Monday, December 31, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh gets top French award
(Courtesy:IDMB)
honor, established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, has five distinct ranks and is conferred for outstanding achievements in either military or civil life.
Malaysian Classics(14): Nasib Si Labu Labi
Nasib Si Labu Labi (The Fate of Labu and Labi, colloquially "What Happened to Labu and Labi") is a 1962 Malaysian comedy film directed by and starring P. Ramlee. The film is a sequel to Labu dan Labi and features a number of returning cast members.
Story and Plot Point
Set sometime after the events of the previous film, Haji Bakhil's wife has passed away. Haji Bakhil is alone and depressed, but eventually meets a beautiful young woman named Murni, who is a teacher at a school for orphans. Haji Bakhil spends some time pursuing her, and his attention is apparently not unwelcome.
In a subplot, Labu and Labi discover that they are both in love with Haji Bakhil's daughter Manisah, and decide to fight for her properly in a boxing match. However, this thread is not resolved by the end credits, and the pair's feud is not addressed after their failed boxing match.
In the main plot, Haji Bakhil eventually sends Labu and Labi on his behalf to Murni's house to ask her father for her hand in marriage, but Murni's father refuses. Labu and Labi come up with a plan to kidnap Murni in the middle of the night for an elopement, but they accidentally kidnap Murni's father, instead. Labu, Labi and Haji Bakhil are arrested and tried. Haji Bakhil is able to post his own bail, but he refuses to bail his servants. The film ends with Labu and Labi moaning their fate in prison.
Story and Plot Point
Set sometime after the events of the previous film, Haji Bakhil's wife has passed away. Haji Bakhil is alone and depressed, but eventually meets a beautiful young woman named Murni, who is a teacher at a school for orphans. Haji Bakhil spends some time pursuing her, and his attention is apparently not unwelcome.
In a subplot, Labu and Labi discover that they are both in love with Haji Bakhil's daughter Manisah, and decide to fight for her properly in a boxing match. However, this thread is not resolved by the end credits, and the pair's feud is not addressed after their failed boxing match.
In the main plot, Haji Bakhil eventually sends Labu and Labi on his behalf to Murni's house to ask her father for her hand in marriage, but Murni's father refuses. Labu and Labi come up with a plan to kidnap Murni in the middle of the night for an elopement, but they accidentally kidnap Murni's father, instead. Labu, Labi and Haji Bakhil are arrested and tried. Haji Bakhil is able to post his own bail, but he refuses to bail his servants. The film ends with Labu and Labi moaning their fate in prison.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Malaysian Classics (13): Musang Berjanggut (1959)
Musang Berjanggut (The Bearded Fox) is 1959 Malaysian period romantic drama-comedy film directed by and starring P. Ramlee. The story is in the style of a traditional Malay folktale, featuring supernatural elements and a story with an underlying moral. The plot follows the adventures of a prince named Tun Nila who sets out to find a woman who will marry him, and what happens when he finds her at last.
Story and Plot Point
Tun Nila Utama, the adopted prince in the kingdom Pura Cendana, is told by the King that it is time for him to choose a bride. However, Tun Nila refuses to marry any of the women in the kingdom, claiming that they not true "females" because they have no honour. The King is angered by his claim and orders him to find a true woman, if such a person exists. Tun Nila accepts the command and swears that he will not return to Pura Chendana or shave any hair on his face until he finds her.
Tun Nila sets up the test he will use to find a true woman. The test consists of a bag which contains a mix of rice, salt, chilli, onions, garlic and spices. A real woman would be able to cook the items in the bag, and he will marry the woman who does.
Tun Nila travels the across country, seeking shelter in any house that will welcome him. If there is a woman of marrying age in the house, he would ask her cook the items in the book. All the young women, upon seeing the mixed contents of the bag, decide that the task is impossible or that Tun Nila is insane, and all return the bag and its contents to him untouched. Tun Nila eventually grows a thick beard as woman after woman is unable to cook the items in his bag.
Tun Nila eventually meets Puspawangi, a friendly young woman calls him "Tok Janggut" ("Bearded Man"). Tun Nila asks to meet her parents and she agrees to lead him back to her village. As Tun Nila follows her, he discovers Puspawangi's unusual intelligence. When they reach the house, Puspawangi's father welcome Tun Nila to their home. As with all the previous homes he has visited, Tun Nila gives them the bag and requests that they cook the items in it.
