“No one believed me when I said I was doing a love story! They said, ‘Oh, the story is probably going to have a lot of shooting and explosions, right?’ And I said, ‘It’s a love story drama!’

“Everyone sees me as an action-movie director. But I see myself as more than that – more of a storyteller,” the 39-year-old told FMT Lifestyle.

While high-octane flicks may have brought Teh to prominence, the Penang-born filmmaker actually has a diverse body of work. And with “Reversi”, he wanted to challenge himself by directing something out of his wheelhouse.

The film tells the story of Akid (Beto Kusyairy), a man who can travel through time. He also deeply loves his wife and son. Despite preferring not to use his abilities, difficult circumstances lead Akid to try correcting his past in the hope of a better future. This turns out to have serious consequences.

Jointly produced by Act 2 Pictures, Clover Films and Golden Screen Cinemas, “Reversi” also stars Shiqin Kamal as Akid’s wife Sarah, Vanidah Imran, and Hasnul Rahmat.

“It’s not just about love between a husband and wife; it’s also about love for family. It’s about second chances: what if you undid the things that happened in your past?” said Teh, who wrote the script about eight years ago.

While “Reversi” has yet to make its local debut, it has been chosen as the sole Malaysian movie to screen at the 26th Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy from April 24-May 2, marking its world premiere there.

This would make it Teh’s second film to premiere and compete in the festival, following “The Assistant” two years ago.

And despite the sci-fi elements, Teh said he tried to make “Reversi” feel grounded by striking a balance between the best elements of commercial and arthouse filmmaking.

“My intention was to tell the story in the way that it deserves. For example, in a commercial film, there’s a certain formula you usually have to follow. Here, I tried to move away from it and spend more time on Akid’s journey as his character develops.”

Beto, meanwhile, revealed that he had enjoyed reading the script upon receiving it, even if the theme of time travel implied changing destiny and playing God, which seemed to be at odds with his religious beliefs.

Following a long discussion with Teh, however, he understood and appreciated that the film aimed at tackling real and important contemporary issues.

To create his character, the 44-year-old actor said he drew upon his own experiences with loss, as well as those of his friends and family.

“It was very difficult at times, emotion-wise; it drained a lot of my energy. But I’m very glad to have done this. Everyone in the cast and crew really came through to put this together very nicely,” he added.

Co-star Shiqin also had physical challenges to deal with during the film’s shooting, as her character Sarah teaches aikido. This meant the actress had to take an express class in this martial art for about two months.

“It was tiring at first because of all the flipping here and there! But eventually I got used to it,” Shiqin shared with a laugh.

Overall, the cast and team behind “Reversi” hope Malaysian audiences will enjoy the film, which they believe tells a relatable tale in a unique and creative way.

“It’s not a story you see very much in a Malaysian-made movie. I think it will touch people in different ways, depending on their life experiences,” Teh concluded.

‘Reversi’ is scheduled for release in Malaysian cinemas later this year.