For many people with disabilities, intimacy is not simply a private matter; it is influenced by social barriers, misunderstandings, and often, limitations placed on them by others. There is a persistent assumption that people with disabilities are either asexual or should not pursue romantic or physical relationships at all. Families can become overprotective, sometimes out of love, but also out of fear. Society, too, tends to avoid conversations around disability and desire, making it even harder for individuals to explore this part of their identity openly. As a result, something as natural as touch, connection, or love can become complicated and even denied.

This is the space where Someone Like Me finds its voice.

Directed by Tam Wai-ching, the film is her second feature and a confident return after a long break since her debut, In Your Dreams (2017). Known as a novelist, Tam brings a strong sense of storytelling into her filmmaking, and with this project, she proves just how far she has come. While she has openly reflected on the limitations of her earlier work, Someone Like Me is a thoughtful and emotionally powerful film. It is a project that knows exactly what it wants to say, and more importantly, how to say it.

At the centre of the story is Mui (Fish Liew: Cold War 1994, Night King), a woman in her thirties living with cerebral palsy. She is creative, socially active, and far more independent than those around her might assume. Yet despite her strength, she is constantly trying to find her place in a world that does not quite know how to treat her. At home, her life is closely monitored, particularly by her mother, whose concern often crosses into control. It is within this environment that one of the film’s central conflicts emerges: Mui’s right to make decisions about her own body and future.

What I truly appreciated in this film is how Tam created the character of Mui. She is not described solely by her condition – she has desires, frustrations, curiosity, and a strong determination to understand herself better. When she learns about the possibility of exploring intimacy through unconventional means, it opens a door that has long been closed to her, not just physically but emotionally.

Someone Like Me focuses on the emotional impact of these experiences: the hesitation and the gradual building of trust. The connection that develops between Mui and Ken (Carlos Chan: Castom Frontline), the man she meets through this journey, is complex. It is not a simple romance, nor is it meant to be; some boundaries and realities cannot be ignored.

Carlos Chan brings depth to Ken, portraying a character who is not without his own struggles. His performance adds an important balance to the story, showing that strong emotions exist on both sides. However, Fish Liew is the star of the film. After a long search for the right actress, Tam found in Liew someone capable of capturing the physical and emotional sides of Mui. It took many months for the actress to embrace the character, and the result is outstanding.

Someone Like Me confronts difficult truths. It challenges the audience to rethink assumptions about disability and intimacy. It asks uncomfortable questions: Who gets to decide what a “normal” life looks like? Why is desire still seen as something that needs to be controlled or hidden in certain bodies? And what does it truly mean to have ownership over one’s own life?

It is also worth noting how important films like this are. Stories about people with disabilities are still too often told from an outside perspective or simplified to clichés. Someone Like Me does something different; it gives space to a voice that is rarely heard, and it does so with empathy and respect.

With this film, Tam shows clear growth as a director. She has taken a challenging subject and turned it into something beautiful and meaningful. As a storyteller, she has always had a strong foundation, but here she brings it fully to life on screen.

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Written by Maggie Gogler

Featured image courtesy of Emperor Motion Pictures HK Limited

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to film, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. As we continue to grow, we aim to deepen our coverage of Asian music while remaining committed to exploring and celebrating creativity across the global arts landscape.}