Kaki Bakar & Jogho

Synopsis

The film of Kaki Bakar and Jogho is directed by U-Wei Haji Saari. The film Kaki Bakar is talking about a man, Kakang who bring his strong Javanese traditional minded when he bring his family moved to Malaysia. His strong Javanese minded always results a conflict in this Malay society. Kakang’s family always treated strictly by him, especially the youngest son Kusuma. Kakang wants Kusuma always hold himself Javanese spirit when he turned to a man but not like those people are waiting for the subsidies. Kusuma always loyal to his father although Kakang always scolding him. While Kusuma saw his father being interrogate by Tok Empat and few people, he was very angry. Kakang refuses to pay the damages on carpet for Kassim and he decided to burn down the smokehouse of Kassim. Kusuma always side his father although Kakang doing wrong things because he always show his loyalty to his father.

The film Jogho is about a Malay trainer, Mamat trains his fighting bulls for making money in South Thailand. Mamat and his brother Lazim bring the outlawed fighting bulls culture to South Malaysia. Mamat stays with his wife and 3 daughters and one of his only son was sent to Kelantan for pursue his studies. Mamat has high expectation on his son and wants him to get better education although they are living in hardship. Lazim was killed by Isa at the bulls fighting arena and makes Lazim’s son gone into the town and killed Isa’s son. This incident caused Mamat was arrested by the Thailand state police and it caused Mamat’s wife alone to manage their family and to take care of bull. After Mamat was bailed out by his wife, Isa shoots Mamat at the arena for revenge him. While Mamat able to wrests the gun from Isa, he did not killed Isa because he tired of Malay killed Malay. After that Lazim’s son, Sani take the chance to shoots on Isa. When the Police come, Mamat chooses take the responsibility as murderer in order to protect Sani.

What do you like about the film?

After watching this film, I found that these 2 films is perfectly and strongly portrait the theme of loyalty, family, religion and the cultural tradition that we should have on ourselves. Between these 2 films, I would prefer Kaki Bakar because the bond between Kakang and his family is very strong. Kakang is the head of family who willing to do everything for the sake of his family because he ever told his son that ‘without family we are nothing’. On the other hand, Kakang is someone who always fights for independence and freedom so that he tired of people there who always wait for the subsidies for living. Kakang always teaches his children, especially Kusuma should always hold for Javanese spirit but not acts like those who are waiting for spoon fed. Director has portrayed the real life community into this film.

What do you dislike about the film?

           

            I dislike about this 2 films mainly focusing man are the head of the family, so that woman have to listen to their husband or father. In the film ‘Kaki Bakar’, Kakang’s wife and daughter are afraid towards him because he was a hot temper husband and father. Moreover, there is no one could stop him from what he wants to do. Even though what he does is crime or immoral, there is nobody could stop him for doing that. In this 2 films make me feels that woman are weak and only responsible in doing house chores and cook the meal for man.

Which part of film you like or dislike?

            Part of this film that I like the most in ‘Kaki Bakar’is where on the way Kakang bring Kusuma to find the rich land owner, both of them walk through a narrow road. Kakang told Kusuma about his past where how he guide those soldier to fight with Dutch and guide him how to be a real man to manage the entire family. On the other hand, he also reminds Kusuma for not being an ungrateful person and always remembers his origin. This part of scene makes feel the relationship between them is getting near although Kakang always scold his children. Director has portrayed strong family values in this film.

            The part of film that I like the most in ‘Jogho’ is where Mamat has the chance to shoot on Isa but he refuses to do so in the end. Mamat thinks that there is no point for him to kill the same race as him. However, he chooses to take the responsibility as a murderer although he was not the real culprit. Lazim is his close brother so that he thinks that he has to proctect Sani because he was Lazim’s son.

Highlight particular scenes from film.

            Scenes that I want to highlight will be the part where after Kakang was shoots by the rich landowner Kassim when he was found to burn the smoke house. From this scene I can see Kusuma only is the son of Kakang can understand about what their father did is for their family’s good. Due to the carpet incident, Kakang refuses to pay for Kassim because he thinks that his family is living in hardship by striving for money and he also that thinks there is no point for him to pay for the damages. So Kakang decided to burn the smokehouse. After Kakang was died, Kusuma ran and cried because he recalls back on what his father has taught him. On the other hand, he found that he is the only one who can truly understand their father intention is for the whole family’s good. Kusuma knows that his father wants them not to be like those people who waiting for spoon fed and wants them to stick to family not matter what happened. Moreover, Kusuma also learned that his father wants him not to be an ungrateful people and always remember our origin wherever we go. Nevertheless, Kakang has got repay for what he has did but his intention is for his family because he think that he is the head of family so he is responsible to take good care of the family. After watching this film, I can feel how noble of Kakang as a father, although he did a lots of wrong things but he always wants his children for doing good things. This film is totally different from the story of ‘Jogho’ , but ‘ Kaki Bakar’ has touched me.

Mise-en-scene

           

Director using this character ,Kakang and his action is to shows that the old soldier stubborn behavior and Javanese spirit in this film.On the other hand, costumes and make up of character rich landowner in the film’ Kaki Bakar’.has clearly showed that his status is different from others. However, in the film ‘ Jogho’ character costume can strongly shows their spirit in bull fighting.

Mise-en-shot

Most of the scenes in ‘Kaki Bakar’ are using low key lighting so that audience need to pay extra attention to watch the film. However, In the film’ Jogho’, director less to use low key lighting but many of the scenes are outdoor, for instance Bull fighting arena. Editing in the film ‘Kaki Bakar’ is a little bit draggy and maybe this is one of the Director U-wei's style. For instance scenes where Kakang and his family spend their night beside the river. His wife and children are preparing dinner for them. However, in another film of U-wei ‘Jogho’ is very smooth and less draggy that audience can follow the flow of the story. There are many extreme long shot technique using in ‘Kaki Bakar’. For example, scene where Kakang and his family found themselves a new home. However, extreme long shots are less to used by director in the film of ‘Jogho’. Director is now more using long shot comparing to extreme long shot. On the other hand, in both film the director loves to use camare pan to show what is going to happen or the director movements in the next.

Reference

David.A.G, Staigner.J (1966). Authorship and Film. Retrieved 4 December 2011 from http://books.google.com.my/books?hl=en&lr=&id=t8j_udZi0sMC&oi=fnd&pg=PP11&dq=+film+authorship&ots=OKuuXKB2Yj&sig=Ml1I-wQ0ksqjx2y1ZRw9bAjPux0#v=onepage&q=authorship&f=false