About Tiger Stripes

Tiger Stripes is the tale of a teenager’s metamorphosis and thrilling empowerment. 

A portrayal that we seldom see that combines school regulations and family routine in the depths of the jungle. The director blasts through society’s edicts by merging magical thinking and genre. A celebration of jubilant, youthful femininity. This cutesy, gritty, daring first feature - as dainty as it is caustic - casts a new spell on Malaysian and South-Asian cinema. 

Interview with Amanda Nell Eu

« I got the idea of Tiger Stripes when I was thinking about these physical changes that we all go through, that poignant transition period from child to adult we call puberty. I personally hated the experience, and I remember discovering things on my body, wishing so hard for these things to go away. On top of that, I disliked it when people would point out these changes and openly talk about my body. I felt uncomfortable, insecure, and, at times, even monstrous.

I think we still have problems with gender equality in Malaysia on a political scale and also socially. But, although this story is set in my country, there is still a huge issue universally regarding social views on women.

Horror was the introduction to my passion for cinema. I am incredibly fond of genre as it allows me to be playful and express my humorous side. I’m also fascinated by the belief in the supernatural within South East Asian cultures. These oral tales are deeply embedded in our society.

We had a long casting process and met over 200 girls, all this time during the pandemic. As we could not visit schools to host auditions, we found girls through Tiktok and Instagram instead. Zafreen Zairizal, who plays the role of Zaffan, was actually the first girl we met in the entire casting process, and I could not forget her. From the first day I met her, I knew that she had this fire inside that was ready to be unleashed. »