Mencari Rahmat

Last updated

Mencari Rahmat
Mencari Rahmat (film poster).png
Directed by Al Jafree Md Yusop
Written byAl Jafree Md Yusop
Produced by
  • Zuli Ismail
  • Rahmat Adam (co-producer)
  • Madnor Kassim (executive)
  • Siti Marzuliana Marzuki (executive)
  • Sazrul Yacub (executive)
Starring
CinematographyMadnor Kassim
Edited byAliff Ihsan Rahman
Music byPacai
Production
company
AB Roll
Release date
  • 29 July 2017 (2017-07-29)
Running time
90 minutes
Country Malaysia
Language Malay

Mencari Rahmat (English: Finding Rahman) is a 2017 Malaysian Malay-language comedy-drama film adaptation of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, written and directed by Al Jafree Md Yusop and produced by AB Roll Sdn. Bhd.

Contents

Synopsis

Razak, an adopted orphan is a successful businessman based in Penang. After both adopted parents have passed away in an accident, he inherited all their wealth as well as their responsibility, including becoming the guardian to his 19-year-old adopted niece, Ratna, also an orphan. However, while Razak was a bon vivant playboy, he needed to lead a good example to Ratna, and created a cover story and character to allow him to regularly travel to Kuala Lumpur for fun. In Kuala Lumpur, Razak is acquainted with Azman, another orphan living a carefree life who was raised by Azman's aunt, Datin Azizah. Datin Azizah's daughter, Rose, became Razak's love interest. As Razak and Azman struggles to reconcile their conflicting desires of how they should live their lives, their various deceptions unravel and this leads to a monumental discovery, leaving no lives untouched. [1]

Script development

The adaptation process from the original play was never intended for a movie, instead it was an attempt to localise the story into contemporary society that can be performed for Malaysian audience. Al Jafree faced skepticism as some thought that the wit and word play from the original English text could never be translated effectively into Malay. [2] According to Al Jafree, “..everyone kept insisting that I would not be able to capture this essence [of dry humour] in Bahasa Malaysia... But I wanted to prove that Wilde’s work can be adapted into the Malay culture, in the Malay language, and in a Malay atmosphere.” [3] The adaptation process took 10 years, from 1991 to its eventual performance at The Actor's Studio in Kuala Lumpur, and Al Jafree described the experience as "long, lonely and most challenging". [4] The play was directed by Adlin Aman Ramlie, where he kept the English title but the entire performance was in Malay. It was staged from 27 July to 4 August 2001, and while the play was well-received, there was no follow-up performances since then. [1]

Film production

The idea of turning the adapted play into film came about in 2016, after Al Jafree expressed his interest on Facebook and received positive response from friends and former crew members. He decided to keep the play script unchanged, and given that stage-to-film adaptations tend to be text-heavy, it became imperative that the entire cast must have had theatre experience in order for the film to work. Namron and Amerul Affendi were cast as leading men and supporting roles comprise Nadia Aqilah, Sharifah Amani, Adibah Noor, Fauziah Nawi, Azman Hassan, and Eric Fuzi. [1]

This was the first film produced by AB Roll, and they experienced their first financial challenge when a funder backed out five days before shooting begins after having committed to the project. It was to their advantage that they had already focused on compressing the filming to ten days, where Al Jafree managed this by rehearsing intensively. [1] According to Amerul, the cast practiced their lines and blocking about five hours a day, "for about a month before we began shooting". [4]

Release and reception

The film was one of two films selected to represent Malaysia among 18 countries, as part of a total of 27 films screened to the public at the 2017 Kota Kinabalu Film Festival, and Mencari Rahmat premiered on the festival's closing night. [5] [6] The film was described by the organiser as a "sophisticated and witty" black comedy. [5] [7]

The film's theatrical release date has shifted several times, initially rumoured for 2018. [8] While the theatre release was still pending, the film continued to be screened at selected universities, as part of the film promotion as well as engaging with students. [9] [10] The lockdown imposed in Malaysia due to the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the release date in 2020 from 18 June to 31 December, and the new lockdowns in 2021 further delayed it to 10 June 2021, [11] before the team decided to forego theatrical release and to stream it via Mubi.com instead. The film release now coincides with the National Day celebrations on the 31 August 2021. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdul Razak Hussein</span> Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1970 to 1976

Tun Haji Abdul Razak bin Dato' Hussein was a Malaysian lawyer and politician who served as the second prime minister of Malaysia from 1970 until his death in 1976. He also served as the first deputy prime minister of Malaysia from 1957 to 1970. He is referred to as the Father of Development.

