Film Journal 3- Authorship

Kaki Bakar

Kakang is proud with his Javanese heritage and his previous job. He always wanted his son, Kusuma to be a real man and he transfers the teaching of religion to him. Kakang did a lot of mistake and he never realize. End up, Kusuma reveal the truth to the victim and Kakang get caught.

Jogho

A story surrounding bull-fighting Patani Malay community of Southern Thailand. The stubbornness of Mamat bring him to jail because he always wanted to involve in bull fighting and revenge for his brother,Lazim.

Kaki Bakar and Jogho are 2 films produced during year 1995 and 1997 respectively. These 2 films are written and directed by U-Wei Bin Haji Saari. Both of these films are actually share a few similarities as its produce by the same director. For example the theme, mise en scene and mise en shot. These 2 films are mainly talk about family, religion, cultural and also tradition. The family and the unconditional love was one of the themes in these 2 films. I discovered this theme as the main theme because through this 2 film, it is mostly focus on the family background and member. For example in Kaki Bakar, although Kakang take over control of the family but he still take care of everyone of them. Although he has high demand toward every one of them, but he still trying to give them a proper house and good living environment. Besides, Kusuma is loyal to his family without expose his father name when being question by Tok Empat about the fire of the smokehouse. While in Jogho, Mamat gives the money to his brother’s family. After his brother, Lazim was killed, he pay visit to his house and gives some money to Lazim’s family in order for them to reduce their living cost.

Next, Masculinity and role of a male had been portraying in this 2 films. Male is responsible to take over the cost of living in the family, for example earning money to cover the living cost. Moreover, male also responsible to take care every member in the family. For example, Kakang is responsible to find a new house for his family after he moved out from the village. He responsible to settled down his family in a safer place. All his family members need to listen and follow what exactly he say or order them to do. While in Jogho, the wife sometimes tell husband what is her opinion, but at the end, she still have to follow what Mamat say. Besides that, the bull fighting activity are not allow woman to join. Woman is also not allowed to step in the bull fighting location. Mamat is more patriarchal as he sent his son to Kelantan and wish he has higher education.

            Identity also one of the theme in this 2 films. Kaki Bakar and Jogho bring out the identity of a Malay man but it’s in more hyper masculine and archetype way. Kakang and Mamat bring out the Malay identity which is extraordinary and relentless. Both of this character emphasize on Islamic teaching which believe in god. In Kaki Bakar, Kakang is proud with his Javanese personality and his previous job, and is trying to instill his own tradition value and beliefs to his son, Kusuma. He is strict to Kusuma and scolded him as he wanted him to be a real man. As for Jogho, Mamat is a jogho and he has been moved to South Thailand from Kelantan. He maintains his own culture as a Malaysian and never change. He insisted to join for the bull fighting competition although his wife not agrees with it. He persists to do so and say that no one can stop him to join.

            The film technique and style that used by U-Wei Haji Shaari is also quite similar in this 2 film. He used slow dolly tracking shot as an establish shot or to establish mise en scene. For example, in Kaki Bakar, when all the people are sitting as a group to discuss about the fired smokehouse, the camera is slowly tracking everyone’s facial expression and position. For Jogho, from the beginning, there ‘s also an establish shot that use dolly tracking to emphasize that the story is happening in a village. U-Wei Haji Shaari likes to use tracking shot to follow the character expression and also when they are walking. I have noticed that, U-Wei Haji Shaari likes to use haunted music in his film for example in Kaki Bakar. Sometimes the music is too loud and it scares the audience. This is the part that I dislike.

            On the other hand, I realize he like to capture the sky when there’s something going to happen, for example in Kaki Bakar, it show moon when bad thing going to happen. The beginning and the ending of this 2 film are also showing the same thing, which is the scenery of sky or nature. Besides, he emphasizes more on low key lighting. He also likes to show the crowded and after that tilt the camera to upward. For example, the last scene in Jogho.

            We can see that there’s improvement of U-Wei Haji Shaari’s skill because in Kaki Bakar, the night scene are too dark and hard to be seen. But when comes to Jogho, night scene seems to improve a lot because not that dark anymore, it is brighter than Kaki Bakar. . In Jogho, i realize he use a transition like flipping to the next page from this scene to next scene. We also can see it as an insert sometimes. This is the new thing that we never see in Kaki Bakar, and I like this part. U-Wei Haji Shaari’s use 2 same character who is Khalid Salleh as his main character in this 2 film. I think he choose him because both of them work together in the first film, and Khalid Salleh know U-Wei Haji Shaari’s about what he wanted to bring out to the audience.

