Abang 1981

Synopsis

This film is about an elder brother, Faud who has leave his beloved family and his fiancée, Mona about 10 years. He leaves his family for such a long period because of his own secret and there are nobody knows about it. Telegram that stated he will be coming back has caused 2 of his brother worrying that Faud purpose is to get back what he should own. One night, Faud finally show up in front of his family. The reason that he back from London to his own country is because he misses his beloved family. Besides that, he wishes to know the conditions of his ex-fiances after he left her and their children. On the other hand, he also discloses that Farid has received the commission for sell the land to his Father. The return of Faud has solved the conflict of his family and yet Faud health conditions secret also being announced by his personal doctor to his family.

What do you like about the film?

After watching this film, I like the entire story line and is really touched after I watched it. Faud was suspected exposed to radiator when he save his sister from a chemical room regardless of own safety. As an older brother in the family, he chooses to leave when he knows he suffering from illness by not to be a burden to his family. Even though Faud suffering from illness but he tries his best to play the role as an elder brother in the family. On the other hand, behavior this family is a non traditional Malay family and yet they still preserve their roots in their own religion. For instance, In malay culture woman should be conservative. Inversely, Faud’s sister Dila wearing sleeveless dress while she is performing.

What do you dislike about the film?

            I dislike about the editing in this film because it has confusing me with the story, especially the part where Faud visit to Mona’s house to seek for her forgiven. Besides that the subtitle is blurred that I even could not see clearly about their conversation. It makes audience have to play back to watch again. Moreover, Faud is suffering from illness so that I think during the time he came back should show that he is suffer but I did not felt that he suffering Leukamia.

Which part of film you like or dislike?

            Part of this film that I like the most is where Faud back to his kampong. He spends the rest of time that left in his life at there. According to Marwan M (1972) stated that Hybridity has entered many academic arenas, ranging from traditional disciplines like literature, anthropology and sociology to interdisciplinary venues such as post colonial theory and performance studies. There is a hybrid in this scene where Faud wearing a songkok and he sincerely worship in mosque. Faud has spent so many years in London and yet he still preserves its root. Faud has different opinions towards a subject comparing to his brothers. He has its own way to handle the problem that Farid created. Moreover, Faud even make a huge amount of donations to the mosque and those who needs help in the kampong. I can feel that he is trying to help as much as people when he still hold the last breath. Faud enjoys his last few days in kampong with his buddy Diaman and many children.  

Highlight particular scenes from film.

            Scenes that I want to highlight will be the part where Faud personal doctor announced Faud’s health conditions to his family. All of them were shocked, especially Mona. After 10 years, Mona only realized the reason that Faud left her and their son. Mona was grieved and she can’t wait to see Abang Faud. Faud’s sister Dila put the blames on her because she thinks that Faud will expose to radiator because he saves her life regardless of self safety. When this secret being disclosed by doctor, family of Faud only realized the reason he left home for 10 years without even keep in touch with them. After they knew about this secret, they heading to the kampong for see Fuad’s last face. Nevertheless, it was too late for them to see him and abang Fuad has left this world peacefully.

Mise-en-scene

Costume and make up: Although this is a Malay film but most of the men in this film are wearing in a modern way. Most of the times they are wearing suit instead of Malay traditional costume. Besides that, Mona and Faud’s mother wearing baju kebaya in most of the time. However, they did not wear ‘Tudung’ or either ‘ Baju Kurung’. This can shows that there are non traditional Malays and they are slightly being westernize.

Location: In the scene where Fuad passed away could represents the memory of Fuad in this kampong. Fuad knows that he left not much of time so that Fuad chooses a place that he loves and then only to leave the world. Fuad loves this kampong a lots because this place if full with memory.

Mise-en-shot

Editing: The editing in this film is not really good. There are many sudden jump cuts. For example, Abang Faud visits to Mona’s house to seek for her forgiven. There are many sudden cuts in that scenes that confusing me. The shot of Mona and her husband hugging with each others, the cut to the established shot of their house and again is Faud’s face.

