Genre
Synopsis
Unable to communicate, Mrs Lim; a lone pensioner in New Zealand leads a frugal, solitary life. Busying herself with comforting habits; catching and salting fish, she doesn’t allow herself any sentimentality, choosing to remain stoic and self-sufficient.
One day the apartment taps dry up. The lack of water forces her to reach out for help from her overseas daughter. Her voicemails go unanswered.
Meanwhile inexplicable occurrences hint at a frightening physical transformation.
While attempting to stockpile water, Mrs Lim is embarrassed to discover that her weekly pension has been withheld. Only able to buy a meagre amount she carefully rations the resource. And when a fishing struggle results in the last of her liquid being spilled, she is forced to consider stealing a beverage from her neighbour to quench her thirst. When caught, she drops the prize, only snatching a few ice cubes for her parched mouth.
Accepting an act of empathy from the grandson next door saves Mrs Lim from her thirst and elicits the final stage of her transformation…. just as the water is turned back on.
OUT OF WATER is the personification of vulnerability in isolation. Who do we become when we acknowledge our thirst for love and connection?
Bio
Emmy-nominated actress Michelle understands the nuance of culture and story across platforms and countries, which she brings into her roles of prodcuer and director.
Honing her industry instincts at a top level; working with Jordan Peele to Jane Campion, she’s led local and international series’ and her films have shown at festivals including Berlinale and Tribeca.
Her short film Nai/Milk was nominated for multiple awards at Show Me Shorts Festival and LAAPFF. She produced indie feature For Izzy which enjoyed a strong Asian diaspora festival run. Michelle was selected for the New Zealand Film Commission’s Diverse Producer Initiative, participated in the Sundance Directors Lab and was director’s assistant on TIFF winner Shadow in the Cloud.
Her recent directing work encompasses several award-winning projects; kids animation series Riddle Me This, doco series Hair Now winner of Best Factual Director, comedy series Self Help, and psychological thriller AMAH for TVNZ. She directed “Candy” in feature Kāinga, which went to various festivals including MIFF.
She is developing projects for film and TV through her company A Grain of Rice Productions. Michelle's passion lies in telling subversive stories that allow the outsider experience to be at the forefront, bringing our local sensibility to an international audience.
Credits
Director - Michelle Ang
