“Pierce”, an interview with director Nelicia Low

July 6, 2024

Nelicia Low, director of "Pierce", tells us more about this both disturbing and endearing tale where one brother is (?) a murderer

"Pierce", an interview with director Nelicia Low Bénédicte Prot

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On the occasion of the world premiere of her first feature film, the delightfully unsettling “Pierce”, at the 58th Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Singaporean director Nelicia Low tells us more about this ambiguous story of brotherhood, truth and lies, loving unconditionally, and fencing, which starts unfolding when the older of two brothers is released from prison for a murder of which his baby brother wants to believe he wasn’t guilty.

Nelicia Low reveals that the film, dedicated to and inspired by her autistic brother, also proceeded from a real-life ambiguous multiple crime story, and took a long time to write.

Low, herself a former fencing champion, explains why this sport is particularly able to carry this tale. We also talk about mirroring effect, about mixing different genres, from feel-good to disturbing, and about lies.

The scriptwriter, director, and co-editor of the film also mentions her favourite scene, horrific and hilarious at the same time.

Plot

"After Han is released from juvenile prison, where he served seven years for killing an opponent in a fencing match, he meets his younger brother and insists on his innocence. Jie believes him, and the torn brotherly bond begins to heal. Behind their mother’s back, Han helps Jie perfect his fencing skills so that he can qualify for the national championships. But the initially energetic clinking of sabres is slowly drowned out by silent doubts: is Han really innocent? Nelicia Low’s gripping atmospheric thriller offers a nerve-wracking duel between the ideals of brotherly love and the illusions that we project onto those close to us." Vojtěch Kočárník for the KVIFF

Written by: Bénédicte Prot

Guest

Nelicia Low

Film

Pierce

Festival

Karlovy Vary Film Festival

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