02/04/2025

LYFE WEDNESDAY | APR 2, 2025

25

Ű BY R.BALA

A WARD-WINNING actress Fala Chen has made a long-awaited return to Hong Kong cinema with the mind-blending psychological thriller Peg O’ My Heart. She had been missing from the Hong Kong industry since taking time to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Drama at the Juilliard School in New York City in 2014. Post-graduation, Chen made the successful leap to big-budget Hollywood productions, gaining international recognition for her roles in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) as well as Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024). Peg O’ My Heart has already made waves on the international festival circuit. The film had its world premiere at the Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy, followed by screenings at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in South Korea. Most notably, it was selected as the closing film of the 7th Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest). The film is a labour of love for Nick Cheung, who directed, starred in and co-wrote the movie as well as performed the theme song. He revealed the story is inspired by real events he personally witnessed. Cheung’s directorial excellence in Peg O’ My Heart earned him the Best Director award at the Grimmfest Film Festival in Manchester, UK, as well as the Outstanding Contribution to Film Award at MIFFest. The film also received two special jury mentions at Grimmfest – Best Scare Feature as well as Best Visual and Special Effects. The movie opened last Thursday in local cinemas. Chen answered some questions in an online interview. Without giving away potential spoilers, Chen gave a brief synopsis of Peg O’ My Heart. Dr Man (Terrance Lau), a brilliant but unorthodox psychiatrist, thrives on unlocking his patients’ deepest secrets. During a chance taxi ride, he encounters a troubled driver named Choi (Cheung). Though unable to intervene then, Man finds himself deeply disturbed by Choi’s condition. Fate brings them together again when Choi is assigned to Man for a mandatory psychiatric evaluation. Haunted by nightmares and struggling to discern reality from dreams, Choi

Dream doctor o Fala Chen answers questions about return to Hong Kong cinema via dark psychological thriller Clutter was used to create an unsettling sense of claustrophobia in many of the scenes.

Kong cinema. She also praised the special effects team for doing a remarkable job in creating the right atmosphere, befitting the film’s dark and eerie tone. As a self-confessed neat freak, she pointed out the clever use of clutter and mess in various sets to create a sense of imbalance and chaos that is reflective of a mental breakdown. When asked about her pursuit of higher education in 2014, Chen replied: “No one improves by sitting at home. No one is born with natural acting skills. You have to constantly work to improve your art.” Chen said the film is unorthodox for Hong Kong cinema as it deals with subjects such as bipolar characters and mental health, shining a light on

appears on the brink of collapse. Determined to help, Man delves into Choi’s past and his wife (Chen), a decision that unleashes a torrent of unsettling dreams of his own. As the lines between reality and dreams blur, Man confronts a haunting question – are these nightmares a manifestation of his own buried memories or are they a chilling consequence of unearthing the dark secrets locked within Choi’s mind? Chen was asked how she felt about acting in a psychologial thriller, a genre that is not often associated with Hong Kong cinema. She said it was a privilege to work with such a talented cast and director, as well as such an interesting and complex script that explored many themes that are not normally touched upon in Hong

Chen says the film’s complex nature has allowed her to stretch her acting chops.

for her young kids, making sure they spend the maximum amount of time possible with them. Chen was asked if her eldest daughter, who is four years old, realises her mother is a famous actress. “She loves watching the Oscars and red carpet events with all its attendant glamour. She has seen me at such red carpet events all dressed up but she has not quite figured out yet that I am in the entertainment industry,” Chen said. With a career trajectory that seems to be only going upwards, it may be only a matter of time before Chen’s offspring catch onto the fact that mummy is a massive star!

less-discussed topics. The 43-year-old actress was also asked if the disturbing film had any effect on her sleep, as it dealt with nightmares and deep psychological traumas. Chen said she was not bothered in the slightest as she can fall asleep easily. “You only have a few hours of sleep in between takes, you quickly learn to grab shut-eye whenever and wherever possible,” she revealed. The star, who has appeared in HBO’s Irma Veep , was also asked about juggling parenthood with the demands of an international film career. She said she and her husband, French entreprenuer Emmanuel Straschnov, do their best

The movie has earned critical praise for its use of lighting effects to create an eerie atmosphere.