Hanyut

Last updated

Hanyut
Hanyut poster.jpg
Film poster
Directed by U-Wei Haji Saari
Screenplay byU-Wei Haji Saari
Based on Almayer's Folly
by Joseph Conrad
Produced byJulia Fraser
Starring
CinematographyArkadiusz Tomiak
Edited byKate James
Production
company
Tanah Licin Sdn Bhd
Release dates
  • 6 November 2014 (2014-11-06)(Indonesia)
  • 24 November 2016 (2016-11-24)(Malaysia)
CountryMalaysia
LanguagesMalay
English
BudgetRM 18 million (estimated) [1]

Hanyut (Drifting) is a Malaysian adventure drama film written and directed by U-Wei Haji Saari based upon Joseph Conrad's 1895 novel, Almayer's Folly . [2] [3]

Contents

The movie tells the story of Almayer, a Dutch trader struggling to survive in Malaya at the turn of the 19th century. Almayer's dream of finding a mythical gold mountain is at odds with his plotting wife, colonial authorities, the political machinations of a local chief with Arab traders, and his daughter's love for a freedom-fighting Malay prince.

The film was originally planned to be released after its completion in 2012. However, the release was postponed since December 2013 [4] due to lack of promotional funding, in which director U-Wei had to request for RM 2 million from National Film Development Corporation Malaysia for marketing and local distribution purposes. [5] It managed to get selected screenings in 150 cinemas across Indonesia in November 2014 under the name of Gunung Emas Almayer (Almayer's Golden Mountain). [1] The film was eventually released in Malaysian cinemas on 24 November 2016, as told through a press conference on 13 October of the same year. [6]

Plot

Almayer is a lone Dutch trader grubbing to survive in colonial Malaysia. He sends his 10-year-old daughter Nina to Singapore to be educated as a Westerner, much to the distress of her mother Mem, a local woman of Betawi origin. The couple stop speaking to each other as a result. When Nina returns as a beautiful woman ten years later, she finds the family home and business in dire straits because of Almayer's obsession with finding gold in the mountains. Her return rekindles interest in the Almayer household, bringing in new business that allows Almayer to build a lavish new house in his compound.

Nina's presence attracts a number of suitors, including the nephew of a prominent Arab who asks for Nina's hand in marriage. Almayer rejects the proposal, however, igniting an animosity between the traders that helps lead to Almayer's later downfall. Almayer guards Nina jealously as he sees her as an important part of his unrealistic dreams. He believes her beauty, combined with the gold he expects to unearth, will help him build a trading empire and fulfill his fantasy of a glorious future back in Europe, a world he has never seen.

A handsome Malay prince and trader named Dain Maroola enters the scene. Dain wants to buy gunpowder through Almayer. Almayer doesn't question why the man wants explosives. Dain manipulates him with tales of the legendary gold mountain of which he claims to know the location.

As Almayer's trading post prospers, he believes he is in reach of his dreams and readies boats and equipment for his gold-seeking expedition. In his fanaticism, he doesn't notice Dain and Nina fall in love. Mother Mem knows Almayer won't tolerate such a union. Given the deep animosity she feels toward her husband, she fuels and encourages the relationship while keeping Almayer in the dark.

Dain turns out to be a Malay freedom fighter who uses the purchased gunpowder to blow up a Dutch vessel at the mouth of the river. Now an outlaw, the British and Dutch military hunt along the river. When Dain's men are attacked by colonial forces during a violent tropical storm, Dain is believed killed. Almayer fears he has lost his chances to find gold and goes on an alcohol-fuelled binge. He doesn't know that Dain faked his own death and eloped with Nina. When he learns the truth from Mem, Almayer heads off in pursuit of the couple up river, determined that his daughter will not leave for a Malay.

When Almayer finds the couple, he is unable to convince his daughter to return. Heartbroken, he helps them escape and returns to his new house, which he burns down. Alienated and distraught, he is left with only his shattered dreams and the burned ruins of "Almayer's Folly".