Film Journal 2- Hybridity

Synonsis

The story of this film is actually surrounding a Malay family which Fuad as the main character. Fuad went to overseas for ten year without a proper reason and he decided to return to Malaysia out of sudden. A fax that inform about Fuad is coming back give a big shock to his family members. Most of them feel scare and unsecure except the sister, Dila feel so excited. The coming back of Fuad brings unhappiness to his family and they keep on blaming about the missing of him 10 years ago. They never realized he have gone to overseas for medical treatment. Fuad still maintain all the Malay identity and he always try to talk about this with his family members. The return of Fuad this time is to settle down all his property and have reunion with his family.

            What I like about in this film is the costume. The costumes that portray in this film are all beautiful and fashion as it’s an 80’s century film. It also brings out the modernity of the Malay culture. The costumes they are having are more westernize. Besides, the makeup of the main character and supporting character look nice. For example, Dila. When Dila perform on the stage, the makeup and costume of her, brings her self- confidence. Moreover, she also looks outstanding.   On the other hand, I like the storyline of this film. From the beginning, it has the good introduction about the eldest brother, Fuad. At first, the family members portray Fuad as a real life evil; everyone is giggling and shock when they know Fuad is coming back to Malaysia soon. Since then I started to guess how the personality of Fuad is and how the storyline will be going next.

            I dislike the starting of this film. The introduction of this film take too long time, it’s more than 3 minute. It seems to confusing because it introduces all the supporting character at the same time and seems too much. Besides that, there is a scene that I feel so weird, after the welcoming party, Fuad youngest brother, Farid was drunk at the living room. And when he is arguing with Fuad, there’s 2 shot changing. But 1 of the shot, there’s no Fuad exist, Fuad disappear in that shot. I feel awkward for that particular scene. Moreover, every time when Fuad exist to visit the family, he seems to always appear suddenly without any notice. For example, he appear in the dark when Farid is drinking in the living room. At the same time, I do feels that whether Fuad already dead and ‘Fuad’ that appear is actually the spirit or so call ‘ghost’.

            In this film, it uses a lot of low key lighting which bring a lot of comfort to the audience. Besides, it uses long shot to establish some particular scene and it always use eye level to focus on character’s emotion.

            ‘Abang’ 1981 by Rahim Razali potray hibridity. Hybridization implies the coming together of disparate elements to produce some new, third thing. The main hybridity that I found out in this film is actually cultural hybrids. The people in this film are more consuming western culture. For example, costume, makeup, and their living lifestyle. The first example, Farid and his wife, Nazreen are arguing in the car when they are on the way back to their father house. Nazreen are actually discussing about his husband was having affair with some other people and she admitted she has one too. Through this, we can see that both of them are actually opened minded to expose to this kind of issue. As everyone knows, this kind of issue is not allowed in Islam teaching. The costume of Nazreen is also quite sexy, when Farid and she are discussing the return of their brother beside swimming pool. Islamic female are not allowed to be too sexy in front of the public. The second example, Farid is drinking alcohol after the welcoming party of Fuad and he is drunk at the same time. Drinking alcohol is also not allowed in Islamic teaching. The third example, when Faizal argue with Fuad at the seaside, Faizal is actually using all the rude word and scolding his eldest brother. In Islamic teaching, it’s not allowed too. Because as a younger brother to Fuad, he has to respect his brother but not saying all the rude word to him. All the words that Faizal use to scold his brother are banned in Islamic.

Besides that, Characters in this film are sometimes speaking English and Malay mixing language. As what I mentioned earlier, their cultures are being influence by the western culture. This known as language hybrids. For example, when Fuad talking with his brother Faizal at the seaside, he is using some English language and same to Faizal. Throughout the film, we can see that everyone of them are actually using some English to replace Malay words, and they use English to talk too.

            Next, I also encounter gender hybrids in this film. This exist when Fuad seek for forgive from Mona. He kneels down to apologize to her. This manner seems he push away his masculinity but exchange role to be weaker. After that, when Faizal came in she ask his wife, Mona to forgive his brother. At first his wife rejected but at last she still does so. From this I can see the first portrayal of feminity appear to Mona. She listens and obeys what his husband says.

