If you’re wondering how to spend time with your mum this Mother’s Day – or if you’re missing her – a trip to the cinema might be in order.

Opening on May 7, “Circus of Life” offers an emotional, and distinctly local story about the relationship between a mother and her son.

Written and directed by first-time feature filmmaker Tham Wai Fook, this Mandarin-language film draws heavily from his own life.

The plot centres on Wei, a man who has dreamt since childhood of building his own animal circus. But as life’s pressures mount and failures stack up, his dream begins to unravel, along with his grip on reality.

Wei clings to what others dismiss as a naïve fantasy. As he struggles to reconcile imagination with reality, he becomes convinced he has been abducted by aliens, spiralling into a fragile mental state that threatens to cost him everything.

Through it all, only two people remain steadfast: his loyal girlfriend, and his mother who refuses to give up on him.

As Wei drifts further away, his mother continues searching for a way to “bring him home”. In doing so, the film underscores a simple yet powerful truth: the harder a child’s journey, the deeper a mother’s love.

For Tham, 54, the journey to bring this story to life has been a long one. A self-taught filmmaker who began directing short films in 2003, he has helmed more than 10 projects, including “Xiao” (Filial Piety), which garnered over four million views on YouTube.

“Circus of Life”, which marks his first feature, was recently nominated for the NETPAC Award at the Asian Film Festival Barcelona (AFFBCN), gaining recognition from international critics.

“The first draft of this script was actually written back in 2011. It was already a story about a mother helping her son pursue his dream. But at that time, we spent quite a while trying to raise funding and couldn’t make it happen,” Tham told FMT Lifestyle.

He and his wife eventually returned to their hometown to focus on raising their child, only revisiting the script a decade later. “We wove that personal experience, and what we had learned from it, into the story, and named it ‘Mother, Mother, Mother’.”

After securing funding from FINAS and completing a 45-day shoot, the project evolved into “Circus of Life”.

But why circus?

“Back in those days, for parents who worked as rubber tappers, being able to bring the whole family to the circus was considered a real luxury. For me, it became a very precious and beautiful memory,” Tham recalled.

That memory shaped the film’s central metaphor – a symbol for dreams.

“The excitement and joy of the circus come from that sense of tension and danger,” he said.

“And with the presence of wild animals, it completely opened up a child’s imagination. It was a world of boundless fantasy set against the simplicity of everyday life, creating a powerful contrast.”

The film’s essence remains rooted in its tribute to women and their role within the family, particularly mothers.

“I’m simply trying, through my current understanding and experience, to offer another perspective on how maternal love can be interpreted – one that reflects the innate nature of a mother.

“This kind of naturally expressed maternal love is, to me, something quite extraordinary and almost unbelievable.”

Tham, whose creative style leans towards realism, said this film also captures a sincere and authentic portrayal of Malaysia’s multicultural society.

Produced by Hour Hand Pictures, “Circus of Life” features a cast of non-professional actors, including Tom Phan, Lai Thiam Tai, Faye An Ying Fei, and more.

“New actors bring a different kind of presence and energy,” Tham said.

While consistency can be a challenge, he noted that some of the most compelling moments emerged spontaneously.

With its simple yet moving storytelling, “Circus of Life” is poised to resonate with audiences, offering reflections of themselves, whether as a child, a parent, or someone still chasing a dream.

“I’d like to invite the audience to quiet their minds as much as possible before watching the film. And I hope they leave with a sense of calm in their hearts,” Tham said.

As for his message to mothers everywhere: “I would simply want to thank them for their natural and selfless giving.”

Local film ‘Circus of Life’ opens in theatres on May 7.