At the End of Daybreak

AT THE END OF DAYBREAK/SHAM MOHDirector Ho Yuhang lets his prelude of a trapped rat being scalded in its cage be explicit, and mirror the fate of the films 23-year-old protagonist Tuck Chai. Set in Malaysia, this dark tale of crime, greed and love lets no one escape the blame.

Tuck works in his mother's grocery store trying to make ends meet. Preoccupying his time is wealthy and rebellious 16-year old schoolgirl Ying. Their relationship comes to an abrupt end when Ying's mother finds birth control pills in her daughter's drawer and since Ying is underage, the powerful family threatens to prosecute Tuck with statutory rape. Afraid of ending up in jail Tuck takes matters into his own hands, leading him down a slippery slope.

Based on a true story the film travels at a slow but intense pace, exploring the selfishness inherit in all human relationships and the fragile dynamics of class. Ho, otherwise known for his wide shots and long takes uses his new film to experiment, bringing a different set of aesthetics to bear on each scene. This defiance of a coherent visual style makes for visually arresting and dynamic film.
LAURA PERKINS

Orig. title
Sham moh: Cast
Tien You Chui, Meng Hui Ng, Ying-Hong Wai: Producer
Lorna Tee: Script
Ho Yuhang: Cinematography
Gay Hian Teoh: Music
Pete Teo: Spoken language
Mandarin: Subtitle
English