Julie's Biscuits explores family dynamics in first Deepavali short film 'The Duel'

Festive gatherings often bring together multiple generations, laughter, and, sometimes, probing questions from relatives that spark tension. Julie’s Biscuit seeks to reframe these moments in its first-ever Deepavali short film, The Duel, a witty and heartfelt story that encourages viewers to see family interactions through a kinder lens.

Set against the backdrop of a bustling and vibrant Deepavali open house, the story captures a typical Malaysian festive celebration where multiple generations come together to reconnect and celebrate. The story follows two main characters: an outspoken aunt and a young woman, who play the mental game of what to say, and what not to say as they meet again at a home gathering. Their conversation and thoughts circled around stereotypical tension-inducing topics such as marriage, appearances and lifestyle choices. 

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Their verbal sparring is framed as a cowboy-style duel, echoing the cinematic standoff of a cowboy showdown played in the TV in the background. Just as tensions rise over the introduction of the young woman's boyfriend, her grandmother enters the scene with her own set of probing questions directed at the two. As that unfolds, what seemed to be a confrontation towards both the aunt and niece, transforms into recognition that beneath every probing question or comment lies an earnest desire to connect.

“We are excited to present our first Deepavali short film, a thought-provoking project that speaks directly to the heart of what family means to us,” said Tzy Horng Sai, director of Julie’s Biscuits. “Festive seasons often stir up family tensions from the past yet remind us that family can also unite us. The Duel explores these conflicting dynamics as opportunities to create deeper understanding." He also added: "Our hope is that this short film will spark reflection and encourage viewers to embrace the different ways love is expressed across generations."

Produced in collaboration with GOVT Singapore, executive creative director Kevin Poh explained the concept: “We wanted to tell a simple yet relatable story that most Malaysian Indians experience during their Deepavali house visits, where unspoken judgements from relatives surface," he said. "To bring these ‘silent’ judgements to life, we employed the metaphor of the good ol’ Western shoot-out to capture festive fun, showing that even old-fashioned comments often come from love and concern. The Duel reminds us that we’re all still connected through tradition and affection, even when we least expect it."

The short film is now available on Julie’s official YouTube channel, inviting viewers to share it with loved ones this Deepavali. Complementing the festive narrative, Julie’s 'Butter crackers' make a cameo, highlighting their flaky texture and subtle creamy butter taste. Perfect for gifting or snacking, the crackers can be enjoyed alone or with sweet and savory toppings. They are available at major retail stores as well as Julie’s official Shopee and Lazada flagship stores.

In March, Julie's Biscuits invited Malaysians to embark on a journey of reflection and to question the true meaning of forgiveness, through its brand film, titled "Selamat lari Raya". The story follows a man named Johan who spent his life running from his problems and past. Played by popular Malaysian actor Fimie Don, Johan's life was anything but easy having been orphaned at a young age. He was raised by his grandparents but eventually fell in the wrong crowd. This led him down a path of crime and ultimately, prison.

Last year, the biscuit brand tackled gender biases and stereotypes in artificial intelligence (AI) in its Raya ad titled "A Raya A.I.dilfitri ad". In the film, three marketers at Julie's are seen using AI called AdGPT to make a Raya ad to promote the brand's love letters biscuits. They are however met with several issues such as extra fingers on the characters, and gender biases and stereotypes that can't be changed despite giving AdGPT specific prompts.

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