Wet Season

Ling, portrayed by Yeo Yann Yann, is a dedicated Malaysian Chinese teacher in her late thirties, grappling with the challenges of trying to conceive through in vitro fertilisation alongside her husband Andrew, played by Christopher Ming-Shun Lee. Their journey is further complicated as Ling also tends to her father-in-law, who is bedridden due to a stroke and unable to communicate, while Andrew frequently finds himself away from home. During a visit to a gynaecologist, Ling learns about having two mature follicles, hinting at potential hope for her pregnancy journey.

Outside the clinic, she encounters Kok Wei Lun, acted by Koh Jia Ler, a student who has developed a crush on her, recently sidelined from his wushu training due to injuries and using crutches. Showing kindness, Ling offers to assist Wei Lun in getting home, where she discovers he is living alone because his parents are abroad for work.

As Ling conducts remedial classes for some students, her absence leads to their departure, leaving only Wei Lun behind when she returns with durians gifted by her brother, who sells them. The two share the fruits in the classroom, allowing their friendship to blossom. Wei Lun starts seeking Ling’s help more often for schoolwork, eventually visiting her home where he unintentionally stumbles upon her father-in-law. The bond strengthens as Wei Lun invites Ling and her father-in-law to support him at a national wushu competition, where he triumphs and earns a gold medal, solidifying their familial relationship.

Tragedy strikes when Ling’s father-in-law passes away peacefully in his sleep. During the wake, family tensions arise as her siblings-in-law decide to sell their deceased father’s property. Ling faces further devastation when she uncovers Andrew’s infidelity with another woman who has a child; they attend the wake together, deepening Ling’s sense of isolation. In her loneliness, she drives Wei Lun home and ends up in a vulnerable situation where he advances on her. Despite her hesitation, Ling becomes entangled in a complex emotional and physical affair with Wei Lun, resulting in a spiral of regret as he begins to stalk her after she attempts to distance herself.

The truth of their relationship comes to light when the school principal discovers Wei Lun getting into a fight due to compromising photos taken on his phone. Faced with a dilemma and the pressures of potential career advancement, the principal suggests Ling take time off work to avoid any added complications.

In a poignant last drive together, Ling conveys the impossibility of continuing their affair. Heartbroken, Wei Lun exits the car and runs into an open field, where their emotional confrontation unfolds in the rain. Ling tries to console him, advising him to learn to deal with rejection. Following this tumult, Ling chooses to divorce Andrew, who then stipulates that he will not be responsible for any children should she become pregnant using his frozen sperm. Ling confidently asserts her choice to reject this option and sends her best wishes to Andrew as they part ways.

After a startling discovery of her own pregnancy through a home test, Ling is enveloped in a chaotic swirl of emotions amid the emptiness of her apartment, preparing for sale. She returns to her hometown of Taiping, Malaysia, reconnecting with her roots as she helps her mother with mundane chores while reflecting on her past and gazing at the sun—a metaphor for the light and hope she had once sought but never received during her time in Singapore.

Last Updated: November 16, 2024 at 15:44