a malaysian abroad

It’s been a while since a malaysian abroad has done a Malaysia in the Movies post!  Today I’d like to feature Yasmin Ahmad, an internationally-acclaimed filmmaker who unfortunately meets with a lot of resistance from the local Malaysian entertainment authorities because the subject of her films usually cross race and gender barriers.

I first knew of her when those feel-good ads by Petronas started playing during the major public holidays: click to see some of Yasmin Ahmad’s advertisements on my other blog.  I’m not sure when I started to follow her blog (Part 1 & Part 2), but it’s been years, that’s for sure.  From there, even though I’ve not seen any of her films yet, I know of them and how they were (not) recieved in Malaysia yet went on to win so many awards overseas.

Her first movie was in 2003: Rabun (My Failing Eyesight), made for TV.  An elderly couple move out of the city to a village, but this exuberant and affectionate pair find that life in the countryside isn’t all that pleasant after all.

Next was Sepet (2004) (Slanted Eyes), her cinematic debut:  One Chinese VCD peddler, one relatively well-to-do Malay girl, one unforgettable love story.  A look at how two young lovers from totally different backgrounds cope with family and social pressure.

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Followed in 2006 by Gubra (Anxiety): Why do we hurt the most, the ones we love the most?  A sequel of sorts to Sepet, dealing with betrayal and the downtrodden in two separate interwoven storylines.In 2007, Mukhsin was released: Everyone has a first love story to tell; this one is of Orked’s first love, the girl whose future is seen in Sepet and Gubra (and Rabun).  Read the New York Times’ review.

What her father did by yasmin the storyteller

In 2008 came Muallaf (The Convert): breaking free of the Orked universe, this film nevertheless explores similar themes of family, religion, forgiveness “It is in forgiving that we are forgiven”.  The shaving of the lead actress’ head caused a controversy, if I remember correctly.

Earlier this year, Talentime was released, which, from the trailer, seems to be all about crossing the interracial barriers yet again, this time with a school’s talent show providing the backdrop.

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Yasmin Ahmad is currently working on a Japanese-based movie entitled Wasurenagusa, and after that should be a movie based on the cut-too-short life of Singapore’s triathlete, Thaddeus Cheong.

Thing is… I woke up this morning to the news that Yasmin Ahmad had collapsed: rumours swirled that she had passed away.  Thankfully, this was not so.  However, the news is rather grim — it turns out she had had a stroke, was rushed to hospital for surgery, and is now in stable but critical condition.

This special lady has shown through her work that she doesn’t buy in to the barriers put up between the races and religions of Malaysia, of the world; and instead speaks of love, cooperation, understanding.  I therefore humbly ask all readers, if so moved, to please send positive and healing thoughts, vibes and prayers her way.

Thank you.

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