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

After the world premiere in Toronto and successful screenings in Busan, the English and Mandarin Chinese language Singapore-Netherlands-France-Spain-South Korea co-production has been travelling the global festival circuit and caught the viewers’ attention at the recent Pingyao International Film Festival, bagging the Best Actress, Youth Jury, and Cinephilia Critics’ awards. The film is about Singaporean teenager Choo Xin Yu (Ranice Tay) trying to film a ghost in her room who has been troubling her persistently. There are other troubles in life, especially at school. Such is the level of regimentation in her school that the length of the skirts of the students are measured to ensure they don’t defy the dictated, modest limits. Hair has to be above the collar, and no bra strap should show. Moral uprightness and diligence are desired qualities. In such a regulated environment and highly co