AsianPersuasion
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Falling Short
Went to watch Aandal with my friend last night…wow…that was a badly directed film. It’s not like I even had high expectations. I knew it was an independent movie when I went but it was my friend’s lecturer at FINAS for God sake, so I thought, “Hey, surely this film has GOT to be watchable…” Plus, it was even based on a horrific true story about a poor woman who grew up on an estate…and I thought, “surely the producers will do this woman justice…” I’m a “true story” junkie, so any film based on stories of resilient women who overcome substantial tragedies in their lives, is worth watching for me. But, to be brutally honest, Aandal was a disappointment. I mean, RM$180,000 is enough money to be able to make a decent film in Malaysia…so what went wrong? I told my friend to ask his lecturer why he allowed the storyline to be so jumpy (among other things)…so we’ll see what he digs up.
My main complaint for the film was that the director completely left out the build up and primary reason for WHY Aandal turned into a prostitute. She went from being a goody goody innocent girl, to suddenly, (in one montage) becoming an outspoken prostitute who was addicted to drugs! My friend and I looked at each other in the cinema and were totally baffled, you could almost see the giant question marks hanging over out heads! What the hell!?? From our point of view, that was the most pivotal moment in the film, when Aandal transforms from the force of good to “the dark side.” I mean, George Lucas made THREE freakin’ movies out of Anikin’s change-over to the dark side….couln’t the Aandal’s filmmaker have spent a few mere minutes showing WHY Aandal decided to switch over? There just wasn't enough character building. I didn't FEEL anything for most of the characters, except the "Grandma," who is an amazing actress...by far the best actor in the film. I liked her blind son too and the "boss" who was an Indian adopted by a Chinese family...that character was hillarious!
One note about the soundtrack...The audio mixer should have been fired….or whoever it was on the project that was approving the audio. People in the cinema were actually covering their ears during some parts of the film because the audio levels were so incredibly loud. And another thing, during some of the supposed “sad” moments of the film…most of the audience was actually laughing loudly…that’s one thing a filmmaker does NOT want…an audience laughing at the sad parts… : (
After all is said and done though, I must say, I haven’t made a feature length film…so kudos to the creators of Aandal…for materializing that dream. And there were some endearing moments in the film and a few good characters.
*Sigh* Well, I guess I will have to continue waiting for the day a Malaysian made film combines great script writing with awesome cinematography. I want to be blown away…I want to be moved to tears…I want my heart to beat faster when I watch a Malaysian made movie…about REAL Malaysians…the everyday person.
I KNOW the possibility is out there…there is so much creative talent in this county...they just all run away to other countries when they become good!