Dila has a big dream. She dare to sing in front of the crowded and she wish to have an art Village and gather all the talented people in the future. This is the culture hybrid because with this kind of big dreams, it seldom appears in a Malay culture life and she wish to achieve her dreams. 

Film Journal 1- Selubung

Synopsis

This movie was surrounding the main character Mastura who studied at overseas, Australia. She has two best friend who accompany her from childhood until university life- E.J. and Halim. In their study half way in university, E.J decided to stop her study and marry to a religious extremist group leader, Brother Musa. After Mastura Graduated, she come back to Malaysia and involve herself in a volunteer organization ‘Rescaid’, which introduce by Halim that also working in Middle East ‘ Rescaid’. Mastura also as an Engineer in a company and she falls in love with Kamal, a divorcee and also her superior. E.J comes back to Malaysia after the loss of her baby and unfortunately Halim’s dead when he is in duty. It is a big success of Rescaid Malaysia but there is a tragedy strikes one day and cause Mastura in serious injuries. However, Mastura able to overcome it at the end. The sacrifice of Mastura’s best friends shows everything is worth because they have achieved the objective of their campaign.

Like

What I like the most in this film is the character building. Each of the character have make use of what they actually needed to present and they play very well. For example in this movie, ‘Selubung’ the character that attract my attention and my favourite is Pintu(Door). The way he present is very funny and attracting. He present his script very well especially the way he talk. For example, there’s one scene I remember the most, when Kamal first come and pick up Mastura at her house, he met Pintu and Pintu introduce himself. It’s funny to have Pintu as his name because he straight translate it from English’ Doors’. He gave me deep impression started from that scene. Besides that, every character in this film are actually act very good and it seem no fake, it’s all naturally and good in presentation.

Next, what I like in this film is their lighting. I realize that most of their lighting in use is soft light. It makes audience feels so comfortable while enjoying this movie. At night, most of the scene seems yellowish and warm. For example, when Mastura’s friend, Lin trying to persuade Mastura to visit E.J, that time was at the street (outside), the lighting in use is warm and soft. Moreover, during day time also the same, when they are in outdoor, the lighting would not be too sharp, during the editing, they make it softer. For example, when Mastura meet the datuk, having tea at the seaside, the lighting is so yellowish and warm. Every scene in this film is in soft light.

I like the idea which people who have the luckiness will have butterflies surrounding her/him. Mastura have this butterflies surrounding her 2 times, first, when she meet the datuk and second time, when she lay at the hospital when she was injured. When the butterflies first appear when she meet the datuk, the visual looks beautiful. All those butterflies are also surrounding datuk.

Dislike

What I dislike in this film is the jump cut. There are quite many of jump cut/ jump scene in this film which are always happened unexpectedly. Maybe this is the editing style of the director but it seems so confusing the audience sometimes. For example, when Mastura meet E.J at E.J’s house, we expect there will be more conversation between them since they have been separated for a short time. But there is suddenly a jump cut to a night club scene with radio news and Mastura and Kamal are signing there, and this makes me speechless. Moreover, the jump cut is so sudden and, it never inserts any transition. This will makes the audience feel blur. Other than that, there is another example, which is Mastura is actually feel down and sad with her best friends pass away in the bombing incident, but suddenly jump to a scene that she already okay, walking and chit chatting with her friends. Without further notice, it really confuses the audience.

Next, sometimes the music in the film appear too sudden, and it’s too loud sometimes, will shock the audiences. For example, after Kamal go pick Mastura out from his home for their first date, then change to a next scene to petrol station. At that time, the music appears to sudden and loud.

Other than that, there is also unnecessary scene which I think should not exist, they are having conversation at shell station but why they don’t want to have that at other place that are more important in the film. From this, it seems pointless.

Discussion

Flash Back

There are flash back scenes inserted in this film. When E.J sitting and thinking back what’s happened in Australia before she came back to Malaysia.

Flash back: Hani sewing sweater for E.J’s baby. E.J feels thankful but that also like a preview of craziness of Hani.