Cast

Production

The film was shot on location in Kuala Lipis and Pekan, Malaysia. [7]

Director’s statement [8]

Hanyut is a story about a cosmopolitan society living and working together along a riverbank somewhere in Malaysia. It attracted many sea travellers seeking opportunity and rewards.
It gives us a window into the Malay society in Malaysia in the late 19th century: A highly competitive mix of indigenous Malays, tribal aborigines, Europeans, Arabs, Indians and Chinese living and working together.
Although the book starts out as though it is from the perspective of the European protagonist, the narrative is dynamic. By the end of the story the protagonist (and the audience) discover the understanding of his own insignificance.
In the beginning of the story Almayer appears to be at the centre of society, but in the end we see that he is very much peripheral and alienated, and that the real cultural, political and economic life of the community is located elsewhere and involves other people besides himself.

Related Research Articles

Kuala Lipis is a mukim and capital of Lipis District, Pahang, Malaysia with a population of 20,000.

Almayer's Folly is Joseph Conrad's first novel, published in 1895 by T. Fisher Unwin. Set in the late 19th century, it centres on the life of the Dutch trader Kaspar Almayer in the Borneo jungle and his relationship to his mixed heritage daughter Nina.

The East Coast Expressway is an interstate controlled-access highway running parallel to the northeastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The currently operational 433-kilometre (269-mile) segment of the expressway runs between Karak, Pahang and Kuala Nerus, Terengganu.

Kuala Lumpur–Rawang Highway, Federal Route 1, also known as Jalan Kuching and Jalan Ipoh, is a major highway in Klang Valley region, Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin</span> University in Malaysia

Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin is the 18th public institution of higher learning, located in the state of Terengganu, Malaysia. The university is a creature of the Act of Parliament known as the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971, with its constitution laid down under the Universities and University Colleges (Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin) Order 2010. It is the first full-fledged university in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and the first university to be based on the “cluster” concept. It is also the first university in Malaysia to be modelled after University of London, United Kingdom.

Amir Muhammad is a Malaysian writer and independent filmmaker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdullah of Pahang</span> Yang di-Pertuan Agong since 2019

Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah is the sixteenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia and Sultan of Pahang since ascending to the throne in 2019.

Tan Sri Yahaya bin Ahmad was a Malaysian businessman. He was the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of the DRB-HICOM Group. He was famously known as Malaysia's "Car Czar".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siti Nurhaliza discography</span>

This is a list of albums and singles by Siti Nurhaliza where she has sold an estimated of more than six million records in Asian market especially in Malaysian and Indonesian markets out of her 15 years of singing career. Within five years, the sales for her first six albums have already reached 1 million units in the Malaysian market and another 500 000 units from the Indonesian market. Her debut album was revealed to sold more than 800,000 copies and eight out of 15 of her solo albums have received either Gold, Platinum or multiple platinum certifications from Malaysia and Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U-Wei Haji Saari</span> Malaysian film director (born 1954)

U-Wei Haji Saari is a Malaysian film director. He first gained international attention with The Arsonist, the first Malaysian film to enter the Cannes Film Festival in 1995.

Ahmad Hazwan bin Bakri is a Malaysian professional footballer who plays as a forward or a winger for Malaysia Super League side Sabah and the Malaysia national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siti Nurhaliza filmography</span> Filmography

This is a list of television shows that Siti Nurhaliza has been involved in. She has been featured in more than 70 television shows, some of which are produced by her own production company, Siti Nurhaliza Productions. She has also starred in a number of musical television shows that have been produced throughout the Asean region, especially in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

<i>Men Who Save the World</i> 2014 film

Men Who Save the World is a 2014 Malaysian Malay-language comedy film written and directed by Liew Seng Tat. The film was nominated for multiple awards in international film festivals, and won several awards at the 27th Malaysian Film Festival, including Best Picture.

Pahang Malay is a Malayic language spoken in the Malaysian state of Pahang. It is regarded as the dominant Malay dialect spoken along the vast riverine systems of Pahang, but co-exists with other Malay dialects traditionally spoken in the state. Along the coastline of Pahang, Terengganu Malay is spoken in a narrow strip of sometimes discontiguous fishing villages and towns. Another dialect spoken in Tioman island is a distinct Malay variant and most closely related to Riau Archipelago Malay subdialect spoken in Natuna and Anambas islands in the South China Sea, together forming a dialect continuum between the Bornean Malay and the Mainland Peninsular/Sumatran Malay.

