The Second Life of Thieves

The Second Life of Thieves is a multi-national arthouse film directed by Woo Ming-Jin and co-written by Woo Ming-Jin alongside Edmund Yeo. The film features dialogue in Malay and was produced as a co-production involving Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. It stars Alan Chung, Mayjune Tan, Berg Lee, and Emily Lim, with a total runtime of 87 minutes.

Plot

The narrative centers on a policeman named Tan, whose wife and old friend, Lai, flee the village together. They leave behind Lai's daughter, Sandy. This departure triggers emotional upheaval for both Tan and Sandy while uncovering a hidden past of forbidden love between Tan and Lai. Three decades prior, Tan left town to protect his family from disgrace, leaving Lai behind. Thirty years later, the dynamic shifts when Lai leaves Tan behind. Despite this abandonment, Tan maintains that his relationship with Lai is eternal, choosing to express his enduring affection in his own manner.

Release and Film Festivals

The Second Life of Thieves held its world premiere in October 2014 at the 19th Busan International Film Festival within the A Window on Asian Cinema section. It subsequently screened at the 25th Singapore International Film Festival in December 2014 under Asian Vision, and achieved its European premiere at the 44th International Film Festival Rotterdam in early 2015 within the Spectrum program.