After that, the scene back to the reality. The flashback scene place separately in the film. But sometimes it may confuse the audience if they did not put fully attention on it. When Mastura refuse to meet E.J, suddenly there is also a flash back scene shows what had happened in Australia.

Flash back: Mastura went to E.J house to visit her and her baby, but E.J and the husband, Brother Musa went out to consult doctor because E.J is sick. At that time, she found out E.J ‘s baby is dead.

Flashback scene also brings out thinking of Hani that how she kill the baby.

Climax

The climax part is at the scene that everybody are in the same building organizing the ‘Rescaid’ campaign stuff, and the enemy is putting the bomb inside that building at the same time. This makes the audience worry that anything will happen to the main and supporting character. At the end, Mastura was injured and everyone thought that she could not wake up from coma anymore. But at the end, there is miracle happen, Mastura awake because of the existing of the butterflies.

Gender Representation

The gender role can be apply in this film ‘ Selubong’ which is first portrayal and second portrayal of feminity. The different view of Malay woman being portrays. Character E.J represent first portrayal of feminity and Mastura represent second portrayal of feminity.

In this film, from the beginning, E.J is actually represent the second portal of feminity, we can see this at the beginning of the film, E.J and friends watching Television, that time she is wearing western costume, not Malay traditional costume. Her personality and thinking are same with Mastura because that time both of them is still mix together. But after E.J decided to follow the religious extremist group leader, Brother Musa, she is portraying as first portrayal of feminity. E.J was portraying as lower than men since that, and she listens and obeys everything Brother Musa said. Without the libidinal desire, E.J just wanted to follow the teaching of Islam which led by Brother Musa and she believes Brother Musa can save her soul. She even stops her studies and rather not to get the scholarship which are high demand around her universities. During that time, when her friends persuade her not to stop studies, she still insisted to do so, and blaming people are actually hate Brother Musa. From that time onwards, E.J started to dependent on Brother Musa. E.J is portray as a weak woman when she face Brother Musa. As what Soh Geok Choon discovered, women were mainly portray in a negative light, which dependent on and submissive to men. Same goes to E.J, she is more dependent to Bother Musa and her character seem so degraded comparing to Brother Musa.  On the other hand, E.J is polygamy-willing although she knew that Bother Musa already have a wife, Hami, but she still insist to marry him.

Mastura portray as second portrayal of feminity in this film. She is progressive, independent, strong- minded, speaks a mixture of English and Malay and well educated. She has this all potential and has the power to lead the campaign which organizes by ‘Rescaid’ Malaysia. Besides that, she has the power to choose her career as an engineer in a company. Her status is way too higher than her colleagues in the office. For example, there is one scene that Mastura pass a document to his colleague- a guy, because he failed to find it. That time, the position of Mastura shown higher than her colleague, and he have to raise his head to look at her. Her life is not control by others, but her selves taking control over her own future and decision. Moreover she involve in an emotional platonic relationship with a divorcee, Kamal. In this relationship, she has the power to control the emotional of her boy friend. For example, she is angry when she found out Kamal already married and she is the last person to know that. In this case, she scolded Kamal and refuses to have any conversation with him anymore, until Kamal make decision to divorce with his wife. Compared with E.J, E.J does not have the guts to argue with her husband but just follow everything he says. On the other hand, Mastura has family love that supported her. For example, Mastura’s father is proud with her, because she successful graduated from Australia University. Even her friends also give her endless support when she facing difficulties. For example, when she was injured and coma in the hospital. Mastura is leading a productive and satisfactory life as what she wants. As first when she studying at university, she has mentioned that she would like to help the people in Middle East when they are watching television together, and now she has the chance to join “Rescaide’ and hold a campaign to help them. At last, the campaign is a big success and she did what she wants. Mastura portray what Shuhaimi Baba & Erma Fatima said, Malay woman nowadays not necessary to be in essential pre-dakwah.

I believe that Mastura and her best friends, Halim and E.J are being sent to Perth, Australia further their studies after May13, 1969 incident. Before they went, the opening of the film showing there are 3 kids which is Mastura, E.J and Halim. During their kids time, 3 of them are actually wearing tradition Malay costume but after the scene shown them in Australia, all of them are wearing modern costume which is jeans, T- shirt and blouse. Through this, we can see that 3 of them are actually being influence of the western culture and consuming western culture. The way they talk and present themselves are all in western style. Most of the time speaking English language and sometimes mix with Malay language. Besides that, before E.J married to Brother Musa, she is wearing western costume but after she met Brother Musa, she step into the stage after pre- Islamic century. She started to wear Malay traditional costume and act like proper Malay. As what Brother Musa Islam teaching, those who act in this way can only go to the heaven. On the other hand, Mastura is act in post Islamic, because the modernity of her, combine the western and Malay culture together.

