(Front row, from left) Wong, Lim and Tan before the start of the movie screening. — Photos: KT GOH/The Star
MORE than 650 people in Penang were treated to a screening of crime thriller A Place Called Silence, which has raked in 1.3bil yuan (RM806mil) in China’s box office.
Directed by Penang’s Sam Quah, the film was screened at three mmCineplexes halls in Prangin Mall and sponsored by Mega Films Distribution Sdn Bhd.
Among the attendees were Penang social development, welfare and non-Islamic religious affairs committee chairman Lim Siew Khim, Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Wong Yuee Harng and Seri Delima assemblyman Connie Tan.
Lim told the audience that the film was of international calibre and she hoped that the film’s message would attract more people to see it.
“Through watching the movie, the audience should be able to consider what role they can play as members of the community and mobilise collective action for change.”
Wong said that in addition to being directed by a Penangite, the movie featured many scenes in Penang, including locations such as Sungai Pinang and the Teluk Bahang Dam.
“After watching the movie, the audience will be able to reflect on why bullying situations occur in today’s society and whether there are underlying causes.
“This issue should ultimately be addressed through family education.
People queueing to get free tickets to the show ‘A Place Called Silence’ at the Prangin Mall cineplexes in Penang. — Photos: KT GOH/The Star
“Parents should pay more attention to their children and provide a healthy environment for their upbringing,” he said.
Tan, a self-confessed movie buff, said the movie allowed the viewers to understand the origins, escalation and even fatal outcomes of bullying incidents.
“Through this movie, I hope we can gain more understanding of bullying. While we often focus on whether our children are being bullied or harassed at school, we rarely consider the possibility that they might be the ones doing the bullying.
“By exploring the dynamics of bullying depicted in the film, we can better recognise and address these behaviours in our children.
“I encourage everyone to reflect on how we can guide our children’s development in a way that fosters empathy and respect.
“Let’s use this opportunity to engage in open conversations with our children about bullying, to help them understand its impact and to support them in making positive choices,” she said.
The movie, which stars award-winning Hong Kong actor Francis Ng and Taiwanese actress Ning Chang, tells a gripping story about a schoolgirl who suffers excessive bullying at school that leads to a series of mysterious deaths.
