Blades and brotherhood

In psychological thriller Pierce, actors Liu Hsiu-fu and Tsao Yu-ning play siblings who learn that brotherly love can be deadly

- John Lui

In psychological thriller Pierce, actors Liu Hsiu-fu and Tsao Yu-ning play siblings who learn that brotherly love can be deadly

As an actor and model with no experience in the sport of fencing, Liu Hsiu-fu employed a mental trick to memorise the complex moves.

"I began to see fencing as a form of dance," says the 27-year-old, explaining his approach to the extended match sequences in the upcoming local film Pierce.

"Once I thought of fencing as a series of dance steps, it all fell into place."

Taiwanese co-stars Liu and Tsao Yu-ning, 30, were in town to promote the psychological thriller and spoke to The Straits Times on Oct 30 at Singapore furniture brand Castlery's showroom in Orchard Road.

Opening in Singapore cinemas on Nov 7, the film follows a young fencer, Zijie (Liu), and his relationship with his older brother Zihan, a former convict (Tsao).

Singaporean writer-director Nelicia Low, a former national fencer, shot the film in Taiwan and won Best Director at the 2024 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic.