NOOB FILM REVIEW - PENDATANG directed by Ken Kin Ng

SYNOPSIS
Pendatang is a 2023 Malaysian dystopian dramatic film produced by Kuman Pictures in association with Tapir Films. This film is written by Lim Boon Siang, and directed by Ng Ken Kin. The film follows a Cantonese–speaking Chinese family that was forced to relocate to a rural kampong home, not long after Malaysia[a] implemented the Segregation Act, where racial segregation between the ethnic groups of the country became strictly enforced.

REVIEW
Honestly, after reading this poster (amongst other posters) even before the release of the movie, I asked myself, "Why should I watch the film?". Everything has been described and the only thing missing is how the film going to end.

Unfortunately, this is necessary to reach the masses nowadays, especially on the same online platform where trolls are referred to for truth. And people are now turning to Artificial Intelligence apart from the Original ones.

It is understandable why the movie poster has to be sort of like bait to lure in the funds. The 'P' word has been put in one frame with a family of Chinese with a background of a traditional Malay house, very the 'Parasite-ish'. It is Marketing 101 lah.

I watched it anyway and found out that the real 'Pendatang' is actually the young Malay girl with the face of a panda on her t-shirt. (Panda-Tang, get it?). She is also comfortable with snakes and the valuable trade in this 'dystopian' universe are 'old furnitures' (heh heh).

Sure lah. You want to critique the fallen regime. But the timing and platform are a bit off lah. Do it through the correct film channel and during the regime was in full power then this film might have meant something.

One that comes straight into my mind is the 'Split Gravy' which finished shooting back in around 2011 and was written back in 2002 by the late Jit Murad and only cleared to be shown in cinema in 2022. It has been labeled as a 'Malaysian satirical black comedy'. Now that is a film lah. Cinematic and poetic. It does not have a collection figure to boast about (or daily YouTube view stats lol). Now refer to the first paragraph on the poster I attached.

Ok lah it may not be a fair comparison but maybe it shouldn't be on the same list with Abang Adik and Tiger Stripes, at least (Ok lah it is based on 'paling banyak dicari' lol). For one reason I think those two went through the proper channel (and the Lembaga Hitam Penapisan Filem. Takutnye...) Maybe some 'penapisan' could drive some creative take on the subject instead of total freedom. Just look at 'Spilt Gravy' lah (I'm not paid for any film endorsement, nor I am affiliated with any 'penduduk asal' political party lol).

Say want to educate the people about film (Im new to the industry but I am already 'meluat' listening to the same thing. Imagine those...bunyi tumbukan kuat)

Anyways.

It is good to add the young Malay girl to the list of the young generation characters in the recent local films, together with the ones in Tiger Stripes, MagiK, and Walid. They all saying something about the country we all love. But still nowhere near 400 blows or Ivan's Childhood lah. Even though made many decades ago with technology far less 'advanced' compared to now, they stood the test of time. Ok lah unfair comparison. Fine.

When I read the poster 'Apakah Matlamat 'Pendatang' it is like reading a text from a 'Pendidikan Moral' school book. Ok lah another unfair comparison. But Chinese dilemma and their representation in Malaysian cinema can be done better lah. Make 'cinema' lah and not just a 'recording'. Like 'The Spinning Gasing', 'Sepet', 'Ola Bola', 'Guang', 'Nasi Lemak 1.0', 'Barbarian Invasion', 'The River of Exploding Durian'....and many more.

And I do not mind paying for tickets. I look up towards the screen in total darkness and share the emotion with the rest of the crowd at the end of the show. That is where film should be or like that famous quote saying that 'cinema is dead'. Everything has to come out from that Netflix template to give that familiar feel to the mass audience. Do not stress the audience otherwise, we will get bad reviews from those 'expert' reviewers, who post them on the same platform haha. Same like that one old guy who lives in Manchester and critiques Malaysia like no tomorr...bunyik tembakan senapang gajah.

(why i write like this ah usually i don't write like dis wan. But i know a lot who write and talks like this have many followers wor. Maybe i shud write in bahasa rempit)

Inb4 ey lu byk sgt cakap u ada kasi fund ka? Pigi buat movie sindili laaaa! kbye. Inb4 perasan Francois Truffaut lol