REBEL WITH A CAUSE

COMING of age can often become a reductive umbrella term, bypassing the many layers and nuances of transitioning to adulthood for platitudinous narratives.

- NAMRATA JOSHI

However, Los Angeles-based filmmaker of Singaporean origin Siyou Tan’s debut feature film, Amoeba, does the opposite, building on and broadening the ambit of the rite of passage cinema. It is a refreshingly astute and insightful exploration of a teenage girl’s inner transformation and personal assertiveness within the confines of a distinct and defined national and socio-cultural context. It’s about breaking free from a controlled environment to find one’s identity, worldview, and place in life.