Dato' Abdul Aziz bin Sheikh Fadzir is a Malaysian politician and businessman who has served as the Independent and Non-Executive Director of the Destini Berhad since July 2023 and from August 2017 to May 2018. He served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kulim–Bandar Baharu from May 2013 to May 2018 and Member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Kuala Ketil from March 2004 to March 2008. He is a member and was the Vice Youth Chief of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. He is also the younger brother of former Cabinet minister and former Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sangeeta Krishnasamy</span> Malaysian actress and model

Sangeeta Krishnasamy is a Malaysian actress and model. She did a small role in Kollywood movie after making an appearance in Venkat Prabhu's hit Goa and as the female lead in ZHA among famous South Indian film actors. In 2015 she was the female lead for two hit Malaysian Tamil movies Vetti Pasanga & Vennira Iravugal. Vennira Iravugal became an acclaimed Malaysian Tamil movie after it was screened in several film festivals around Europe and won a special jury award at the Norway Tamil Film Festival in 2014, subsequently taking home all 5 awards in all categories at the Malaysian Kalai Ulagam Awards in 2015. She is amongst the top actresses in the Malaysian Film Industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pekin Ibrahim</span> Malaysian actor, director, screenwriter, producer and singer

Mohd Iznan "Pekin" Ibrahim is a Malaysian actor. He is best known for his roles in the critically acclaimed film Bunohan (2012), Hantu Kak Limah Balik Rumah (2010), Apokalips X,Ophilia, Munafik and Mat Moto ; the last film won him the Malaysia Film Festival award for the Best Actor category, beating other nominees like Shaheizy Sam, Zizan Razak, and Aaron Aziz.

The Pahang Uprising, also known as the Pahang Rebellion or the Pahang War, was an anti-colonial uprising in Pahang, Malaysia, between 1891 and 1895. The uprising was largely led by traditional chiefs and fueled by local grievances towards the British Residential system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minangkabau Malaysians</span>

The Minangkabau Malaysians are citizens of the Malaysia whose ancestral roots are from Minangkabau of central Sumatra. This includes people born in the Malaysia who are of Minangkabau origin as well as Minangkabau who have migrated to Malaysia. Today, Minangkabau comprise about 989,000 people in Malaysia, and Malaysian law considers most of them to be Malays. They are majority in urban areas, which has traditionally had the highest education and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. The history of the Minangkabau migration to Malay peninsula has been recorded to have lasted a very long time. When the means of transportation were still using the ships by down the rivers and crossing the strait, many Minang people migrated to various regions such as Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, Penang, Kedah, Perak, and Pahang. Some scholars noted that the arrival of the Minangkabau to the Malay Peninsula occurred in the 12th century. This ethnic group moved in to peninsula at the height of the Sultanate of Malacca, and maintains the Adat Perpatih of matrilineal kinships system in Negeri Sembilan and north Malacca.

References

  1. 1 2 Saharuddin Musthafa (5 November 2014). "Hanyut ditayang di 150 pawagam di Indonesia". Utusan Malaysia (in Malay). Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  2. "Hanyut The Movie". Yahoo Movies. Malaysia: Yahoo. 2011.
  3. "Hanyut the Movie". Kuala Lumpur: Golden Screens Cinemas. 2011.
  4. Yeoh, Angelin (5 November 2014). "Will U-Wei Haji Saari's 'Hanyut' see the light of day in Malaysia?". Star2.com. Star Media Group Berhad. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  5. Florey DM (4 November 2014). "U-Wei wants RM2 million to promote "Hanyut"". Cinema Online. Cinema Online. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  6. Israr Khalid (13 October 2016). "Hanyut akhirnya sangkut". Astro Awani (in Malay). Astro Awani Network Sdn. Bhd. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  7. Roy Lim Jian-Min (2009). "Visualising 'Hanyut The Movie'". Photo shoot. Kuala Lipis, Pekan: Cinema Online. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  8. Bissme (16 February 2011). "Hanyut/Almayer's Folly (2011) ~ Bissme vs. U-Wei". Kuala Lumpur: Ajami Hashim. Retrieved 18 February 2011.