Reviews
Rabun (My Failing Eyesight)
Released: 11th April 2003
I have only recently watched Rabun as it was the hardest film to get hold of due to the controversial issues that were raised in Malaysia thus the strict censorship. Being exposed to the later films of Yasmin Ahmad and her first film, Rabun is to me the most enchanting of the lot. Rabun is intimate yet playful but not offensive. As a Singaporean, I am baffled by the strict censorship that was imposed by FINAS as the story was basically portraying the loving relationship of an elderly couple who are still so much in love. In the movie, it can be seen how dependant Pak Atan is to Mak Inom due to his failing eyesight. Their banters are also so similar to that of my own parents. This is one of the main reasons why I decided on Yasmin Ahmad's movies as I could relate to them in my own personal life. I felt entirely immersed in them and seeing parts of people that I know in the characters that Yasmin Ahmad created in her films.
SEPET (CHINESE EYE)
Released: 24th February 2004
Sepet has been one of my favourite movies ever since I watched it when I was 13 years old. It is a love story that is forbidden and seen as taboo in a controversial country between Jason, a chinese boy and Orked, a malay girl and how their love story unrevels. Yasmin Ahmad's interviews have revealed that she did not intend to make films that highlighted racism however it seems as though her films and commercials do.
But the thing that made Sepet very special to me was Orked's relationship with her father and the things that her father would do and say to her. It reminded me of everything that my father would do for me. Waiting for me to come home at night, him asking me if I was okay when I was not and the scene when she was leaving to do her scholarship and they were all seated at the steps combing each other's hair. His humour was exactly like my father's.
This movie said so many things to me that love is love. Orked said that at the end of the day "you love who you love" and I think this was the message of Sepet. That no matter the race, the status or the economic standing, love was still love.
MUALLAF (THE CONVERT)
Released: 27th November 2008
Muallaf is a heart warming movie about love for a higher being. In this sense the love for God, no matter the religion. The movie revolves around two sisters who ran away from home due to an abusive father. Their father is someone who is of status (Datuk) but he behaves badly and directly goes against Islamic beliefs such as drinking alchohol. The movie constantly tackles controversial issues about Islam and the overlap of religions such as the similar beliefs of Catholics and Muslims. Brian is a teacher in the school where the younger sister goes to and finds a liking to her older sister. He learns from him the importance of forgiveness towards others and towards oneself. also talks about forgiveness. Forgiveness on to those who hurt others. There is a scene whereby the sisters are going to sleep and recites a prayer whereby they both say "do we forgive the people that have hurt us today?" and then Rohani says that "it is in forgiving that we are forgiven". This scene really hits home. Not only does it talk about forgiving others but it also speaks about the liberation that comes with it. It is in forgiving that we are forgiven for our sins. This is one of Yasmin Ahmad's greatest beliefs in life that in order to be forgiven herself she must first forgive others.
