition,” Chong notes about the film’s themes. “Violence against women cannot be alleviated, both physically and emotionally, and the increasing number of abandoned babies is deeply concerning.”

The project marks the first time Chong accepted a direct film production proposal from an investor. The initial approach came from executive producer Jment Lim, who raised the issue of advocating for Malaysian women.

Chong’s previous works include “Story of the Southern Islet,” which screened at Locarno and Rotterdam, and earned him the best new director award at the Golden Horse Awards in 2020. His second feature, “Snow in Midsummer,” was selected for Venice Days in 2023 and received nine Golden Horse nominations. Structured as a multinational Asian co-production, the film probed the race riots in Malaysia that killed a number of Malaysian-Chinese people. Discussion of the topic was largely swept under the carpet in Malaysia for decades and when the film was released in cinemas this summer it was heavily censored.

“The country’s film censorship is still a high wall. Even if there’s a chance to get over that wall and participate in international film festivals, the journey for screening in Malaysia is still filled with difficulties,” Chong says.

Nevertheless, the director remains committed to his artistic vision: “Even though it’s becoming harder and harder to tell the true stories of society in my own country, I’ll keep pushing forward. My lens will face the harsh and real Malaysia, gradually uncovering the truth the closer I get.”

Next up for Chong is the under-production “Mother Bhoomi,” headlined by Chinese superstar Fan Bingbing.