La Luna (2023 film)

Last updated
La Luna
La Luna Official Theatrical Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byM. Raihan Halim
Written byM. Raihan Halim
Screenplay byM. Raihan Halim
Story byM. Raihan Halim
Produced by
  • Asra Aman
  • Faith Mak
Starring
  • Shaheizy Sam
  • Sharifah Amani
  • Wan Hanafi Su
  • Hisyam Hamid
  • Nadiya Nissa
  • Nam Ron
  • Farah Ahmad
  • Iedil Dzuhrie Alaudin
  • Wafiy Ilhan
  • Syumaila Salihin
CinematographySofyan Daud Mohamed
Edited byRohaidah Rashid
Music byKen Hor
Aziem Rashidi
Production
companies
  • Clover Films
  • ACT 2 Pictures
  • One Cool Film Production
  • Papahan Films
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 9 November 2023 (2023-11-09)(Malaysia)
  • 16 November 2023 (2023-11-16)(Singapore)
  • 6 December 2023 (2023-12-06)(Indonesia)
Running time
99 minutes
Countries
LanguageMalay
BudgetS$1.1 million (RM3.5 million)

La Luna is a 2023 Singaporean-Malaysian Malay-language romantic comedy film written, with screenplay, story and directed by M. Raihan Halim. The film stars Shaheizy Sam and Sharifah Amani as well as other cast members. The film was released on 9 November 2023 in Malaysia, 16 November in Singapore and 6 December 2023 on Indonesia.

Contents

Plot

Tells about a woman (played by Sharifah Amani) who opened a lingerie store named La Luna in a lonely, lazy yet lifeless village, Kampong Bras Basah. There, she meets a widower police officer (Shaheizy Sam) who has a teenage daughter.

The villagers welcome this La Luna shop but it is fiercely opposed by the iron nailed village head (Wan Hanafi Su) who wants to destroy the business at all costs. [1]

Cast

Shaheizy Sam - WeChat Malaysia Launch Event (cropped) (2013).jpg
Shaheizy Sam (left) and Sharifah Amani (right) who played the main characters of the film

Production

This film was produced by 4 companies from Singapore through Clover Films and Papahan Films, Malaysia (ACT 2 Pictures by Adrian Teh) and Hong Kong (One Cool Film).

Development

Raihan Halim, the director of the film written the story and screenplay alone. Raihan told Cinema Online,

"La Luna is a story that has been playing in my mind for almost a decade. It has the same theme as my first film, "Banting", in showcasing Malay Muslim stories with unexpected storylines. The story of a lingerie store that can change a society was funny at first... but then it became an attraction for me."


"I'm incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to work with such great talents in the region, and I can't wait to introduce La Luna to the world." [2]

He also told to Malaysiakini that this film has its own unique style even though he admitted this film have a bit naughty. [3]

One Cool Film

Due to massive improvement in Malaysian film, Hong Kong film company-based One Cool Film interested to invest in this film which their collaborate with 3 other companies. Lim Teck, creator of Clover Films was grateful with the support from One Cool Film and also give some opinions and improvements in the film. [4]

One Cool Film later on opened their operation in Malaysia launched on 20 April with The Locksmith as its first feature filmed in the country and this film as its first Singapore-Malaysia co-production. [5]

Filming

The film's principal photography wrap up after 22 days which the shooting take place in Perak. [2] [6]

Release

This film released on 9 November 2023 with Skop Productions holding distribution rights for Malaysian market while in Singapore, Golden Village Pictures responsible for their market thus released on 16 November 2023. This film managed to break into some of the film festivals through Japan on Tokyo International Film Festival [7] and Indonesia through Jakarta Film Week and Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival.

Reception

Critical response

The film receive positive review from critics. Noel Wong, writing for Free Malaysia Today , wrote: "A good chunk of laughs are derived from the sexual repression of the villagers, thanks to Tok Hassan’s oppressive rules. Hanie’s arrival, therefore, brings a breath of fresh air to the village’s bedrooms". [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fann Wong</span> Singaporean actress (born 1971)

Fann Woon Fong, known professionally as Fann Wong, is a Singaporean actress, singer, businesswoman and model. She has been referred to as one of MediaCorp's Ah Jie for being one of the most established television actresses in Singapore's Chinese-language entertainment industry.

