Movie Digest
Moon, an award-winning actress, has been yearning for a comeback since her divorce and the birth of her son. Roger, her friend and filmmaker, offers her a role in his latest martial arts film, which will rekindle her star power. After enduring arduous training for the role, Moon is forced to use the talents she has learned to reclaim control of her life due to an occurrence.
The Feel-Good Part
Barbarian Invasion is a one-of-a-kind film about changes in life, self-worth, storytelling, cinema, and relationships. A multi-layered story about a woman attempting to reclaim control of her life and regain her identity. As the movie-within-the-movie leaks into reality more and more, we’re treated to a basic, stylish battle film with some decent physicality from its director.
The Disappointing Factor
The battles aren’t particularly elaborate, but they’re shot in a precise DIY handheld approach with few cuts. The performances are occasionally a little slow and rehearsed, but if you don’t know what to look for, you might miss it.
In-Depth Analysis
Tan Chui Mui’s most recent picture is a shapeshifting child of fact and fiction, which makes it one of cinema’s barbarians because it defies categorization and labels. Barbarian Invasion is a unique take on the action genre and its canon that requires no prior knowledge. After learning more about the production process, it’s evident that everything becomes film at some time, and Barbarian Invasion is a very personal effort. The detailed contextualization does not obscure the film’s openness to numerous interpretations, making it an honest and realistic narrative of reflection and self-discovery.
Star Power
It works because writer/director Tan gives a visceral performance, from the intense training scenes to her ‘son’s’ relentless demands. She weaves a beautifully meta cosmos into the plot. Barbarian Invasion is a film worth seeing from start to finish.
Overall Opinion
Tan Chui Mui’s latest film is both clever and emotive, and it’s also a rare portrayal of Malaysia’s multi-ethnic background on screen, thanks to its blend of Chinese, Cantonese, and Malay dialogue. Never before has a film about recovering life after motherhood been so entertaining, shocking, and thrilling.
