Zhang Ji'an 'Makes a Move' to Express Sorrow – Fish Liao and Venus Hui Become Friends Across Generations

Malaysian actress Fish Liao has been developing her career in Hong Kong for 13 years, acting in over 30 films and portraying all kinds of 'Hong Konger' roles. Always hoping to return home and participate in Malaysian productions, her wish was finally granted as she plays a Malaysian character in director Zhang Ji’an’s film The Cradle's World. She admitted she was thrilled. “I have always wanted to play a Malaysian as a Malaysian, to showcase our culture. After more than ten years in Hong Kong, I’ve gained some recognition, so I really hope to work with Malaysian teams and bring our culture back to Hong Kong, letting everyone know where I grew up.” She laughed, saying she was a listener of Zhang Ji’an’s radio shows as a child, and since the movie also focuses on women’s issues, “I really couldn’t find any reason to say no!”

The Cradle's World is set against the backdrop of a 24-hour operating 'Baby Hatch' in Kuala Lumpur, focusing on women’s predicaments and the problem of abandoned infants. It continues Zhang Ji’an’s consistent humanistic perspective and social concern, not only giving a voice to the vulnerable, but also defending women's bodily autonomy. The movie will be released nationwide in Malaysia on August 14th. On the 10th, director Zhang Ji’an and producer Lim Kim Seng led the main cast — Fish Liao, Venus Hui, Chua Poh Chu, Yuan Teng, Jasmine Suraya, Tan Mei Ling, Mia Sabrina, and Dishaaleny Jack — to a press conference.

Zhang Ji'an revealed that the creative inspiration for The Cradle's World dates back nine years ago. At that time, he was still a radio host and had produced a program about baby hatch stories, but due to the sensitive subject matter it was banned, which he has always remembered. It wasn’t until after the pandemic, when Sunstrong Entertainment’s head Lim Kim Seng invited him to direct a film about women’s issues and suggested revisiting this topic, that the film finally came to fruition.

Regarding whether the movie was subject to cuts, Zhang Ji'an said: “Last year, Snow in Midsummer was cut 27 times. If this film was going to be cut that much, we would choose not to release it! Fortunately this time, it was only about one-tenth of last year’s cuts.” The deleted scenes involved shots relating to infant abandonment and religion. He also disclosed that in one scene, the hand covering a nude painting in the cinema was his own. “I don’t want you to cut it — I’ll cover it myself. This is a sorrowful response to the censorship system.”

In the film, Fish Liao plays 'Li Xin', who, after putting her out-of-wedlock newborn in the baby hatch as a young woman, later becomes a worker there and meets the underage pregnant girl 'Xiao Man', played by Venus Hui. She described Li Xin as being like a candle — “sometimes bright and sometimes dim, but always trying her best to light up everyone she meets.”

35-year-old Fish Liao and 21-year-old Venus Hui forged a deep friendship through this collaboration. Being introverted and rarely making new friends, Liao cherishes the bonds formed within the production team all the more. She described Venus Hui as a 'treasure friend': “Melancholic in the movie, but sunny outside the set, very optimistic — like the sun shining on me.” She jokingly called it a 'friendship across generations' and deeply treasures their connection. Venus Hui admitted that although she seems cheerful and lively on the outside, inside she often feels nervous and anxious. She is grateful that Fish Liao took the initiative to share personal thoughts and acting experience with her: “We get nervous together, comfort each other, and support each other. I really value our friendship too.”

Venus Hui also revealed she has a deep connection to Malaysia because her grandmother lives in Miri, Sarawak. Since childhood, she has traveled back home every year with her mother, (Pek Onn Yee), so she is very familiar with Malaysian culture, food, lifestyle, and pace of life.

As the film employs a large amount of long takes, some media were concerned it might affect Fish Liao’s performance. She replied, smiling: “Thank you for feeling sorry for me, but I never thought about intentionally showcasing my acting skills. During filming, I was completely immersed in the character. The camera doesn’t need to be that close — even from a distance you can feel the emotions. I don’t see myself as the protagonist, nor am I simply showing off acting; I am fully committed and hope to be a small cog driving the story forward. The story is the main dish, and I am honored to take part, letting more people pay attention to this issue.”