KRU is a Malaysian pop boy band formed in 1992. The group comprises three brothers, namely Datuk Norman Abdul Halim, Datuk Yusry Abdul Halim and Edry Abdul Halim'. Apart from revolutionising the Malaysian music scene with their blend of pop, R&B and hip hop, Dato' Norman Abdul Halim heads a successful business empire, KRU Studios, with Dato' Yusry Abdul Halim specialising in film, media content and live events, whilst Edry Abdul Halim is a successful composer/producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Filem Negara Malaysia</span>

The National Film Department of Malaysia, abbreviated FNM, sometimes Jabatan Filem Negara (JFN) or informally the Malaysian Film Unit; was a Malaysian state-owned film organization. It is the country's first film studio and the government department under the Malaysian Ministry of Communications and Multimedia, which was responsible for the filming and documentation of national events as well as producing factual and unscripted contents. In its heyday, FNM became the country's most prominent film agency. Its corporate emblem features a jumping Malayan tiger, which was synonymous with the agency and its headquarters were located in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yasmin Ahmad</span> Malaysian film director

Yasmin binti Ahmad was a Malaysian film director, writer and scriptwriter. She was the executive creative director at Leo Burnett Kuala Lumpur. Her television commercials and films are well known in Malaysia for being humorous and touching. Her work crossed cross-cultural barriers, particularly her ads for Petronas, the national oil and gas company. Her works have won multiple awards both within Malaysia and internationally. In Malaysia, her films were highly controversial due to their depiction of events and relationships, which have been considered 'forbidden' by social conservatives, especially hard-line interpretations of Islam. She was a central figure of the "first" New Wave of Malaysian cinema.

<i>Possessed</i> (2006 film) 2006 Malaysian film

Possessed is a 2006 Malaysian horror film starring Amber Chia and Harisu, and is the second feature film by director Bjarne Wong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fazura</span> Malaysian actress

Nur Fazura Binti Sharifuddin, better known by her stage name as Fazura, is a Malaysian actress, singer, television Host, VJ began her career in the Malaysian entertainment industry by hosting a television show and performing in several minor acting roles. She was the host of a television show called Teen World. In 2004, she launched her film career by playing the leading role in Bicara Hati, which became her breakout role and earned her an award nomination. Later in 2005 she starred in the film Gol & Gincu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huzir Sulaiman</span> Singaporean-Malaysian director and actor (born 1973)

Huzir Sulaiman is a Malaysian director and actor. He is the co-founder and Joint Artistic Director of Checkpoint Theatre. A critically acclaimed and award-winning playwright, his Collected Plays 1998-2012 was published in 2013. His plays have been translated into German, Japanese, Polish, Indonesian and Mandarin. His essays and commentary pieces have appeared in The Star, The Straits Times and The Huffington Post.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Astro Shaw</span> Malaysian film studio

Astro Shaw Sdn Bhd is a Malaysian film studio that has produced films for the local and regional markets and is pursuing expansion into international film investments. It also provides a marketing and distribution services for theatrical and non-theatrical release in Malaysia and abroad.

<i>Cicak Man 2: Planet Hitam</i> 2008 film by Yusry KRU

Cicak Man 2: Planet Hitam is a Malaysian Malay-language superhero film sequel of Cicak Man, released on 11 December 2008 by KRU Studios in collaboration with Grand Brilliance Sdn. Bhd. in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei

<i>Muallaf</i> 2008 film by Yasmin Ahmad

Muallaf is a 2008 Malaysian Malay-language drama film directed by Yasmin Ahmad. It tells a tale of three souls finding solace in religion. This is Yasmin Ahmad's fifth film after Rabun, Sepet, Gubra and Mukhsin.

The Cicak Man is a Malaysian film series consisting of three superhero films based on the fictional KRU Studios's Cicak Man comic book, portrayed by Hairi Yatim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bront Palarae</span> Malaysian actor, director, screenwriter, and producer

Nasrul Suhaimin bin Saifuddin, known professionally as Bront Palarae, is a Malaysian actor, film director, screenwriter and producer.

