A Series of Interesting Facts Behind 'A PLACE CALLED SILENCE' 2024, A Successful Mystery Drama Film from China at the Box Office

The story idea of A PLACE CALLED SILENCE originated from a news article read by director Sam Quah during his master's education. The news told the story of a mother's relentless struggle for justice over the tragic death of her daughter. This tale became the foundation for a film that explores the hidden crimes behind the walls of schools and the city.

Before A PLACE CALLED SILENCE, Sam Quah had already captured attention with SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD (2019), a remake of the Indian film DRISHYAM (2015). The film became a box office hit in China and elevated Quah's name as the first Malaysian director to achieve success in the Chinese film market. This achievement serves as a strong foundation for Quah to continue creating and exploring challenging themes in his latest film.

A PLACE CALLED SILENCE is a remake of a similar genre film that was successful at the Busan Film Festival in 2022, and it is now making its commercial debut in China with considerable enthusiasm. This remake brings significant changes in terms of character development and storyline.

Initially, the film was forced to be postponed due to controversies involving actor Jag Huang, one of the main stars of the original version of the film. According to yahoo!news, Huang was caught up in a scandal during the #MeToo wave, with allegations of sexual harassment. This controversy led to a delay in the release and ultimately prompted Quah to make a remake.

The remake version of this film has achieved extraordinary success at the Chinese box office, garnering more than 800 billion rupiah in its first five days of release. The film even ranked second on the list of the highest-grossing summer films in China in 2024.

In this latest version, Quah collaborates with Janine Chang as one of the main cast members. Interestingly, Chang is also reported to be in a romantic relationship with Quah. The chemistry between them may have a unique influence on Chang's performance as one of the key characters in this film.

Sam Quah is known as a director who boldly showcases the dark side of life with a strong emotional approach. In this film, Quah unravels themes of violence and oppression that make the audience feel both tension and empathy for his characters, especially Yutong and Li Han.

Behind its crime thriller genre, A PLACE CALLED SILENCE carries a profound moral message. The story highlights the courage of a mother who is willing to face all obstacles to uncover the truth and save her child, despite the great risks involved.