KOLAM
POOL

Chris Chong Chan Fui | Malaysia/Canada 2007 | 13 min.

Material: 35mm
Format: 35mm
Original language: Tamil, English

Production: Chris Chong Chan Fui
Print/Sale: The Canadian Filmmakers Distribution

Best Canadian Short Film, Toronoto Film Festival 2007

Kolam is a touching portrait of a community attempting to rebuild and heal itself following the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that shocked the world. The titular swimming pool is a temporary makeshift basin created to help the children of Aceh, Indonesia, face their fear of water and learn to swim again, despite the losses their community suffered when the sea came crashing in. Chong Chan Fui observes their progress with affection and a poet’s eye. – Andréa Picard, Toronto International Film Festival

I became obsessed with this pristine water filtration pool built in the middle of an Indonesian village undergoing transition due to the 2004 tsunami. The contrast was striking. The cleanliness of the pool, the colours of each individual letter forming USAID, the sharpness of the corners, the perfect symmetry of the structure's shape, its small staircase, and the whiteness of the tiles. From here, the project began to evolve and include the children and teacher who were using the pool. – Chris Chong Chan Fui

Chris Chong Chan Fui, born in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Borneo Malaysia, lives and works as director and media artist in Canada and Malaysia. 2007 he founded "Tanjung Aru Pictures", a production company that focuses on experimental films and documentaries. 2009 he presented his first feature length film at the renowned Quinzaine des Réalisateurs at the Cannes Film Festival. Currently he is preparing his second feature film, "The Tour".

Films: Crash Skid Love 1998 | Minus 2000 | Notebook on Lightning Bolts and Turntables 2000 | Music might have deceived us 2000 | Let me start by saying 2001 | Tuesday be my friend 2006 | Kolam 2007 | Block B 2008 (UNDERDOX 04) | Karaoke 2009

back