Mohamed bin Rahmat was a Malaysian politician, and former Information Minister of Malaysia. He was famously known as Tok Mat, Mat Setia and Mat Mr Propaganda.

Malaysia Film Festival is an annual awards ceremony organized by the Entertainment Journalists Association of Malaysia to honour excellence in Malaysian film. It is considered to be Malaysia's own equivalent to the Academy Awards and it is one of the major entertainment awards presented in Malaysia, alongside the Anugerah Bintang Popular for the entire entertainment industry and Anugerah Industri Muzik for the music industry.

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

Siti Zaqyah Abdul Razak, known professionally as Tiz Zaqyah, is a Malaysian actress, model and singer. She debuted in 2006 and since then has starred in films, dramas, telemovies and television and magazine advertisements. She rose to fame for playing the role of Nur Amina in the 2009 hit drama Nur Kasih with Remy Ishak, Fizz Fairuz and Sharifah Sofia. She became best known for her leading roles in Asmaradana, Gemilang, Soffiya, Dejavu di Kinabalu, Sebenarnya, Saya Isteri Dia! where she played a role of Shaf alongside Izzue Islam, Cinta Jangan Pergi where she acted with her acclaimed former counterpart partner, Remy Ishak, Jodoh Itu Milik Kita and Kusinero Cinta.

Kolumpo is a Malaysian Malay-language anthology film release in 2013. It is a collection of three multilingual short stories directed by Bront Palarae, Sheikh Munasar, and Rozi Izma. The film is produced by the directors alongside associate producer James Wong under the production company Otto Films SDN BHD.

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

Polis Evo is a 2015 Malaysian 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, Hushairy Hussein and Pablo Amirul. 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.

<i>Jagat</i> (2015 film) 2015 Malaysian film

Jagat is a 2015 Malaysian crime drama film. Set in the early 1990s, the story follows a mischievous 12-year-old boy named Appoy and his relationships with his father, Maniam, and his uncles, former drug-addict Bala and local gangster Dorai. The boy faces pressure from his father to focus on school, but he is drawn to his uncle's life of crime.

<i>Pekak</i> 2016 film by Mohd Khairul Azri Md Noor

Pekak is a 2015 Malaysian Malay-language drama thriller film directed by Mohd Khairul Azri Mohd Noor and starring Zahiril Adzim, Sharifah Amani, Iedil Putra and Joe Flizzow. The film tells the story of Uda, a deaf drug dealer who lives a life of crime so he can afford his Cochlear implants. His life, however, changes when he meets Dara, a rebellious schoolgirl who yearns to be free from her father's watching eyes. This sparks a relationship always on the brink in a world riddled with violence, sex and drugs.

Mohd Syafiq bin Mohd Yusof is a Malaysian filmmaker. He is a younger brother of actor Syamsul Yusof and son of veteran actor Yusof Haslam. Initially began his career by making short films, his directorial debut, SAM: Saya Amat Mencintaimu was released in 2012. Since then, he directed seven notable films which all of them became commercial success.

<i>Munafik 2</i> 2018 film directed by Syamsul Yusof

Munafik 2 is a 2018 Malaysian Malay-language supernatural horror film directed and written by Syamsul Yusof. A sequel to Munafik (2016) and the second instalment in a planned Munafik trilogy, the film stars Syamsul himself, Fizz Fairuz, Maya Karin, Nasir Bilal Khan, Fauzi Nawawi, Mawi, Rahim Razali and Indonesian actress, Weni Panca.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zakaria Ariffin</span> Malaysian playwright, theater director and educator

Zakaria Ariffin is a Malaysian playwright, theater director and educator.

