Fan Bingbing Starrer ‘Mother Bhumi’ Nabbed by Rediance Ahead of Cannes

Beijing-based sales outfit Rediance has acquired worldwide rights to “Mother Bhumi,” the Fan Bingbing-starring drama from acclaimed Malaysian filmmaker Chong Keat Aun.

The company has released an exclusive still from the production as buyers head to the upcoming Cannes Film Market.

The film centers on Hong Im, a widowed farmer who leads a double life – tending paddy fields by day and serving as a ritual healer for villagers by night. When confronted with revelations about her husband’s death, she struggles to maintain equilibrium while seeking resolution for herself and her children.

The cast also includes Taiwan’s Bai Run-yin (Golden Horse winner “Old Fox”) and Hong Kong’s Natalie Hsu (“Suk Mung”) as Hong Im’s son and daughter, respectively.

Chong has established himself as a rising voice in Malaysian cinema. His debut “The Story of Southern Islet” (2020) earned him Best New Director honors at the Golden Horse Awards and a Fipresci prize at Hong Kong International Film Festival. His follow-up, “Snow in Midsummer” (2023), premiered at Venice and took home the Firebird Award at Hong Kong, while his most recent work “Pavane for an Infant” bowed at Tokyo International Film Festival last year.

“We have closely followed Chong’s cinematic evolution since his critically-acclaimed debut. We’re also utterly captivated by Fan Bingbing’s career-redefining performance through daring characterization in this film,” said Meng Xie, CEO of Rediance. “We anticipate sharing this masterful work with global cinephiles and industry partners alike.”

Fan’s past credits include “Lost in Beijing,” “Buddha Mountain” and “I Am Not Madame Bovary.” While Fan remains one of China’s most recognizable stars, “Mother Bhumi” sees her undergoing a physical transformation for the role. “There is no such thing as a good or bad looking character in a movie. Even during the filming, some…