PEKAK (2016)

Genre: Drama
Running Length: 1:36
Cast: Zahiril Adzim, Sharifah Amani, Amerul Affendi, Iedil Putra, Sharifah Sakinah, Joe Flizzow
Director: Mohd Khairul Azri
Screenplay: Mohd Khairul Azri, based on an original story by Azril Hamzah and Alfie Palermo

The arresting starting frame of PEKAK, the directorial debut of Khairul Azri, virtually stopped me in my tracks. Every shot thereafter is beautifully shot and the set up is just downright compelling. I was thinking to myself, "Wow, this is actually a very good movie!" But a strange thing happened somewhere at the halfway mark; it took an obvious nosedive into a telemovie territory.

I'm not sure what happened after such a promising first half. It's as though the filmmakers ran out of budget because it felt like two movies directed by two different directors written by two different screenwriters. That said, let's talk about the better half first.

The movie starts off by introducing us to Uda, our protagonist (played convincingly by Adzim), a deaf drug pusher who is forced to sell drugs to save enough cash for a surgery to restore his hearing. In the process of his daily job, he crosses path with Amani's character, Dara, a school girl who comes from a broken family. Predictably, a romantic relationship forms and what ensues is a Shakespearean tragedy-like tale.

Everything about the movie (well, at least the first half) is beautiful and it is has a somewhat poetic rhythm to it. The score is hypnotic. It is peppered with symbolism eg. Uda temporarily mends Dara's torn dress using a name tag with her name on it. And the build up is good where there is a genuine sense of dread and danger for our star-crossed lovers.

The casting choices are fitting as the audience could immediately relate to the characters. Very believable acting from the cast especially our supporting actors;  Affendi and Sakina. There are some risque scenes shown which are pretty bold for a local production.

Clearly, the folks behind Pekak understands filmmaking. So that's why it is really puzzling for me what happened to the second half of the film, where even the climatic resolution curiously turned into a Game of Thrones like sequence.  

In conclusion, this indie film is no Jagat but it comes pretty close.

Rating: 7/10

THE JOURNEY (2014)

Genre: Family/Drama
Running Length: 1:42
Cast: Ben Pfeiffer, Joanne Yew, Sai Peng Lee
Director: Chiu Keng Guan

I finally caught our locally produced THE JOURNEY and...it was worth every bit of the hype it has generated (and still is) on social media and social settings. The movie is marketed as an east-west/father-daughter-Ang Moh son-in-law tension themed story but if you peel away the layers of expected cultural and traditions nuances, the core of it is a beautiful and quiet story of forgiveness, reconciliation and closure. Other than the Caucasian lead, the rest of the actors are amateurs - I am glad the film makers went this route as this resulted to an authentic and honest performance on screen. And the production quality and photography are top notch. The Journey tells a tale of a Malaysian Chinese daughter seeking the blessings from her conservative elderly father to marry a foreigner but what ensues is a road trip of sorts and an alumni gathering.   After almost a month in the cinemas, the admissions has not declined (the cinema I was in was packed out with young  couples, families + their po-po and other ethnicity) and I can't help but smile that this critically acclaimed and commercially successful hit (it's currently the no.1 local movie of all time in the BO) will change the fate of Malaysian films. Of course, the Journey is not without its flaws but it's almost perfect for a Buatan Malaysia film.

Closing monologue: I suspect Malaysians are urging their friends, family and relatives to catch this film because it speaks deep into us. I find this quote from another movie fitting in expressing the feelings one will feel (well, at least for me) even during the show, "All of life is an act of letting go but what hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye. It's important in life to conclude things properly. Only then can you let go. Otherwise you are left with words you should have said but never did, and your heart is heavy with remorse."

Rating: 8.5/10