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‘Sepet’, which centres on how two lovers from different backgrounds navigate their differences to remain in a relationship, is set to be released in cinemas in Japan. It is one of Yasmin Ahmad’s best-known films, especially because stories like the one told through ‘Sepet’ is more often than not considered taboo.

The film will begin playing in Uplink cinemas in Tokyo’s Kichijoji and Shibuya from 11 October 2019 for a fortnight, as shared by a fan account on a popular microblogging site.

Yasmin, who had passed away a decade ago due to health complications, has gained Japanese fans after ‘Sepet’ was recognised as the Best Asian Film at the 18^th Tokyo International Film Festival in 2005.

In the same year, ‘Sepet’ bagged a couple of other awards in France and China.

In fact, for a little over a month, in July 2019, a special screening of Yasmin’s works (‘Sepet’,’ Gubra’ and ‘Mukhsin’ ) was organised at the Theatre Image Forum in Shibuya.

Yasmin’s final film ‘Talentime’ was shown in cinemas in two Japanese cities in 2017. This time, the same people who brought ‘Talentime’, are bringing ‘Sepet’ to Japan.

‘Sepet’, released in Malaysia in 2004, won seven categories including Best Poster, Best Director, Best Film, and Most Promising Actress – at the 18^th Malaysia Film Festival.

Yasmin Ahmad, who also used to produce advertisements for a Malaysian oil and gas company, was born to a mother of half-Japanese descent and a father of Malay descent.

When Yasmin was asked to speak at the TEDxKL, she described herself as a “film-dabbler”. From the recorded version, it can be said that she was both witty and spontaneous as a person. Please note that the audio is in a mix of English, Malaysian English, and (colloquial) Malay.