In the kitchen Puspawangi and her mother look into the bag, and though Puspawangi's mother quickly says that Tun Nila's request is impossible, Puspawangi stops her and says that this isn't the request of a mad man, but of an intelligent man. She pours the items into a large tray and carefully sifts through the mix. Eventually she separates all the items into individual piles and is able to cook it.
That night Puspawangi presents the food to the whole family to eat. Puspawangi's father is surprised by the unusual dishes and asks where all the spices came from, and Puspawangi says that it all came from Tun Nila's bag. Tun Nila is happily impressed. The next morning Puspawangi is amazed to see that Tun Nila has shaved his beard, revealing a handsome face. Tun Nila explains to Puspawangi's father the truth behind his search and asks for Puspawangi's hand in marriage.
When Tun Nila returns to the royal palace with Puspawangi, his parents are overjoyed that he has found his bride. However, all of the senior-ranking ministers are enchanted by Puspawangi's beauty and individually plot to get rid of Tun Nila so to have Puspawangi to themselves.
The King pretends to fall ill and consults his ministers for advice. His ministers claim to dream that only the mystical Bearded Fox can cure his illness. However the Bearded Fox is afraid of women, therefore, Tun Nila is not allowed to bring Puspawangi along. Puspawangi tells Tun Nila to wait somewhere until she sends someone to inform him to come home. During Tun Nila's absence, the King and Ministers come to visit Puspawangi at night. Then, they run off as they think a ghost is haunting Tun Nila's house. It turns out that Tun Nila is in disguise. The next day, Tun Nila and Puspawangi send the Bearded Fox to the palace.When the King opens the locked chest, it turns out that the Bearded Fox is actually one of the ministers.
Cast
P. Ramlee as Tun Nila Utama, aka Raja Muda Pura Cendana
Saadiah as Puspawangi
Ahmad Nisfu as Raja Alam Syahbana
Udo Omar as Datuk Bendahara
Malik Sutan Muda as Datuk Bentara Mangku Bumi
Nyong Ismail as Datuk Pujangga
Mustarjo as Datuk Nikah Kahwin
Shariff Dol as Megat Alang
Songs
Pura Chendana
Wahai Nenek/Cucu-Cucu
Mari Kita Ke Ladang
Story and Plot Point
Tun Nila Utama, the adopted prince in the kingdom Pura Cendana, is told by the King that it is time for him to choose a bride. However, Tun Nila refuses to marry any of the women in the kingdom, claiming that they not true "females" because they have no honour. The King is angered by his claim and orders him to find a true woman, if such a person exists. Tun Nila accepts the command and swears that he will not return to Pura Chendana or shave any hair on his face until he finds her.
Tun Nila sets up the test he will use to find a true woman. The test consists of a bag which contains a mix of rice, salt, chilli, onions, garlic and spices. A real woman would be able to cook the items in the bag, and he will marry the woman who does.
Tun Nila travels the across country, seeking shelter in any house that will welcome him. If there is a woman of marrying age in the house, he would ask her cook the items in the book. All the young women, upon seeing the mixed contents of the bag, decide that the task is impossible or that Tun Nila is insane, and all return the bag and its contents to him untouched. Tun Nila eventually grows a thick beard as woman after woman is unable to cook the items in his bag.
Tun Nila eventually meets Puspawangi, a friendly young woman calls him "Tok Janggut" ("Bearded Man"). Tun Nila asks to meet her parents and she agrees to lead him back to her village. As Tun Nila follows her, he discovers Puspawangi's unusual intelligence. When they reach the house, Puspawangi's father welcome Tun Nila to their home. As with all the previous homes he has visited, Tun Nila gives them the bag and requests that they cook the items in it.
In the kitchen Puspawangi and her mother look into the bag, and though Puspawangi's mother quickly says that Tun Nila's request is impossible, Puspawangi stops her and says that this isn't the request of a mad man, but of an intelligent man. She pours the items into a large tray and carefully sifts through the mix. Eventually she separates all the items into individual piles and is able to cook it.
That night Puspawangi presents the food to the whole family to eat. Puspawangi's father is surprised by the unusual dishes and asks where all the spices came from, and Puspawangi says that it all came from Tun Nila's bag. Tun Nila is happily impressed. The next morning Puspawangi is amazed to see that Tun Nila has shaved his beard, revealing a handsome face. Tun Nila explains to Puspawangi's father the truth behind his search and asks for Puspawangi's hand in marriage.
