For this week's class, we didn't watch any feature film. Instead, we watched 3 short films which are "Duit Kecil", "Lollipop" and "Meter" released in 15Malaysia project.
15Malaysia was a short film project launched in conjunction with Malaysia Independence Day in 2009. It featured 15 short films from 15 renowned Malaysian filmmakers such as late Yasmin Ahmad, Ho Yuhang, Nam Ron, Amir Muhammad, Liew Seng Tat. The content of these short films mainly concerns with the socio-political issues in Malaysia. All of 'em are controversial but filmmakers are free to speak up by making their short films!
"Duit Kecil", written and directed by Johan John, starring Nam Ron (the filmmaker!) and Ilya Qastalanni. It's about a guy (acted by Nam Ron) asks for small change after spending his time in the red light district. The prostitute (acted by Ilya Qastalanni) kept asking the guy whether he is joking at asking for small change because it sounds ridiculous. The prostitute insists she has no small change. While getting the small change, the guy and prostitute talk over the difficulties living in Malaysia. It has middle shot in all scenes, and close up shot to show the focus of Nam Ron has the money (which is the "main character") in his hand. The dim lighting helps to establish a sense of lack of hope.
At first, the guy searches around the place to look for which lady suits his preference. It's like political leaders only do what benefit them. Besides, this short film depicts Nam Ron as a person who has higher social status, as in he is capable to spend for the wants in life. At the same time, he is stingy, he even ask her hurry up to get him the small change, ask for discount, ask for freebies. The prostitutes portrays the citizens who struggles for their livings due to bad economy. From taxi fares, food price to salary. Not only that, the high social status man even look down on the prostitutes because it is considered as a degrading profession. (The irony part, they still go for the prostitutes for sexual pleasure!) The society think the job is immoral and cheap. This is quite a reality in the society nowadays, people judge and jump to conclusion too fast. Well, I think no one has the right to judge a person's profession as they made their own choices. You may know them, but you don't know their stories. Every job deserve a respect. High social status doesn't mean you're the best in everything.
Next up, deng deng deng deng...
Nam Ron's short film, "Lollipop", written and directed by himself, starring Bront Palarae.
"Lollipop" is about a pedophile hunts for kids and kidnap them by using lollipop - kid's favourite! Without a dialogue, Bront Palarae transforms himself to a pedophile by having a creepy look, breathing heavily, and even masturbate while thinking of the child as sex object. Hmm I really don't want to relate him to Rahman the sports commentator in the "Ola Bola" film released this year but his acting is fabulous! I think somehow the masturbating part will be edited out in Malaysia due to censorship but Bront Palarae fulfilled his character requirements, cool and brave!
The short film uses lollipop as as symbol of male sexual organ, ok, but child is naive, they might not think more than that. They just think someone is nice to offer them something, they are happy and receive it. But who knows, they are in the trap!
Actually "Lollipop" is trying to poke at the rising child sexual abuse and crime cases happen in Malaysia. However, the authorities fail to solve the problem. UHHHHH...
Here you go, the next short film...
"Meter", directed by Benji Lim along with the principal cast Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ), a political figure who is currently a federal minister of youth and sport & head of UMNO Youth. Incredible cast who acted as taxi driver with star-studded passengers!
Benji's short film employed documentary style while having KJ acted as a taxi driver being interviewed on some controversial topics like party-hopping, importance of English and gave his perspectives while fetching his passengers. But most of the time, his perspectives are contradicting with his behaviours, and he even blamed the passengers for behaving the inappropriate act. For instance, he goes mad talking about how Malaysians hang out at the mamak in the midnight to show supports for foreign football teams, his passengers reveals himself is a fan of a foreign football team. But guess what? His phone ringtone ringing "Glory Glory Manchester United". In addition, when he mentioned the importance of learning English (with his grammatically incorrect English), the next moment he questions his Malay passenger for not speaking Malay, because he is a Malay...
Think before you speak, or act like how you speak, double faced people -_-
Don't some political leaders behave like that? They change their stance, their words within few days or month? Or even blame the journalists for wrong reporting?
I have watched Ho Yuhang's "Potong Saga" (not Proton Saga though) few months ago. His approach is hilarious by presenting one of the misconceptions hold by Malaysians. Yasmin Ahmad's "Chocolate" is lovely too, the inter-racial element made me reminisce her award-winning film "Sepet" :)
We Malaysians know that it's hard and sensitive to discuss the socio-political issues publicly, so I think it's a pretty interesting way to voice it out through short films. The filmmakers are able to highlight the issues by presenting it via the ideologies with their styles (Mostly sarcasm, comedy...) in it. Well done! I learned some issues from there too :)
You can click here to watch the full list of 15Malaysia short films. You should!
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