The film adapted by the novel of the same name is set during the World War II period and tells the tale of Teoh Yun Ling, who finds solace in a Japenese garden located on the highlands of Malaya after her harrowing experience with the Japanese soldiers during the Japanese Occupation.
She then meets Japanese gardener Nakamura Aritomo, whom she seeks the expertise to build a Japanese garden in memory of her late sister. Soon, they started having a love affair that would challenge their beliefs and past.
Here are four reasons why you should catch ‘The Garden of Evening Mists’.
#1 Based on an award-winning book
Did you know that the novel was written by Malaysian author Tan Twan Eng? The novel not only impressed the producers enough to adapt it to the silver screen, but it also impressed critics enough to bag the Man Asian Literary Prize and the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction in 2013.
‘The Garden of Evening Mists’ was also shortlisted for the Booker Prize and the International Dublin Literary Award.
So, for those of you who have read the book earlier on, this film is totally a must-watch!
#2 Set and filmed in Malaysia
“On a mountain above the clouds, in the central highlands of Malaya lived the man who had been the gardener for the Emperor of Japan” were the opening lines in the novel.
And in Malaysia, you can somewhat guess where that is (no, it's not Genting Highlands).
So, it makes total sense that the film was set and shot in Cameron Highlands, Pahang. The cinematography of the film was spot on as it showcases the beauty of the majestic tea plantation that will definitely trigger the wanderlust in you!
#3 Nominated for nine awards
The film may not be out as of yet, but it has done so well that it managed to bag nine nominations at the prestigious 56th Golden Horse Awards: Best Narrative Feature, Best Director, Best Leading Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Makeup & Costume Design, Best Original Film Score, and Best Film Editing.
‘The Garden of Evening Mists’ eventually took home the 'Best Makeup & Costume Design' award, which they truly deserved. The costumes were beautifully designed and we heard that it was personally sewn by the costume designer to fit the era portrayed in the film.
#4 International cast and production crew
One thing we were truly impressed with after watching the film was how it truly looked and felt like an international film. ‘The Garden of Evening Mists’ stars a star-studded international cast, featuring Sinje Lee (Malaysia), Hiroshi Abe (Japan), Sylvia Chang (Taiwan), David Oakes (UK), Julian Sands (UK), and John Hannah (UK).
And it doesn’t end there: the movie was directed by award-winning Taiwanese director Tom Lin and was written by Scottish BAFTA-winning screenwriter Richard Smith.
We were also told that the production crew was made up of a diverse team from all over the globe – Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, India, Australia, UK, and Malaysia, so it’s no wonder that this local film is on par with other international films.
So, have we convinced you enough to go watch this awesome, award-winning local film?
‘The Garden Of Evening Mists’ is set to premiere in cinemas nationwide on 16 January 2020.