When Tun Nila returns to the royal palace with Puspawangi, his parents are overjoyed that he has found his bride. However, all of the senior-ranking ministers are enchanted by Puspawangi's beauty and individually plot to get rid of Tun Nila so to have Puspawangi to themselves.
The King pretends to fall ill and consults his ministers for advice. His ministers claim to dream that only the mystical Bearded Fox can cure his illness. However the Bearded Fox is afraid of women, therefore, Tun Nila is not allowed to bring Puspawangi along. Puspawangi tells Tun Nila to wait somewhere until she sends someone to inform him to come home. During Tun Nila's absence, the King and Ministers come to visit Puspawangi at night. Then, they run off as they think a ghost is haunting Tun Nila's house. It turns out that Tun Nila is in disguise. The next day, Tun Nila and Puspawangi send the Bearded Fox to the palace.When the King opens the locked chest, it turns out that the Bearded Fox is actually one of the ministers.
Cast
P. Ramlee as Tun Nila Utama, aka Raja Muda Pura Cendana
Saadiah as Puspawangi
Ahmad Nisfu as Raja Alam Syahbana
Udo Omar as Datuk Bendahara
Malik Sutan Muda as Datuk Bentara Mangku Bumi
Nyong Ismail as Datuk Pujangga
Mustarjo as Datuk Nikah Kahwin
Shariff Dol as Megat Alang
Songs
Pura Chendana
Wahai Nenek/Cucu-Cucu
Mari Kita Ke Ladang
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Malaysian Classics (12): Masam Masam Manis (1965)
(Courtesy:imdb.com)
Masam Masam Manis (Sourness and Sweetness) is a 1965 Malaysian comedy film directed by and starring P. Ramlee.
Story and Plot Point
The story was take placed in Kuala Lumpur on 1965. This story tells about a teacher, Sha'ari who is also a musician at night. When caught sleeping in class, Sha'ari has sworn not to perform at night clubs again during the weekday nights. Later, a young woman named Norkiah rents the room next to his. Norkiah works at a night club with her friend, played by Mariani, as a dancer. Sha'ari and Norkiah always quarrel and annoy each other. One day, while on a bus, Sha'ari helps Norkiah to retrieve her stolen purse. They fall in love with each other. Norkiah lies to Sha'ari, telling him that she works as a teacher at a cooking school at night.By that time, Norkiah has already started singing at the club where she was working. One day, Norkiah's mother and brother come to visit her. Sha'ari ignored the old woman and her young son.While Norkiah, unknown to Sha'ari as his own irritating neighbour, is forced to take her mother and brother out shopping, thus, unable to meet Sha'ari as promised. Later, when Norkiah gets home, she tries to dry her clothes by hanging them on a pole which crosses to Sha'ari's room. Sha'ari gets fed up and purposely drops the pole. Norkiah gets even by drenching him with a pail of water. Sha'ari climbs the wall to give her a piece of his mind only to find out that Norkiah is the woman that he has fallen in love with. They get married. Sha'ari proposes that Norkiah quits her job, but she could not due to her contract. One night, Sha'ari receives invitation to perform at the club where he used to work. There, somebody suggested that he sings with a female night club singer called Norkiah Hanum. Curious, Sha'ari goes to the other club only to find out that his wife is a singer and not a teacher as she has claimed. Sha'ari gets upset and starts to build a wall separating their rooms like they used to. Norkiah tries to cool him down, but he insults her and calling her a cabaret singer of low class. Norkiah's friends try to trick Sha'ari into believing that Norkiah is now divorcing Sha'ari and having an affair with her colleague, Rashid, played by Mahmud June. Sha'ari kicks Norkiah's door open only to find that Norkiah is alone with a tape recorder. He apologizes and they get back together again. Story ends with Sha'ari promoted as a headmaster of his school and has five pairs of twins with Norkiah.
