Karlovy Vary to Busan: ‘Pierce’ Fences With Family Ties and Hidden Truths
variety.comNaman Ramachandran Singapore-born filmmaker Nelicia Low’s feature debut “Pierce” is making waves on the festival circuit, securing the best director award at Karlovy Vary and earning a spot at the Busan International Film Festival.
The film draws deeply from Low’s personal experiences as both a former national fencer and sister to an autistic sibling. “Pierce” follows Zijie, a young fencer who reconnects with his estranged older brother Zihan after Han’s release from seven years in juvenile prison for killing an opponent during a fencing competition.
Believing Han’s claims of innocence, Zijie defies his mother’s attempts to erase Zihan from their lives and decides to help him.
As Zihan trains Zijie for the national championships, their relationship deepens. However, an argument triggers Zihan’s hostile past, leaving Zijie questioning whether his brother might actually be a violent sociopath.
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