Locally produced movies tend to be dismissed by the Malaysian collective consciousness as being substandard, unoriginal or downright dull versions of their international counterparts. Yes, shots are being fired, though I think this sentiment resonates with the majority of moviegoers here… please don’t throw popcorn at me if I’m wrong.
Occasionally, a true motion picture gem gets washed ashore from the sea of mediocrity and we squeal in delight like beach tourists would at rare sea turtle landings in Terengganu. For the upcoming Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival 2016 (YSDAF2016), they have three such gems to showcase this time around.
A platform that celebrates artistry and creativity in its many forms, YSDAF2016 will present exclusive screenings of Terbaik Dari Langit, Lelaki Harapan Dunia and Jagat. The three films, all of which were produced by local talents and scored high reviews, are very distinctive so you’ll be experiencing very different flavours and themes between them.
Directed by young Nik Amir Mustapha, Terbaik Dari Langit is a tale about four friends, reunited after being apart for 15 years, embarking on a journey together, searching for a UFO. Strained conversations and delves into their past soon transforms the trip from a search for the truth to an exploration into friendship, self-discovery and betrayal.
Liew Seng Tat’s comedy, Lelaki Harapan Dunia, garnered the Best Film award at 27th Malaysia Film Festival in 2015. Showcasing the local ’angkat rumah’ tradition, you will also get a glimpse into the dynamics that make up a typical Malaysian village in this hilarious satire. This one sounds like a deceptively insightful production that thinly veils its depth behind a jocular front.
One of the year’s most prolific movies, Jagat is a coming-of-age story set in the 90s. The protagonist struggles to abide to his dad’s strict rule while trying to resist being drawn into a life of crime. At first glance, it looks like the movie will eschew plot complexity for a relatively straightforward one that bets on hooking its audience through strong emotional resonance and well-delivered moral messaging.
Although Jagat has been nominated for nine categories, due to the lack of Bahasa Malaysia (less than 70%) being used in the script, controversy surrounds this film when it was recently segregated to a Non-Bahasa Malaysia film category in the 28th Malaysia Film Festival (FFM28).
The guys behind the festival testify that these movies are in a league of their own, so get ready to immerse yourself in the diversity of Malaysian cinema this 20th – 21st August at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac). It is open to the public and is free of charge. If you haven’t watched these films yet, you don’t have much to lose in return for probably appreciating the well-crafted labours of these talented local movie directors.