“Not synonymous with "man". Just like men can be feminine, women can be masculine. The quality of masculinity is what makes someone masculine, not their gender.” (Eivind Figenschau Skjellum, 2011) Besides, Brother Musa acts as masculinity in the film. He is like authentic masculinity from the way he present himself and the way he talk to his follower. He is strict and serious when he deliver his teaching. Moreover he is also like Teen heartthrob to the islam followers of him. Why do I say so, is because all of her followers are follow and obey his teaching just like teen heartthrob. In first portrayal of feminity, male response in re-asserting dominance over the female gender role, Brother Musa handles over E.J future. Compare to Kamal, Brother Musa seems more masculinity, because Kamal listen everything what Mastura say and he always support Mastura by her side no matter what happened.

Mise en scene

The genre for this film is love story. There are modern (western) and malay tradition costume exist in this film. But most of the time, more modern costume exist, for example what Mastura and her friends always wearing, excluded E.J. Because she is wearing baju kurung most of the time. Besides that, Mastura are wearing baju kurung when she visit to E.J’s house after she married to Brother Musa. The colleague and friends of Mastura in Malaysia are wearing western culture costume for example, blouse, jeans, t-shirt, coat and skirt.

Next, the makeups are modern and quite heavy. For example, Mastura, she having heavy makeup that makes her looks outstanding among others. The make-up for Hani also quite good, because the heavy and exaggerate makeup makes her look insane and suit with her character.

For the character part, all of the character that acts in this film is good enough to bring out what they suppose to be. For example, Hani. Hani is good in acting and everything she did in the film is match, especially her movement. Because she has some mental problem, so they way she acts also bring out insanity. Each of the character in this film is match with what they should act, they present in what they should be. On the other hand, Mastura act like a real powerful woman and it match with the film requirement. She presents it in correct and proper way. For E.J, she as the supporting character, she has good cooperation with main character, Mastura.

Props and location is suit with what is required in the film as this film is an 80’s century movie, it didn’t appear any super modern things. It includes anything that should be in the scene. For example, a lot of document, phone, and hand phone, in the office scene. All of the things that appear are match. For the location, every location exist with it reason, most of the location are being use for shooting in the film and it’s well used. For example, the Palestine war, the setting and location looks nice and match.

Mise en shot

            As what I have observed in this film, I realize most of the time the director are using eye level to capture. Besides that, mid shot also exist quite frequent of time. As the director always focusing what is the character’s reaction and movement. I believe with eye level and mid shot, it will seem to be more obvious for the audience to see. Besides that, there is also few long shot in the film, is to establish the location and scene to the audience. For example, when Mastura and Lin discussing what to wear for the first date of her and Kamal. During that time, there is a long shot to show both of them in the bedroom. And another location is the Palestine war location, it establish the location and the people around there to the audience.

 High angle also included in the film sometimes, it also come together with low angle. For example, when Brother Musa delivering his teaching of Islam, low angle shooting him, means that he has the power to control over all his followers. “This shows the subject from below, giving them the impression of being more powerful or dominant.” (Anonymous, nd) . When high angle shot, E.J is looking at Brother Musa that time. Showing that she is admiring Brother Musa. “A high angle shows the subject from above, i.e. the camera is angled down towards the subject. This has the effect of diminishing the subject, making them appear less powerful, less significant or even submissive.” ( Anonymous, nd)

Next, there is also bird level short in this film. For example, when Kamal ask Mastura to wait for him back in the restaurant, and when the bird level shot show through the fan, Mastura is already leave when Kamal back to the restaurant.

Reference

Camera Angles. (nd).

Retrived November 14, 2011, from

http://www.mediacollege.com/video/camera/angles/

Eivind Figenschau Skjellum. (2011).

What is masculinity? Retrieved

November 14, 2011, from

http://www.masculinity-movies.com/articles/what-is-masculinity