Story and Plot Point
The story was take placed in Kuala Lumpur on 1965. This story tells about a teacher, Sha'ari who is also a musician at night. When caught sleeping in class, Sha'ari has sworn not to perform at night clubs again during the weekday nights. Later, a young woman named Norkiah rents the room next to his. Norkiah works at a night club with her friend, played by Mariani, as a dancer. Sha'ari and Norkiah always quarrel and annoy each other. One day, while on a bus, Sha'ari helps Norkiah to retrieve her stolen purse. They fall in love with each other. Norkiah lies to Sha'ari, telling him that she works as a teacher at a cooking school at night.By that time, Norkiah has already started singing at the club where she was working. One day, Norkiah's mother and brother come to visit her. Sha'ari ignored the old woman and her young son.While Norkiah, unknown to Sha'ari as his own irritating neighbour, is forced to take her mother and brother out shopping, thus, unable to meet Sha'ari as promised. Later, when Norkiah gets home, she tries to dry her clothes by hanging them on a pole which crosses to Sha'ari's room. Sha'ari gets fed up and purposely drops the pole. Norkiah gets even by drenching him with a pail of water. Sha'ari climbs the wall to give her a piece of his mind only to find out that Norkiah is the woman that he has fallen in love with. They get married. Sha'ari proposes that Norkiah quits her job, but she could not due to her contract. One night, Sha'ari receives invitation to perform at the club where he used to work. There, somebody suggested that he sings with a female night club singer called Norkiah Hanum. Curious, Sha'ari goes to the other club only to find out that his wife is a singer and not a teacher as she has claimed. Sha'ari gets upset and starts to build a wall separating their rooms like they used to. Norkiah tries to cool him down, but he insults her and calling her a cabaret singer of low class. Norkiah's friends try to trick Sha'ari into believing that Norkiah is now divorcing Sha'ari and having an affair with her colleague, Rashid, played by Mahmud June. Sha'ari kicks Norkiah's door open only to find that Norkiah is alone with a tape recorder. He apologizes and they get back together again. Story ends with Sha'ari promoted as a headmaster of his school and has five pairs of twins with Norkiah.
Songs
Saat Yang Bahagia
Dalam Ayer Ku Terbayang Wajah
Perwira by Saloma
Saat Yang Bahagia
Dalam Ayer Ku Terbayang Wajah
Perwira by Saloma
Monday, December 24, 2007
Malaysian Classics (11): Madhu Tiga (1964)
(Courtesy:filemkita.com)
Madu Tiga (Three Wives) is a 1964 black-and-white Malaysian comedy film directed by and starring Malaysian artiste P. Ramlee.
Story and Plot Point
The central character, Jamil, marries three women without any of them realising that their husband has committed polygamy. Jamil and Latifah have been married for 12 years. When Jamil decides to marry Hasnah, he lied to Hasnah saying that Latifah has agreed to allow him to marry again because the pair (Jamil and Latifah) does not have children. Jamil who is also working for Latifah's father, played by Ahmad Nisfu, told his father-in-law about his marriage with Hasnah. Later, when collecting rent from his tenants, Jamil falls for one tenant's daughter, Rohani and decides to marry the girl. With the help of his father-in-law, Jamil manages to keep his three marriages a secret from one another. However, an encounter at the hair salon causes the three wives to meet up. Rohani invited both Latifah and Hasnah to her house for tea. Later they found Rohani's wedding picture. The three women independently befriend each other, causing Jamil to be wrapped in an ever-tightening web of lies and trickery.
Story and Plot Point
The central character, Jamil, marries three women without any of them realising that their husband has committed polygamy. Jamil and Latifah have been married for 12 years. When Jamil decides to marry Hasnah, he lied to Hasnah saying that Latifah has agreed to allow him to marry again because the pair (Jamil and Latifah) does not have children. Jamil who is also working for Latifah's father, played by Ahmad Nisfu, told his father-in-law about his marriage with Hasnah. Later, when collecting rent from his tenants, Jamil falls for one tenant's daughter, Rohani and decides to marry the girl. With the help of his father-in-law, Jamil manages to keep his three marriages a secret from one another. However, an encounter at the hair salon causes the three wives to meet up. Rohani invited both Latifah and Hasnah to her house for tea. Later they found Rohani's wedding picture. The three women independently befriend each other, causing Jamil to be wrapped in an ever-tightening web of lies and trickery.
