Lilting

Film

Feature Film

When Kai dies, his long-term partner Richard reaches out to his mother Junn to connect through their shared grief.

Information

Programme History

Part of Queer East Festival 2020

Director: Hong Khaou
Runtime: 86 Mins
Year: 2014
Country: United Kingdom

Lilting is a drama about the relationship that develops between a man’s partner and mother after his untimely death. When Kai (Andrew Leung) dies, his long-term partner Richard (Ben Whishaw) reaches out to his mother Junn (Cheng Pei-Pei), whom he never met while Kai was alive. With Richard speaking only English and Junn Cambodian Chinese, communication becomes a challenge. But with the help of a translator, Richard attempts to build a connection that will help them both deal with their loss. Despite cultural and generational barriers, they piece together memories of a man they both loved dearly, and realise they are connected in their grief. Lilting is the assured, deeply moving debut feature of Cambodian-born British filmmaker Hong Khaou.