One Two Jaga is a 2018 Malaysian Malay-language action crime film. The film was directed by Nam Ron based on the screenplay by Nam Ron, Pitt Hanif and Muhammad Syafiq and story by Nam Ron, late Amri Rohayat and Ayam Fared. It stars Zahiril Adzim, Amerul Affendi, Ario Bayu, Asmara Abigail, Bront Palarae, and Azman Hassan.

This is a list of events in the year 2019 in Malaysia.

Misteri Dilaila is a 2019 Malaysian Malay-language psychological horror thriller film directed by Syafiq Yusof starring Zul Ariffin, Elizabeth Tan, Namron, Rosyam Nor and Sasqia Dahuri. The film follows a couple as the wife goes missing after the husband experiences strange events during their first night staying at the family bungalow in Fraser's Hill. Things get complicated when another woman appears and claims to be the wife.

Bikers Kental 2 is a 2019 Malaysian Malay-language road action comedy film directed by Helmi Yusof starring Zizan Razak, Afdlin Shauki, Awie, Amerul Affendi, Hushairy Hussein and Julangtip Sukkasem. This film is a sequel to the 2013 film Bikers Kental, the film continues the gang's motorcycle road trip adventure in southern Thailand six years later, as they fight the enemies and win back love.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blank Marquee</span> 2019 single by Yuna and G-Eazy

"Blank Marquee" is a song by Malaysian singer Yuna featuring American rapper G-Eazy, released as a second single for her fourth international studio album, Rouge. It is co-written by Yuna, Chloe Angelides, Robin Hannibal and G-Eazy, with Hannibal serves as the producer. The song was released on 16 May 2019 by Verve Music Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amerul Affendi</span> Malaysian actor

Mohd Amerul Affendi bin Mohd Mawardi is a Malaysian actor. He is best known for his acting roles in television and film. For his role as Toyu in the film Terbaik dari Langit (2014), he won the Best Supporting Actor award at the 27th Malaysian Film Festival in 2015.

Al Jafree Md Yusop is a Malaysian writer and director of television and feature films.

<i>Polis Evo</i> (film series) Film series created by Astro Shaw

Polis Evo is a Malaysian buddy cop action comedy film series, created by Joel Soh, Kyle Goonting and Anwari Ashraf, who previously became an Astro Scholarship Students. The film series are produced and distributed by Astro Shaw and features Shaheizy Sam as Khairul/Inspector Khai and Zizan Razak as Hassani/Inspector Sani.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Emoqwin, Sue (2018). Mencari Rahmat di sebalik lensa / sebuah filem Al Jafree Md Yusop. Kajang, Selangor  :AB Roll Sdn Bhd. ISBN   9789671629604.
  2. "Mencari Rahmat – The Importance of Adaptation: Al Jafree Md Yusop in conversation with Eddin Khoo". The Vibes. 22 November 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  3. "Al Jafree on being earnest". The Sun Daily. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  4. 1 2 Pereira, Aaron (16 August 2021). "Mencari Rahmat Is An Asian Interpretation Of An Oscar Wilde Classic". August Man. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  5. 1 2 Dzulkifli, Hayati (13 July 2017). "27 films from 18 nations to be screened July 22–29". Daily Express. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  6. Mencari Rahmat Cinema Malaysia (22 July 2017). Accessed on 29 July 2017.
  7. "CINEBALU and World Movies". Kota Kinabalu International Film Festival. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  8. "Mencari Rahmat – Sebuah Filem Indie Dari Pengarah Al Jafree Md Yusop". Kakimuvee. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  9. "GOLDEN SCREEN TIME: MENCARI RAHMAT". Universiti Sains Malaysia. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  10. "Screening Mencari Rahmat (2017)". University of Nottingham. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  11. "Mencari Rahmat, dari pentas ke layar perak". Kosmo!. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  12. Rosli, Ameera (24 August 2021). "PG18 M'sian Film Portraying Namron & Amerul Affendi as Playboys Drops on Merdeka Day". Juiceonline. Retrieved 29 August 2021.