The Tiger Factory (Film)

The Tiger Factory is a 2010 dramatic feature film co-produced by Japan and Malaysia. It was directed by Ming Jin Woo, who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Edmund Yeo. The film features a multilingual dialogue track encompassing Malay, Cantonese, and Mandarin, and has a runtime of 84 minutes.

Plot

The story follows Ping Ping, a 19-year-old living under the guardianship of Madame Tien. Ping Ping works on a pig farm and washes dishes in a restaurant, saving money with the ultimate goal of moving to Japan to work for a car parts company. Unbeknownst to Ping Ping, her aunt operates an illicit baby-selling operation involving migrant workers, a secret that slowly begins to unravel as Ping Ping learns more about her guardian.

Cast

The principal cast includes Fooi Mun Lai as Ping, Pearly Chua as Madame Tien, Susan Lee as Mei, Rum Nun Chung as Kang, and Loh Bok Lai as the loan shark, alongside Lesly Leon Lee.

Festival Screenings and Release

The Tiger Factory held its world premiere at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival in May 2010 within the Director's Fortnight section. Following its premiere, the film screened at numerous international festivals throughout 2010 and 2011. Notable screenings include the 29th Vancouver International Film Festival where it received its North American premiere, the 15th Pusan International Film Festival, the 30th Hawaii International Film Festival, and the 40th International Film Festival Rotterdam.

Awards

At the 23rd Tokyo International Film Festival in October 2010, the film received a Special Mention for the Best Asian-Middle Eastern Film Award.