<i>The Malay Chronicles: Bloodlines</i> 2011 Malaysian film

The Malay Chronicles: Bloodlines is a 2011 Malaysian Malay-language epic adventure film loosely based on the late 18th or 19th century document Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa, which is also its title as released in Malaysia. The film is directed, co-written, and co-produced by Yusry Abdul Halim. The film stars Stephen Rahman-Hughes as Merong Mahawangsa, who escorts Prince Marcus Carprenius of the Roman Empire to Langkasuka to marry Princess Meng Li Hua from the Han Dynasty of China, thus uniting the two powers of East and West. The film was produced and distributed by KRU Studios.

<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.

<i>Polis Evo</i> 2015 Malaysian film

Polis EVO is a 2015 Malay-language buddy cop action comedy film directed by Ghaz Abu Bakar and written by Joel Soh, Kyle Goonting, Anwari Ashraf and Adib Zaini. The film casts includes Shaheizy Sam, Zizan Razak, Nora Danish, Mimi Ernida, Harun Salim Bachik, Wan Hanafi Su, Hushairy Hussein, Pablo Amirul, Azliyuszaini Mohd Noor and Amerul Affendi. The film tells the story of two police officers, Inspector Khai and Inspector Sani who have very different personalities but are forced to work together to bring down a drug trafficking operation. The film was released theatrically on September 17, 2015 nationwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remy Ishak</span> Malaysian actor

Mohammad Zalimei bin Ishak, better known by his stage name as Remy Ishak is a Malaysian actor who was born in Melaka. He was first introduced to the film industry by independent director Osman Ali in 2006. He gained fame for his performance in Nur Kasih directed by Kabir Bhatia, which aired on TV3 in 2009. He later starred in the 2018 film Pulang.

<i>Kongsi Raya</i> (film) 2022 Malaysian comedy drama film

Kongsi Raya is a 2022 Malaysian Malay-language comedy drama film. It tells the story of a Chinese chef who is in love with a Malay TV producer, but their relationship faces objections from both of their long-feuding chef fathers. Things gets out of hand when the fathers decide to rival in a live TV cooking competition showdown.

<i>Polis Evo 3</i> 2023 Malaysian film

Polis Evo 3 is a 2023 Malaysian Malay-language buddy cop action comedy film directed by Syafiq Yusof from story by Joel Soh starring Zizan Razak and Shaheizy Sam reprise their respective roles, with Sharnaaz Ahmad joined them as the main antagonist. A sequel to Polis Evo (2015) and Polis Evo 2 (2018), the film is the third installment in the Polis Evo film series.

<i>MALBATT: Misi Bakara</i> 2023 Malaysian film

MALBATT: Misi Bakara is a 2023 Malaysian Malay-language military war action film directed, produced and screenplay by Adrian Teh. This film stars Bront Palarae, Shaheizy Sam, Hairul Azreen, Zahiril Adzim, Iedil Dzuhrie Alaudin, Adlin Aman Ramlie, Fauzi Nawawi, Tony Eusoff, Syazwan Zulkifly, Dafi Ismail Sabri, Taufiq Hanafi, Nafiez Zaidi, Dini Schatzmann, Gambit Saifullah, Theebaan G, Safwan Nazri and Ikhram Juhari. It is based on the true story of a Malaysian military operation to help rescue US soldiers trapped in a civil war in Somalia in 1993. The film was released on 24 August 2023 in Malaysia and Singapore.

References

  1. "Filem La Luna (2023)". Myinfotaip. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  2. 1 2 Hsia, Heidi. "SG-MY movie "La Luna" wraps up production". Cinema Online. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  3. Hanafi, Maisarah Adila (1 November 2023). "La Luna ada kelainan tersendiri - M Raihan". Malaysiakini . Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  4. "La Luna filem 'pecah tanah' One Cool Film". Utusan Malaysia . 15 May 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  5. Wong, Silvia (11 May 2023). "Hong Kong's One Cool Film expands into Malaysia with 'The Locksmith', 'La Luna' (exclusive)". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  6. "La Luna - Cast Interview (Part II)". YouTube . 3 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  7. "【La Luna】 | 36th Tokyo International Film Festival". Tokyo International Film Festival 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  8. Noel Wong (7 November 2023). "Life and lingerie: 'La Luna' is a surprisingly deep kampung comedy" . Retrieved 11 November 2023.