If It's Not Now Then When? (2012 Film)

If It's Not Now Then When? is a 2012 Malaysian drama film directed by James Lee. The film is categorized as an arthouse production, focusing on the complex and strained dynamics within a dysfunctional family.

Promotional still from the film If It's Not Now Then When? — A scene from the 2012 film If It's Not Now Then When? directed by James Lee.

Plot

The narrative centers on a widowed mother and her three adult children, who share little emotional connection. Each family member is preoccupied with their own personal struggles: the mother maintains a secret relationship, the eldest daughter is dissatisfied with her marriage, the younger daughter is involved in an affair with her employer, and the son engages in criminal activity by stealing and selling car parts. The family's fragile structure is further tested when the mother decides to sell her late husband's BMW, contemplating a departure from their current life.

Production and Release

The film has a runtime of 82 minutes and was produced by Foo Fei Ling, Jack Rahman, Chiang Winnie, and Gan Hui Yee, with cinematography by Tan Teck Zee. It held its world premiere at the 17th Busan International Film Festival in October 2012 as part of the A Window on Asian Cinema section. Its North American premiere followed at the 31st Vancouver International Film Festival in the same year.