As part of its Filmmaker Series, Yasmin At Kong Heng Museum in Ipoh is set to screen Lelaki Harapan Dunia on March 12.
Following in the footsteps of renowned late filmmaker Yasmin Ahmad, Liew Seng Tat’s Lelaki Harapan Dunia seeks to tell a simple, everyday story that transcends cultural barriers while injecting inspiration and humour along the way.
Liew, who is the recipient of two Best Director awards – at the 27th Malaysian Film Festival and Kuala Lumpur Film Critics Society Awards 2015 – believes that the best films are those that tell a story about one’s identity, which is usually rooted in cultures and customs.
“Seng Tat has woven a wonderful story about a long-lost Malay tradition. He conveys a message of unity amongst Malaysians despite their differences – a vision that Yasmin, too, once shared. It’s a perfect fit for Yasmin at Kong Heng’s Filmmaker Series,” says Datin Orked Ahmad, the sister of Yasmin.
During the one day Filmmaker Series event, members of the public will be able to engage in a casual Q&A session with Liew.
Other guests include Pak Hassan Muthalib, a veteran director and pioneer in Malaysian film craft, who will be exploring the significance of films in nation-building and in telling the story of Malaysia’s history, present and future.
Lelaki Harapan Dunia, which won the 27th Malaysian Film Festival Best Picture award last year, is a joint effort between Malaysia, Netherlands, Germany and France. The slapstick comedy stars Wan Hanafi Su, Soffi Jikan and Harun Salim Bachik, and tells the story of “angkat rumah”, a disappearing ancient Malay tradition that sees villagers moving house by literally lifting the wooden structure and shifting it to a new location.
The film offers a peek into our nation’s unique cultural identity and demonstrates the gotong royong spirit of Malaysians.
Entrance to the event is RM5 per person. Screening time is 2pm on March 12. For further info, visit Facebook: Yasmin At Kong Heng.
