HANYUT (2010) – BASED ON JOSEPH CONRAD ALMAYER’S FOLLY
Aiming for international success, acclaimed Malaysian film director U-Wei Haji Saari back with his latest offering Hanyut (Adrift).
After six years without a film with last was Buai Laju-Laju (Swing My Swing High, My Darling), U-Wei back to direct Hanyut which the script was written by the director himself since 10 years ago has a lot to offer with good storyline and epic theme extravaganza. According to report the budget for the film amounting to RM20mil.
Based on Joseph Conrad’s first novel, Almayer’s Folly which was published in 1895, this epic film tells the story of Kaspar Almayer, a Dutch trader struggling to survive in Borneo jungle. His dream of finding a mythical gold mountain is challenged by his scheming wife, the colonial authorities, the political machinations of the local chief and Arab traders, and his daughter’s love for a freedom-fighting Malay prince.
Set in Borneo in the early 19th Century, this epic story combines adventure, drama, romance, conflict and suspense with a sense of history. Featuring a cosmopolitan society of indigenous Malays, tribal aborigines, Europeans, Arabs, Indians and Chinese living and working together, it is a tale of personal tragedy set against a backdrop of stale and defective colonialism.
The leading role for the film will be played by Hollywood actor Chris Vance famously seen in Prison Break series. Supported by the talented Khalid Salleh, Sofia Jane, Diana Danielle, Adi Putra, Normah Damanhuri, Hasnul Rahmat, Patrick Teoh, Sabri Yunus, Ramli Hassan dan Bront Palarae. Acclaimed Indonesian actor Alex Komang and El-Manik also starred in the film.
As one of Asia’s most talented and respected film directors, U-Wei Bin Haji Saari has 30 years of experience in filmmaking. Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, he was discovered and brought to Cannes in 1995. 
In 1995, his film Kaki Bakar (The Arsonist) was invited to Un Certain Regard in Cannes Film Festival as well as Berlin, Montreal, Nantes, Fribourg, New York and Pusan. The film was awarded Grand Prix at Brussels Film Festival.
In 1997, U-Wei received a prestigious grant from NHK. The Nantes Film Festival (France) held a retrospective of his work in 2001. U-Wei is often invited to speak at film festivals throughout Asia.
His third film Jogho (The Bullfighter) 1998 was also invited to numerous film festivals such as Singapore (1998), Pusan (1998), Cinemanila (1999) and Nantes (2001). His short film Sepohon Rambutan Indah Kepunyaanku Di Tanjung Rambutan (My Beautiful Rambutan Tree in Tanjung Rambutan) was selected for Nantes Film Festival 2006, Directors Fortnight Cannes 2006. It was also the opening film for the 19th Singapore International Film Festival 2006.
U-Wei recently wrote and directed ‘Wangi Jadi Saksi’ (Wangi the Witness) as the opening play to launch the new state of the art auditorium at the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Kuala Lumpur. Wangi Jadi Saksi will have its Singapore debut at The Esplanade during the Harai Raya festive celebrations in November 2007.
About 200 extras were used on Hanyut’s set on 19th June for the ceremony scene where British army came to the village and meet up with Raja Ibrahim and Almayer. Photo Courtesy of http://findingnina.com/
