Flower In the Pocket
Mother’s Day Special Feature
Drama | Malaysia | 2007 | 97 minutes 
Director: Liew Seng Tat
Language: Mandarin, Malay + English subtitles
Produced by Da Huang Pictures Sdn Bhd
Director Liew Seng Tat said that the film title and theme was inspired by the tradition of wearing a flower in your pocket on Mother’s Day. A red flower symbolizes that one’s mother is still alive while a white flower indicates that one’s mother is no longer living……
Synopsis
Recent Malaysian cinema has become synonymous with long shots and even longer takes, but Flower In The Pocket is possibly the funniest film. First-time feature director Liew Seng Tat hit the ball out of the park with the film as the rare debut feature to win at both the prestigious Pusan and Rotterdam Film Festivals
Li Ahh and Li Ohm grow up motherless. The story starts off amusingly with two Chinese-speaking brothers, Ma Li Ahh and Ma Li Ohm, as they both suffer through the indignity of school. While his father Sui shuts himself out from the world, the two brothers grow up with all the freedom of neglected children. They roam the streets; get into fights and other trouble in school. Along the way, they adopt a stray puppy, which becomes the most important thing in their lives. For the most part, father and sons live in different universes. When their puppy is sent away for being a nuisance, the boys are devastated. Their father Sui, who has been an outsider to the two boys, suddenly realizes that he is still able to love and he’s going to do something about it before it’s too late.
Selected Awards
2008 VPRO Tiger Award, 37th International Film Festival Rotterdam
Jury prize (Lotus du Jury), 10th Deauville Asian Film Festival
2007 Current Award, 12th Pusan International Film Festival
KNN Audience Award, 12th Pusan International Film Festival
Official Selection, Berlin Film Festival
The Filmmaker
LIEW SENG TAT (Director / Writer / Producer)
Liew Seng Tat was born on 30th September 1979, in a rather notorious area called Jinjang. He is known for making dark comedy – hilarious, ridiculous, absurd and yet touching. Since his first short film, Bread Skin With Strawberry, was shown in the Malaysian Shorts series in the Malaysian Film Club, he has never failed to win the audience award. Flower In The Pocket is his first feature length film.
