Hello Adeline,
Thank you for showing “Sepet”. It was so much more impactful and achingly heart-hitting on the bigger screen (than on my home TV!).
Through the drama of an interracial love story, “Sepet” provides a sensitive and moving insight into Malaysia’s social complexities as well as its cultural diversity, modernity and vibrancy. It’s amazing how director Yasmin Ahmad is able to capture and so seamlessly weave together the potpourri of what is Malaysia and being Malaysian in scene after scene – not just visually, but via the rojak dialogue, and our shared humanity. Most of the main characters in the film speak two to four different languages/dialects which is really typical in multi-racial Malaysia. The dance by Ah Loong in particular was amazing and significant. This has never been done before in Malaysian films – as so aptly pointed out by your students in their spot-on presentation. (rojak – Malay word for mixture. Also name of a delicious salad).
When the film ended, Bob Nichols commented that it was a “trick ending” and I added that it was “supernatural”. But on the drive home it hit me what Yasmin might be saying and wanting to achieve in that last scene (the affirmation of love from Ah Loong). And that is: the history and relationship of the Malays and Chinese in Malaysia are so intertwined and deeply shared, that the co-existence, connection, interdependency, love and destiny between these two races go beyond time, space, boundaries, and the here and now ………. Because of this, I like to believe that, despite the sad ending, Yasmin wanted to be optimistic about our country’s future. Hopefully her film had and continues to implant some new, more encompassing perspectives. Even though often the deeper message gets lost when controversy swirled around any new way of seeing/doing. It is tragic that a film maker of Yasmin’s creative, intellectual caliber and sensibility passed on too soon. And it is sad that everything, especially race in Malaysia, gets so much more politicized these days.
The interior of Ah Loong’s family home is very similar to my old family home in Taiping (row shophouse). And I chuckled at that Chinese dinner scene: how typical of our family too – all talking at the same time during mealtimes or gatherings! The guy who played gangster head Jimmy is a friend of mine and my husband, Professor Michael Olan when we were living in Malaysia. David is a professional photographer. We used to be part of an amateur Malaysian drama group. It was really neat to see him on screen.
Watching “Sepet” made me really homesick for the sights, sounds, smells, culture, food and people of Malaysia. I am so looking forward to going back in mid November to celebrate Christmas and Chinese New Year with family and old friends.
Catch some snowflakes and keep warm.
regards,
Kit Lok