References

Marwan M. Kraidy (1972) Hybridity or the Cultural Logic of Globalization.

Retrieved 26 November 2011, from http://books.google.com.my/books?hl=en&lr=&id=3Ms7azOI8UgC&oi=fnd&pg=PR6&dq=cultural+hybridity&ots=LPvYFETJ5b&sig=rv1awWQDdUuT_Fk8wny91VE4t88#v=onepage&q=cultural%20hybridity&f=falseDR6s&sig=plmy0c_qTLJgit_lxgFNw9pHWJk&hl=en&ei=RSTBTvOqGJDyrQfmwbnkAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=shuhaimi%20baba%20selubung%20malaysian%20cinema&f=true

Metro Evergreen. Retrieved 26 November 2011, from

http://retroevergreen.com/filem/filem-melayu/abang-1981

Selubung - Suhaimi Baba

Synopsis

This film is about a girl, Mastura who studies in Perth, Australia who have a close friend named E.J. However, Mastura was disappointed with E.J because she chooses to marry with Brother Musa, who is a religious extremist group leader of Islam. E.J wants to give up her studies since she only left one year to graduate because she thinks that Brother Musa could lead her to the path of god instead of continue her studies. After E.J was married to Brother Musa, he forbid E.J to interact with Mastura and groups because he thinks that they are new modern generation and did not loyal with their religious. After graduated, Mastura was influenced by another close friend named Halim who are experienced in helping children in Palestine. Halim encourage Mastura to involve herself in Rescaid to voluntary helps those children who are suffering in the war at Middle East. Mastura fall in love with her superior, Kamal. She encouraged Kamal to join the community to help those children and also can enhance their relationship progress. When Mastura found out that Kamal was married and he is seeing with his wife, Sofia, she is totally pissed out and she intends to break up with Kamal. In addition, Mastura was seriously injured in an accident. Kamal was grieved because Mastura was unconscious in hospital.

What do you like about the film?

After watching this film, I found that this film perfectly portrait about feminism. Mastura she was a career woman which we can seen from her costume. We may know that she is a non traditional Malay woman although she is Muslim. The reason is because she was studied in Australia before so that her thinking is quite westernize and open minded. After Mastura was graduated, she offered a good job by a large company when she back to Malaysia. Moreover, although she is a career woman but she is still work as a voluntary worker in Rescaid to serve those Palestine children suffering from war in Middle East. Besides that, Mastura she was an independent woman in the society. She does not need any support from man but she can well handle everything. On the other hand, she has a good boyfriend to take care of her and assist her to serve to the children of Palestine. From this film, I think that it can encourage woman nowadays

What do you dislike about the film?

           

            I dislike about the Brother Musa who is from the extremist religious group who caused E.J withdraw from study and decided to marry him. Brother Musa has caused E.J nearly lose her best friends and she has stopped her studies since she just left one year to graduate. On the other, another wife of Brother Musa named Hani seriously suffered from emotionally unstable. Brother Musa seems like keep controlling two of his wife because he forbid two of them from interacting with others. According to Heide.W (2002,p211.) stated that the subsequent tragic episode of Hani killing E.J’s baby highlights the psychological disorientation caused by the cultural environment in which they are forced to live apart. Mastura and her groups are post modern Islamic group in the way the dressing so that Brother Musa thinks that they are not loyal towards their own religious. This is reason that he does not want E.J to be influenced by those who are out from his group. This extremist religious group makes me think that they think higher status of themselves.

Which part of film you like or dislike?

