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/
TAYANGAN MALAM INI : GROUNDHOG DAY (1993)
Menjelang 14 Februari saja maka berduyun-duyunla sang kekasih menuju ke panggung wayang untuk meyaksikan filem romantik komedi bersama ayang masing-masing. Memandangkan Valentine’s Day adalah HARAM disambut oleh muslim sejati seperti saya dan untuk mengelakkan syubhat menuju ke cineplex berdekatan untuk meraikan Valentine’s Day ini maka apakata anda stay rumah bersama keluarga layan movie Groundhog Day ini.
Groundhog Day ialah satu hari yang disambut pada 2 Februari setiap tahun khususnya di USA dan Canada. Mengikut folkfore sekiranya binatang groundhog ini keluar dari tempat penghibernasiannya pada hari tersebut, ini menandakan musim sejuk akan berakhir manakala sekiranya groundhog ini tak muncul-muncul maka musim sejuk akan berlanjutan lagi selama 6 minggu.
Dalam filem ini, Bill Murray berlakon sebagai Phil Connors yang bertugas sebagai wartawan bersama produser Rita (Andie MacDowell) dan kameraman Larry (Chris Elliott) ditugaskan untuk membuat liputan Groundhog Day di Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Tetapi kejadian aneh menimpanya apabila setiap hari pada pukul 6 pagi Phil akan melalui hari yang sama iaitu 2 Februari.
Aku malas nak tulis panjang. So aku quote pendapat kawan aku tentang filem ni. Kira kitorang satu kepala la.
What do we gain from watching this movie? Different people will take away different things from it. I discovered two very important truths in Groundhog Day.
One was the importance of concentrating on the things that last. Phil Connors must live the same day over and over again, and is forced to realize that the only real change that will ever be possible must happen within himself. (From this it is a short leap to the realization that this is the only kind of change that really matters; for in his case, it is literally true.) It is at this point that he takes up piano, begins reading, learns to ice-sculpt. But if it weren’t for his unique predicament, he never would have realized this; in his routine at the TV studio back in Pittsburgh, we surmise, there was always something changing…and not changing. (It is interesting that Phil is a weatherman: the weather is a perfect metaphor for something that changes constantly…without, in the long term, changing at all.) We can be distracted by the superficial changes in the world around us, and forget that real change in our lives must come from within. This was the great gift of Groundhog Day for Phil Connors: the chance to discover this truth for himself.
The other thing I noticed, while reflecting on this movie, is how uncertainty can keep us from charitable acts. We use our ignorance like a crutch: we don’t give to charity because it may be a scam, we don’t offer to help someone because they may not need help anyway, and so on. But Phil doesn’t have the luxury of ignorance. He knows…he knows with absolute certainty that if he doesn’t buy the old man a bowl of soup, that man will die in the streets within a few hours. He knows that if he isn’t on hand at the right time, a boy will fall from a tree and break his neck. Faced with such knowledge, even Phil, self-absorbed as he is, cannot stand by idly. Nor could we, in his position. This is a powerful argument for knowledge as the most reliable foundation for generous behavior. What other movie can offer an insight half so profound?
AWARDS :
BAFTA Awards 1994 – Won Best Screenplay – Original
British Comedy Awards 1993 – Won Best Comedy Film
Saturn Award 1994 – Nominated Best Fantasy Film
BMI Film & TV Awards 1994 – Won BMI Film Music Award
Hugo Awards 1994 – Nominated Best Dramatic Presentation
London Critics Circle Film Awards 1994 – Won Screenwriter of the Year
Aku bagi rating 7 bintang untuk film ini.
2010 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS!
The Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented to WINTER’S BONE
Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone chronicles a teenage girl’s difficult passage to full-fledged adulthood in the rural Ozarks
The Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented to RESTREPO
Restrepo, winner of the Grand Jury Prize for U.S. Documentary, focusing on a battalion of U.S. combat soldiers stationed in the Korengal valley of Afghanistan in the summer of 2007.
The World Cinema Jury Prize : Dramatic was presented to ANIMAL KINGDOM
Tells the story of seventeen year-old J (Josh) as he navigates his survival amongst an explosive criminal family and of the detective who thinks he can save him.
The World Cinema Jury Prize : Documentary was presented to THE RED CHAPEL
Two Danish comics, one of them a spastic and both born in Korea, join the director on a trip to North Korea, where they have been allowed access under the pretext of wanting to perform a vaudeville act.
The Audience Award : Dramatic was presented to HAPPYTHANKYOUMOREPLEASE
Captures a generational moment - young people on the cusp of truly growing up, tiring of their reflexive cynicism, each in their own ways struggling to connect and define what it means to love and be loved.
The Audience Award : Documentary was presented to WAITING FOR SUPERMAN
Waiting for Superman (the title refers to a child's dream of being rescued) takes firm aim at America national education system.
The World Cinema Audience Award : Dramatic was presented to CONTRACORRIENTE
An unusual ghost story set on the Peruvian seaside, a married fisherman struggles to reconcile his devotion to his male lover within his town's rigid traditions.
The World Cinema Audience Award : Documentary was presented to WASTE LAND
Lives are transformed when international art star Vik Muniz collaborates with garbage pickers in the world's largest landfill in Rio de Janeiro.
Here’s the full list of all the Official Selections contending for the Grand Jury Prize.
SYMPATHY FOR DELICIOUS
OBSELIDIA
LOVERS OF HATE
WINTER'S BONE
HAPPYTHANKYOUMOREPLEASE
DOUCHEBAG
3 BACKYARDS
WELCOME TO THE RILEYS
HOLY ROLLERS
THE IMPERIALISTS IS STILL ALIVE!
NIGHT CATCHES US
SKATELAND
BLUE VALENTINE
THE DRY LAND
HESHER
HOWL
JANGAN PANDANG BELAKANG CONGKAK.. MACAM2LA!
Adoi.. tak deep betolla crita ni. Terpaksala kena layan jugak. Hati kekasih kena jaga bro. Itu salah satu daripada 16 tiang kebahagian dalam hubungan percintaan. Ada satu buku aku beli The Tactics of Love ada menerangkan tentang peri pentingnya sang lelaki menurut pilihan hati sang wanita ketika memilih wayang gambar yang ingin ditontoni. Takpa beb ko layan je apa awek ko nak tengok cerita apa walaupun hati ko membuak-buak nak layan Revolutionary Road.
Anyway, aku terhibur jugak dengan lakonan Den Wahab dalam cerita ni. Overall aku bagi 2 bintang setengahla untuk filem ni. Sayang.. next time bagi I pilih cerita ok..
