There's a quote by political philosopher Hannah Arendt that goes: “Every generation, Western Civilization is invaded by barbarians. We call them children”. For renowned filmmaker Tan Chui Mui, motherhood perhaps did feel like an invasion, with lots of societal pressure thrust upon "the mother" to conform to certain ideals, coupled with a sense of loss of self that comes along when you are expected to make your child your main focus in life. These and more themes run throughout her award-winning film Barbarian Invasion, a film within a film that explores the choices and challenges of trying to live life on one's own terms. We find out more about the film from Chui Mui, who was also the film's director, screenwriter and lead actor.

Image Credit: Instagram/Tan Chui Mooi