The Garden of Evening Mists (film)
{{Short description|2019 film by Tom Lin Shu-yu}}
{{Infobox film
| name = The Garden of Evening Mists
| image = The Garden of Evening Mists film poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Tom Lin Shu-yu
| producer = Najwa Abu Bakar{{efn|Najwa also credited as executive producer}}
Elyce Chin
Syahrul Imran Shariffudin
| screenplay = Richard Smith
| story =
| based_on = The Garden of Evening Mists
Novel by Tan Twan Eng
| starring = {{Plainlist|
}}
| music = Onn San
| cinematography = Kartik Vijay
| editing = Soo Mun Thye
| studio = Astro Shaw
HBO Asia
National Film Development Corporation Malaysia
CJ Entertainment
| distributor = {{plainlist|
- Astro Shaw {{small|(Malaysia)}}
- HBO Asia {{small|(United States)}}
}}
| released = {{Film date|2019|10|04|BIFF|2019|11|29|Taiwan|2019|12|26|Hong Kong|2020|01|16|Malaysia & Singapore|2021|07|24|Japan|df=y}}
| runtime = 120 minutes
| country = Malaysia
| language = English {{small|(partial Japanese, Malay, Cantonese)}}
| budget =
| gross =
}}
The Garden of Evening Mists ({{lang-zh|c=夕霧花園}}) is a 2019 Malaysian English-language historical drama film directed by Tom Lin Shu-yu from the screenplay of Richard Smith and adapted from Tan Twan Eng's 2012 novel of same name. A woman, still haunted by her experiences in a Japanese internment camp as a child, travels to Cameron Highlands during the Malayan Emergency and becomes the apprentice of a mysterious Japanese gardener. It stars Lee Sin-je, Sylvia Chang and Hiroshi Abe.
A co-production between Malaysia's Astro Shaw{{efn|Astro Shaw credited as 'presents' and 'a production by'}} and HBO Asia, the film was filmed on location in Malaysia. It premiered in 2019 in South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, 16 January 2020 in Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore, and 24 July 2021 in Japan.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=13 January 2019|title=The Garden of Evening Mists: A heart-breaking Malaysian romance film|url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2020/01/13/the-garden-of-evening-mists-a-heart-breaking-malaysian-romance-film/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Free Malaysia Today|language=}}
The film received generally positive reviews. It received nine nominations at the 56th Golden Horse Awards, winning for Best Makeup and Costume Design, won Best Film at the 2020 Asian Academy Creative Awards and won three awards at the 2021 Malaysia Film Festival.
Plot
{{More plot|date=January 2022}}
During the Japanese occupation of Malaya, local women Teoh Yun Ling and her sister are imprisoned and tortured in a brutal Japanese war camp. Yun Ling escapes, but her sister and all other prisoners perish.
After the war, Yun Ling has become a Supreme Court judge based in Kuala Lumpur. She is involved in prosecuting war crimes, including from Japanese soldiers. The location of her former internment camp is never discovered. Haunted by her sister's death, she travels to Cameron Highlands during the Malayan Emergency to meet her friend Frederick, whose family have a tea plantation. Frederick introduces her to Japanese gardener Nakamura Aritomo, who resides there and is building a Yugiri, or "garden of evening mists". Yun Ling asks him to build a Japanese garden to fulfil a promise she had made to her deceased sister. Arimoto initially refuses, but later agrees to teach her the techniques of Japanese gardening so that she may build one herself. He also requests that he create a complex full-body horimono (Japanese tattoo) on Yung Ling's back. As the two undergo hard labour to develop the garden, they develop a romantic relationship. One night, communist guerrillas enter the house and attempt to kidnap the couple, but they escape.
It is later revealed that Aritomo was a Japanese agent tasked with hiding looted treasures in Malaysia, but is conflicted about his involvement. He hides information on the treasure's location in Yung Ling's tattoo and in the garden in Cameron Highlands.
Japanese officials visit and request Aritomo return to Japan to tend for the Emperor's garden. Yun Ling recognises one of the officials from the internment camp.
Cast
- Angelica Lee Sin-je as Teoh Yun Ling (younger)
- Sylvia Chang as Teoh Yun Ling (older)
- Hiroshi Abe as Nakamura Aritomo
- David Oakes as Frederik Gemmell (younger)
- Julian Sands as Frederik Gemmell (older)
- John Hannah as Magnus Gemmell
- Serene Lim as Teoh Yun Hong
- Tan Kheng Hua as Emily
- Loo Aye Keng as Anne
- Wan Hanafi Su as Jaafar Hamid
Production
File:Cameron Highlands Tea Plantation 2012.JPG, where most of the scenes are filmed. In the picture are tea plantation hills.]]
The film is based on the 2012 English-language novel of same name, written by Tan Twan Eng. The book was well received and won the 2012 Man Asian Literary Prize.{{Cite web|url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2020/01/13/author-tan-twan-eng-moved-to-tears-by-the-garden-of-evening-mists-film-adap/1827392|title=Interview: Malaysian author Tan Twan Eng teared up as he watched the book brought to life on big screen|date=13 January 2020|website=Malay Mail|archive-url=|archive-date=}} In 2014, it was announced that the novel would be adapted by Malaysian film company Astro Shaw and HBO Asia, with support from National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS).{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailyseni.com/v4/film-update-adaptation-of-the-garden-of-evening-mists-being-written/|title=Film Update: Adaptation of The Garden of Evening Mists being written|date=20 May 2015|website=The Daily Seni|access-date=18 July 2018|archive-date=5 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805141453/http://www.dailyseni.com/v4/film-update-adaptation-of-the-garden-of-evening-mists-being-written/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=HBO and Malaysia's Astro Partner on 'The Garden of Evening Mists'|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/asia/hbo-astro-malaysia-garden-of-evening-mists-1202805418|website=Variety|date=10 May 2018}} The film was originally to be written and directed by Malaysian filmmakers.
