Filmmaker Statement

My grandmother would always tell me, “Fall down seven times, stand up eight.” Her words rang through my head when I first read Aisha Hassan's Together Days, a story about the strength and resilience of women, themes that have always guided my filmmaking. Having grown up in Malaysia, Taiwan and America, I could see the differences in the treatment of women across these countries, but a common observation persists — their sacrifices are often pushed into the shadows, buried in shame. I hope that through Penny’s journey, one about loneliness and grief, the film encourages women to take back their power and autonomy. Penny is vital because she is not your typical heroine — she shows that strength can lie in the quietest of spaces and it’s important to shed light on these kind of women. The ones who grit their teeth and bear it in silence and anonymity. This story, now more than ever, needs to be told, especially in Malaysia, my beloved home country that is going through its own awak