Michelle Yeoh Is Everyone Everywhere All At Once In Self-Portrait’s Short Film, Sandiwara

Five. Different. Characters. All played by Michelle Yeoh. All sharing the screen with each other. They are: The Hawker, Vlogger, Waitress, Critic and Singer. Each character has her own wardrobe, aesthetic, and attitude. Han tells me, “We spent a lot of time with Michelle working through each of the looks, so that they felt honest to her, and in keeping with how she was going to perform as each character.” And it shows.

And of course, central to Sandiwara is Penang’s celebrated food scene. Baker’s approach treats the city not as a backdrop but as a living, breathing character in the story – and the food is its language. The film features some of the island’s most beloved dishes such as Hainanese Chicken, Char Kway Teow, Loh Bak, Nasi Kandar and Penang Nasi Lemak.

Each dish is a reflection of the island’s multicultural culinary identity – and Han’s deeply personal connection to home. “Every time I return, it feels so familiar, while at the same time making me think about how far I’ve come on my own journey,” he shares.