Céline Roustan
It’s lunch break at a furniture store and when an employee makes a simple mistake – forgetting the chili sauce in her boss’ order – it unleashes a situation that reveals the true nature of their power dynamic. In Mop, writer/director Joon Fong Goh paints a gripping portrait of a complicated and twisted sadomasochistic relationship between two women, whose workplace hierarchy is established by pushing the limits of his concept and playing with the audience’s expectations.
“I wanted to make visible the invisible, and bring to the surface all the messy, fucked up things we do to each other”
Goh confessed that the core idea of the film came from his children, who used him first as a chair, and later other pieces of furniture, when they were playing. “I thought it could be an interesting metaphor for the ways we are dependent on each other, and the ways we use each other”, he explained. Adding that he believes “every relationship is sadomasochistic” and that “we hurt each other” and “love each other”. A realization that prompted him to capture this ever evolving shift in power dynamics, using a tangible metaphor to depict them in a way that is both delightfully twisted and effective. “I wanted to make visible the invisible, and bring to the surface all the messy, fucked up things we do to each other”, he adds.
Due to its concept, there is a certain absurdity to the film, yet this only enhances the psychological thriller and body horror elements of Mop. The atmosphere that Goh creates is unsettling, and the intimate nature of the stand-off between the protagonist contrasts perfectly with cold and mundane setting of the furniture store warehouse. Stylist Shahnaz Bahar and art director Ashley Tong reinforce this contrast, crafting a sterile environment that clashes with how the protagonists’ relationship gets exposed over the runtime of the film.
Mia Sabrina and Lim Mei Fen star as colleagues with a complicated relationship in Mop
The film’s sound design by Mohsin Othman and Krychell is an integral part to making it feel so raw. Paired with Tan Teck Zee’s cinematography, and Gogularaanjan Rajendran’s sharp edit, they make each scene feel extremely captivating and immersive by engaging the audience viscerally. There is no blood in the film, yet its physical dimension is so potent, with pain transpiring from the screen. Goh and his team expertly build the tension throughout Mop, keeping the audience holding their breath until the climax provides a well deserved release.
The two lead actresses, Mia Sabrina and Lim Mei Fen, deliver powerful performances, conveying the emotional layers of their relationship with depth. With very little dialogue, they portray their characters in the present moment – what they say and what they truly feel – while also capturing their shared history and the nuances of their intimacy. Choreographed by Din Sabah, they mostly communicate physically, vividly portraying the cycle of pain and love they share.
Ahead of its online debut, Mop began its festival journey at the 2023 edition of Fantastic Fest, before screening at events around the world.