Michelle Yeoh-starrer ‘Sandiwara’ shines spotlight on Malaysian life and womanhood at Berlin Film Festival

Michelle Yeoh, the Malaysian superstar is turning her gaze back home, and she’s doing it in style. Yeoh will take centre stage in ‘Sandiwara’, a brand-new short film by acclaimed director Sean Baker which is set to premiere at the Berlin Film Festival later this month.

‘Sandiwara’ (Malay for “drama” or “theatrical performance”) is exactly that. A dive into Malaysian life, culture, identity. The film unfolds not in glamorous sets but in the streets, homes, and hawker centres of Penang.

Yeoh embodies five distinct roles exploring the many layers of Malaysian womanhood across generations. From everyday gestures to subtle cultural nuances, this project is as much about place as it is about performance.