In 2013, Mattie Do broke new ground. Having its American premiere at Austins Fantastic Fest, her Chanthaly was the first horror film to come out of Laos, the country bordering China, Burma, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia thats developing a national cinema and which had only produced something like a dozen feature films since its revolution in 1975. Do (pictured top) became the countrys first female director and thrillingly broke through with a horror picture (it was also the first Laos film to screen at a fest outside of Southeast Asia). Now, as Do anticipates production on her sophomore filmthe second genre film from LaosRaven Banner has picked up international rights to Dearest Sister.
Expected to shoot this spring, Dearest Sister is an international co-production between Laos, France and Estonia. The film tells the story of a village girl who travels to capital Vientiane to care for her rich cousin who has mysteriously lost her sight, and somehow gained the ability to communicate with the dead. Matters are further driven down by the cousin’s ambivalent marriage with an Estonian expat, who has his own dark secrets to hide.
Vilouna Phetmany and Tambet Tuisk star as the married couple. Amphaiphun Phommapanya debuts as the village girl. Expect more on Dearest Sister at Shock.
