Cecilia Choi’s Award-Winning Role in 'Someone Like Me' with Carlos Chan Challenges Taboos, Premieres Across Malaysia on April 9

Directed and written by Doris Tan, produced by Stanley Kwan and Guan Dongdiao, the film Someone Like Me stars Malaysia’s double best actress award winner Cecilia Choi and Carlos Chan, with Louise Wong, Angela Yuen, Louisa So, and Lin Ziyan co-starring. The film is scheduled for a limited theatrical release across Malaysia on April 9.

The film focuses on the rarely discussed topics of love and sexual rights for people with disabilities, unfolding a story of moral choices and self-discovery. It depicts the emotional sparks ignited when two 'imperfect' souls, as seen by society, encounter each other, and delicately explores the complexities of human nature and intimate relationships.

Someone Like Me tells the story of Ah Mui (played by Cecilia Choi), who has cerebral palsy and has long lived under physical and familial constraints. Through a grassroots organization providing sexual services for people with disabilities, she meets volunteer sex worker Ah Kin (Carlos Chan). One yearns for control over life but is confined by the body; the other is physically able yet emotionally damaged. The two gradually draw closer through each other's voids, developing deep feelings from initial physical contact. Their relationship defies definition, entangled between moral and physical constraints.

Cecilia Choi delivers a nuanced and moving performance, bringing authenticity and depth to her role. Before filming, she communicated with several people living with cerebral palsy, meticulously observing their breathing patterns, muscle control, and changes in speech. She vividly captures both the physical and psychological state of her character, portraying a person whose body may be limited but who still feels desire, longing, and pain, allowing audiences to sense the warmth and fragility of life. This work is regarded as a major breakthrough in her career; her performance won her Best Actress at the 32nd Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards and the Best Leading Actress at the 2026 Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild Annual Awards, and she was also nominated for Best Actress at the 44th Hong Kong Film Awards, underscoring her acting prowess.

Carlos Chan, on the other hand, breaks away from his usual sunny image to reveal a more restrained and complex side. He shared that when he took on this film, he was at a personal low point, struggling with health issues, medication side effects, anxiety, and insomnia, which coincidentally resonated with his character’s vulnerability, allowing him to immerse himself deeply in Ah Kin’s psychological world. For him, it was not only a challenge in acting but also a journey of self-discovery and breakthrough. For this role, he was nominated for Best Actor at the 44th Hong Kong Film Awards, marking a major milestone in his acting career.

Someone Like Me has garnered international acclaim since its debut, being selected for the 'Empowering Women' program at the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival for its world premiere, and invited as a 'Gala Presentation' film at the 22nd Hong Kong Asian Film Festival. It has sparked widespread discussion among international audiences and critics, also prompting reflection on the essence of emotions when stripped of the labels of 'person with disabilities' and 'caregiver': When two physically limited and emotionally wounded souls face desire, pain, and the pursuit of love, do they have the right to courageously seek happiness?

Someone Like Me is distributed by Five Star Trading and Brilliant Pictures, with Infinity Entertainment Marketing in charge of publicity, and will be released exclusively in theaters across Malaysia on April 9.