Tam Cam by Anne Thu Pham

a story retold

by Anne Thu Pham

h

A story about

two half-sisters

Creative Direction, Styling, Photography & Illustration: Anne Thu Pham

The eldest is named Tam and the youngest is named Cam

Milli wears dress by Kristina Cugalj, Pris wears dress by Betty Liu

One day, the stepmother tells Tam and Cam to go to the field to catch fishes.

While Tam is washing her hair, Cam transfers all the fishes from Tam’s basket to hers and go home.

Milli wears dress by Kristina Cugalj, Pris wears dress and head pieces by Betty Liu

Soon after, the king hosts a festival. He invites people from everywhere to attend, including Tam and her family. On the way to the festival,  crossing a stone bridge, Tam drops a slipper and cannot get it back. The king found the slipper and commends he shall marry whoever fits.

Tam and the King are happily married.

Yangqi wears printed coat by Jason Clark and shoes by Bottega Veneta. Milli wears dress by Benjamin Rando, shoes by SJP.

Pris wears dress by FK Salee and headpiece by Ivy Ngo. Milli wears dress by Nicole Gao and top by Marine Serre.

Cam tells Tam to climb on a tree to gather its fruit for the her father’s death ceremony. While Tam is doing so, the Cam chops down the tree, causing Tam to fall down and die.

Tam reincarnates into an oriole.

Milli wears dress by Nicole Gao. Yangqi wears shirt and pants by Jason Clark, shoes by Bottega Veneta

Cam butchers the oriole, eats it, and then buries its feather in the royal garden. From where the feathers were buried grow two peach trees.

The trees bend itself to provide shade for the king.

Noticing the two trees that somehow appeared in the royal garden, the king believes they are also a sign from Tam.

Cam burns the trees down and throws the ash far away from the palace.

The wind carries the ashes far away before they eventually land.

From the ash grows a golden apple tree.

The tree only bears one fruit. A crone soon crosses by the tree and brings the golden apple home as a home decor. She finds Tam appear from the apple and finish all her houseworks when she’s not home. She adopts Tam as her daughter.

The king come across the crone’s house and stops to rest. Tam appears. The king gladly brings Tam back to the palace.

Milli wears dress by Betty Liu and shoes by Jil Sander. Yangqi wears printed coat by Jason Clark.

Later when Tam has returned to the palace, Cam sees how Tam is still beautiful as ever. She begs Tam to reveal her beauty secret.

Tam tells her to jump down a hole.

Tam then pours boiling water onto her, kills Cam and uses her corpse to make fermented sauce.

Milli wears dress by Brendan Lummer and shoes by Rick Owens. Pris wears dress by Betty Liu and top by Issey Miyake

Pris wears dress by Betty Liu and top by Issey Miyake

A deepest gratitude to my collaborators: Co-Styling: The Long Truong Set Design: Ivy Ngo Flower Arrangement: Katy Chu and her team Photography Assistants: Ash Mountford, Jonathan Rae Cinematographer and Editor: Serena Siow Makeup Artist: Yasmin Goonweyn Hair Stylist: Diana Jalo Talents: Millicent Lee, Priscilla Cui, Yanqi Liu General assistants: Nam Phuong Vo, Toan Qui Tran, Anton Grabreck