Cast
P. Ramlee as Jamil
Sarimah as Rohani, Wife Number 3
Jah Hj. Mahadi as Hasnah, Wife Number 2
Zara Agus as Latifah, Wife Number 1
Ahmad Nisfu as Haji Latiff
M. Babjan as Pak Ali
M. Rafee as Rafee
Zainon Fiji as Mak Hasnah
Ahmad Sabree as Encik Rashid
Doris Han as Doris
Mislia as Rashida
Songs
"Selamat Pengantin Baru" ("Congratulations to the Bride and Groom")
"Pukul 3 Pagi"
"Madu Tiga"
Award
Eleventh Asian Film Festival (1964) in Taipei
Best Comedy Film - WON
Trivia
P. Ramlee as Jamil
Sarimah as Rohani, Wife Number 3
Jah Hj. Mahadi as Hasnah, Wife Number 2
Zara Agus as Latifah, Wife Number 1
Ahmad Nisfu as Haji Latiff
M. Babjan as Pak Ali
M. Rafee as Rafee
Zainon Fiji as Mak Hasnah
Ahmad Sabree as Encik Rashid
Doris Han as Doris
Mislia as Rashida
Songs
"Selamat Pengantin Baru" ("Congratulations to the Bride and Groom")
"Pukul 3 Pagi"
"Madu Tiga"
Award
Eleventh Asian Film Festival (1964) in Taipei
Best Comedy Film - WON
Trivia
Saloma, P. Ramlee's real-life wife, has a cameo in the film as the singer at his character's wedding.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Malaysian classics(10):Love Conquers all
(Courtesy:dahuangpictures.com)
Love Conquers All (Also Spanish: Amor conquista todo) is an award-winning 2006 movie by Malaysian director Tan Chui Mui.
Story and Plot Point
Story and Plot Point
Malaysian director Tan Chui Mui's first feature comes trailing an impressive collection of awards: first prizes from Pusan, Rott
erdam and Hong Kong, to name a few. This ultra-low-budget narrative of a young woman's arrival in Kuala Lumpur feels both utterly fresh and completely inevitable. Its magic is to have found a way to show us what we've never quite noticed before: Tan's camera's patient, intense, intimate (dare one say specifically female-gendered?) way of looking exposes truths that, once we notice them, seem always to have been there, just underneath, practically hidden, until we adopt the film's and director's new ways of looking.
Ah Ping (a splendid debut by Coral Ong, who acts with natural physical authority) arrives in Kuala Lumpur and immediately is absorbed into its marginal society: she works at a food stand, shares a bunk bed with an acerbically cute little niece, and coos long distance to her boyfriend back home. When roguishly charming John appears (Stephen Chua, all too convincing), his overtures to her, all cocky charm laced with a barely perceptible menace, seem almost irresistible. What follows is both shocking and entirely predictable.
Tan films with a natural authority that belies the fact that this is her first feature. Working with cinematographer James Lee and editor Ho Yuhang (both notable filmmakers in their own right), she creates images with punch and depth, revealing glimmers of a ruthlessly poetic soul.
erdam and Hong Kong, to name a few. This ultra-low-budget narrative of a young woman's arrival in Kuala Lumpur feels both utterly fresh and completely inevitable. Its magic is to have found a way to show us what we've never quite noticed before: Tan's camera's patient, intense, intimate (dare one say specifically female-gendered?) way of looking exposes truths that, once we notice them, seem always to have been there, just underneath, practically hidden, until we adopt the film's and director's new ways of looking.Ah Ping (a splendid debut by Coral Ong, who acts with natural physical authority) arrives in Kuala Lumpur and immediately is absorbed into its marginal society: she works at a food stand, shares a bunk bed with an acerbically cute little niece, and coos long distance to her boyfriend back home. When roguishly charming John appears (Stephen Chua, all too convincing), his overtures to her, all cocky charm laced with a barely perceptible menace, seem almost irresistible. What follows is both shocking and entirely predictable.
Tan films with a natural authority that belies the fact that this is her first feature. Working with cinematographer James Lee and editor Ho Yuhang (both notable filmmakers in their own right), she creates images with punch and depth, revealing glimmers of a ruthlessly poetic soul.
Cast
Coral Ong Li Whei (Ping)
Stephan Chua Jyh Shyan (John)
Leing Jiun Jiun (Mei)
Ho Chi Lai (Hong Jie)
Awards
It has won several awards such as:
The Swiss Oikocredit award at Fribourg.
Tiger awards at Rotterdam International Film Festival.
Coral Ong Li Whei (Ping)
Stephan Chua Jyh Shyan (John)
Leing Jiun Jiun (Mei)
Ho Chi Lai (Hong Jie)
Awards
It has won several awards such as:
The Swiss Oikocredit award at Fribourg.
Tiger awards at Rotterdam International Film Festival.
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