Taiwanese director Tom Lin Shi-yu was eventually chosen to direct, while screenwriting was passed to Scottish screenwriter, Richard Smith. The cast are Malaysian actress Lee Sinje, Japanese actor Hiroshi Abe, Taiwanese actress Sylvia Chang, British actors David Oakes, Julian Sands, Scottish actor John Hannah, Malaysian actress Serene Lim and Singaporean actress Tan Kheng Hua.{{cite web|title=Lee Sin Je, Hiroshi Abe, Sylvia Chang to star in Astro Shaw, HBO Asia's 'Garden Of Evening Mists'|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/lee-sin-je-hiroshi-abe-sylvia-chang-to-star-in-astro-shaw-hbo-asias-garden-of-evening-mists/5129108.article|website=Screen Daily|date=10 May 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://my.asiatatler.com/society/questions-with-garden-of-evening-mists-actress-lee-sinje|title=9 Questions With The Garden Of The Evening Mists's Star and Malaysian Sensation Lee Sinje|last=|first=|date=22 November 2019|website=Malaysia Tatler|language=en-MY|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}
The production team members are from Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Australia and the United Kingdom.{{Cite web|url=https://international.thenewslens.com/feature/2019-tghff/127687|title=Interview: Director Tom Lin Searches for History and Humanity at The Garden of Evening Mists|last=|first=|date=19 November 2019|website=The News Lens|archive-url=|archive-date=}} Principal photography started in July 2018.{{cite news|title=Movie adaptation of award-winning novel The Garden Of Evening Mists starts filming in Malaysia|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/movie-adaptation-of-award-winning-novel-the-garden-of-evening-mists-starts|work=The Straits Times |date=3 July 2018}} Filming took place in Malaysia, including Cameron Highlands. The internment camp and small gardens in the film are constructed.{{cite news|title=Lee Sinje returns to Malaysia for 'The Garden Of Evening Mists' film|url=https://www.star2.com/entertainment/2018/07/16/garden-of-evening-mists-film/|work=The Star|date=16 July 2018|access-date=11 October 2019|archive-date=11 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011100747/https://www.star2.com/entertainment/2018/07/16/garden-of-evening-mists-film/|url-status=dead}} 90% of the dialogue in the film is English, with some Cantonese, Japanese and Malay language.
Release
The film had its world premiere at the 24th Busan International Film Festival on 4 October 2019. It was screened in November 2019 at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival and Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival 2019.
The film was released on 29 November 2019 in Taiwan, 26 December 2019 in Hong Kong, and 16 January 2020 in Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore.
The Malaysian version of the film is 1 hour and 53 minutes, which is slightly different from the international version of 2 hours. It is reported that the Malaysian version has an affectionate scene cut by the Film Censorship Board of Malaysia, and some scenes have been slightly adjusted, the film is still overall complete and the cut does not affect the plot.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=8 January 2020|title=Premiere of The Garden of Evening Mists; Malaysian version's bathtub passion scene is adjusted|url=https://www.chinapress.com.my/20200108/%e3%80%8a%e5%a4%95%e9%9b%be%e8%8a%b1%e5%9b%ad%e3%80%8b%e6%b5%b4%e7%bc%b8%e6%bf%80%e6%83%85%e6%88%8f%e8%a2%ab%e5%89%aa-%e6%9d%8e%e5%bf%83%e6%b4%81%ef%bc%9a%e6%9c%89%e7%82%b9%e5%8f%af%e6%83%9c/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=China Press|language=zh}}
Reception
= Critical reception =
The film received generally positive reviews from critics.{{Cite web|last=Daphne K. Lee|date=16 December 2019|title=Film Review: The Garden of Evening Mists|url=https://international.thenewslens.com/feature/2019-tghff/128803|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=The News Lens}}{{Cite web|date=2019-12-05|title=Movie Review: Garden of Evening Mists |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2019/12/05/2003726985|access-date=2022-01-27|website=Taipei Times}} The Hollywood Reporter called it a "sturdy, well-mounted historical romance."{{Cite web|last=Elizabeth Kerr|date=14 October 2019|title=Film Review: The Garden of Evening Mists|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/garden-evening-mists-review-1247225|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=The Hollywood Reporter}} In South China Morning Post, James Marsh gave a more mixed review, particularly criticising the dialogue.{{Cite web|last=James Marsh|date=25 December 2019|title=Film review: The Garden of Evening Mists|url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3043299/garden-evening-mists-film-review-malaysian-historical-drama|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=South China Morning Post}}
=Accolades=
At the 56th Golden Horse Awards, the film was nominated for nine awards, and won one award. It was nominated for Best Feature Film, Best Director for Tom Lin, Best Leading Actress for Lee Sinje, it won the Best Makeup and Costume Design.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2019/10/02/garden-of-evening-mists-golden-horse|title=The Garden Of Evening Mists nominated for nine Golden Horse Awards|date=2 October 2019|website=The Star Online|language=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|8434152}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Garden of Evening Mists (film), The}}
Category:Films based on Malaysian novels
Category:Films set in Malaysia
Category:Films shot in Malaysia
Category:CJ Entertainment films
Category:Constantin Film films
Category:2010s historical drama films
Category:English-language Malaysian films
Category:Films set in the 1950s
Category:Films directed by Tom Lin
Category:HBO Asia original programming
Category:Films set in the 1940s
Category:Malaysian historical drama films
Category:World War II films based on actual events
Category:Films about the Malayan Emergency