TFFS 2026: The Waves Will Carry Us (2025)

As part of Taiwan Film Festival in Scotland 2026: From the Mountain, From the Sea, we are delighted to present The Waves Will Carry Us (人生海海), the award-winning feature by Malaysian-born director Lau Kek-Huat (廖克發).

When Ah Yao returns to Malaysia for his father's funeral, he expects a period of mourning. Instead, his family becomes embroiled in a legal and religious dispute when authorities insist that his father, who had secretly converted to Islam, must be buried according to Islamic rites.

Refusing to accept the decision, Ah Yao and his siblings embark upon an unexpected journey that confronts questions of faith, identity, belonging, and family memory.

Blending sharp humour with emotional depth, The Waves Will Carry Us explores the complexities of the Sinophone world and the ways migration, religion, and history continue to shape personal and collective identities across borders.