Oasis

Fish, an aspiring painter, leaves the safe haven of home and moves into a dwelling unit inside an industrial building. Carrying a mixed bag of ambivalence and possibilities, her new independence shares the upsides and downsides of a subsistence living in the enclave of artists and musicians, where the strains of life – dissatisfaction with the government and an ever-looming threat of eviction – are tempered by a healthy dose of optimism and humour. The habitat of Fish and company may not be the land of la dolce vita but it’s an oasis of dreams in a desert of reality, however transient and haphazard.

Directed by Lam Sum, Oasis leans on a strong ensemble — Li Ting Xin, Zams Yu, Cheng Ching Yin — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2012.