Abang - Film Journal

Synopsis

This story tells about Abang, Fuad Din who had disappeared 10 years without reason. However, he sends a telegram back from London that he will be back immediately. Apparently this news brought uneasy towards the other family members. After the arrival of Fuad, he faced all conflicts in the family due to the disappearance of him 10 years ago. Then again, he managed to deal all of it calmly and helped his family with all their conflicts. Then again, no one knew that he went off 10 years ago just to cure himself. The reason he is back because he grew tired of his life being what he is not. Furthermore, he wanted to be with his love ones and homeland.

Fav's of Film

Compared to the last film I reviewed "Selebung" by Shuhaimi Baba which was shown in 1992 this was better as I preferred the straight forward style by Dato Hj Rahim Razali for the era of the film as film editing weren't that sophisticated compared to current times. Hence, I preferred that editing style. However, the issue still wasn't cleared which is the censorship and the film quality. The dialogues were used perfectly in the film, making the film itself sounded more intelectual. The usage of malay sayings and poem's based on our Malaysian culture. The film score manage to create a suspense mood in the first 25 minutes in the film.

Less Fav of the Film

The audio with the footage wasn't really sync which made me felt I was lagging all the way while watching film. Furthermore, seemingly other than Faizal and Fuad Din the characters weren't really fitting their role in the film like Farid for instance. He used to be student union's leader and atlet in during his school times, but in that film he looks like a drug addict who is in serious debt with the sharks. The acting of Noor Kumalasari who is Mona in the film was slightly overrated in the film. My personal preference towards the scene, like the part for Fuad asking forgiveness of he leaving her when they were engaged and she was married to Faizal, his brother.

Character Development

1. Fuad Din ( Abang )

His character was initially being the authentic masculine in the film, after coming back from London. He take cares and helps his family to solve their problem in their life. However, in the film he also showed the weakness of a person. Especially on the scene where he begs for forgiveness towards Mona for leaving her in lurch when she needed her most. Aside from that, he actually shown authentic masculinity in the film by solving problems of Farid towards Johan.

2. Faizal

He is the brother of Fuad, he was skeptical towards the come back of his brother. He questioned to his father about the reason of his brother's agenda since he took back the land that he sold out.

3. Mona

Ex-girlfriend of Fuad, current wife of Faizal. Typical women, a fashionista. She was unforgiving towards the actions of Fuad 10 years old disappearance. However, until the end she regretted with the announcement of the Fuad medical condition. She is speculated as the the melting pot of both traditional and western culture from the attire of her. A fashionista is applicable in western country yet she perform this and in addition she wears the malay traditional attire with style.

4. Farid

Another brother of Fuad who is rather impulsive in the film but not in character. As they described him, he used to be a leader in school. Hence, the reason of Fuad to help him out with his situation.

Mise en Scene

Props and location were tight fitted towards the film as the family is a rich family. Location wise, was good choice with the set build up in the starting of the film showing they are financial stable and owns a company. Later in another set, is the home which shown the glamour of the family but the set was designed with wide gap of furniture placement showing the gap between the family members especially towards Fuad. However, the location in kampung was more closer towards Fuad's nature which is less of a hypocrite and more original. Without the fancy shell of the rich and famous the set brings Fuad back even his costume when back to his baju melayu. Telling the audience he decide to stay back towards his own culture.

Speaking of costume, when they were discussing about the coming back of Fuad. The father was in his traditional attire. These few scene shows the hybridity of the traditional malay culture merging with modernization. As we can see in the film Fuad actually wore slacks which is a westernized attire in the kampung he used to stay in playing along with the young ones.

Mise en Shot

The lighting were used in the film were nothing special towards the film compare to the last film Selebung. However, the camera work was a lot panning shots which telling the progress of the story slowly moving forward instead of the style like Shuhaimi Baba's retrospect towards the story in the film.

The film score for the movie and the sound were quite good, but out of sync.