            Part of this film that I like the most is where Mastura was injured caused by the bomb outside the life. Mastura was massive loss of blood after the boom explored. From this part we can see that Kamal was worried about his lover because Mastura was injured seriously and her life was in danger. This can show Kamal sincerity towards Mastura and their relationship is being testing. Kamal accompany with Mastura without leaving her alone while Mastura is unconscious in the hospital. On the other hand, while Mastura was unconscious there are many butterflies in her ward. According to Heide.W (2002, p221-222) stated that the impact of this Malay cultural tradition is so powerful that she is suddenly surrounded by a multitude of butterflies, which her godfather suggests will bring her luck.   Therefore the butterflies surrounded with Mastura that means good luck always goes with her. Therefore, these butterflies have an implicit meaning that hopes are surrounded with Mastura.

Highlight particular scenes from film.

            Scenes that I want to highlight will be the part where Mastura found out E.J baby was died when she visit to Brother Musa house. Mastura felt scared after she saw E.J died baby so she keep avoiding from E.J for not seeing her anymore. After few years when E.J back to Malaysia and she try to contact with Mastura but Mastura rejects to meets up with her. However, Kamal enlighten Mastura and ask her to visit E.J. Mastura finally forget about the past and she even ask E.J to join the Rescaid to help those Palestine children, so that she able to forget about those unhappiness. From this scene can shows that the friendship between Mastura and E.J where Mastura always treated E.J as her good friends although E.J has decide to stop her studies and decided marry to Brother Musa. Mastura brings E.J step out from the sadness because E.J’s baby has died. She invites her to take part in Rescaid  for helping more children that suffered in Palestine.

Mise-en-scene

           

Action behavior: Hani was a mental problem woman in this film. In one of the scene that when she heard E.J ‘s baby were crying, she was feeling irritating so she take out a black plastic bag and put the baby into the plastic bag. E.J’s baby was died caused by suffocation. Hani acting can shows that her serious mental problem.

Costume and make up: Mastura she was a Malay girl who studied abroad in Perth. Her costume is much more modern due with the environment causes. However, her costume is still conservative because her background was an Islamic. When Mastura back to Malaysia, most of the time she is still wearing baju kurung. That could shows that Mastura outer looks like being westernize but her inner is a traditional Malay girl.

Location: In the scene where Mastura was injured caused by a western mystery man who set the bomb in the building of Rescaid. The reason of mystery man set the bomb is because Rescaid continue their campaign by ignores the content about the anonymous letter asking them to stop the campaign. That also could be representing that Mastura’s responsibility as a voluntary worker in Rescaid to serve those Palestine children in war. 

Mise-en-shot

Lighting: Most of the war scenes in this film are using low key lighting to create a strong shadow towards the subject. The effect of low key lighting can shows the tragedy that happened in war because there are many children are homeless or being killed. However, scenes where Mastura and Kamal appear mostly will be using high key lighting. The reason is because both of them falling in love with each other and also represents hopes between them.

Editing: Director Suhaimi Baba brings in many flashbacks insert into the film so that it caused jump cuts in many scenes. For example, while Kamal ask her why not visit E.J since she is back but the story jump to another scene. Through the editing, there are few scenes has created a sense of curiosity towards the progress of story in this film. For example, Mastura has decided not to avoid from E.J anymore. She has decided to visit her and when two of them see each other, the scene has been ended.

 REFERENCES

Heide.V.D.W (2002) Border Crossings and National  Cultures .

Retrieved 11 November 2011, from http://books.google.com.my/books?id=k3HTdu1HuWQC&pg=PA218&lpg=PA218&dq=shuhaimi+baba+selubung+malaysian+cinema&source=bl&ots=RWxef2DR6s&sig=plmy0c_qTLJgit_lxgFNw9pHWJk&hl=en&ei=RSTBTvOqGJDyrQfmwbnkAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=shuhaimi%20baba%20selubung%20malaysian%20cinema&f=true

Film Analysis Website 2.0. Retrieved 11 November 2011, from

http://classes.yale.edu/film-analysis/htmfiles/mise-en-scene.htm

Elements of Cinema. Retrieved 11 November 2011, from

http://www.elementsofcinema.com/directing/mise-en-scene.html