Izwan, a quiet 12-year-old boy, contemplates releasing Bulan, a Hercules beetle that he inherited from his late grandfather. However, the promise to always take care of Bulan weighs heavy on the boy's conscience, and despite his mother's wishes, he decides to keep the beetle. Izawn spends his days home while his mother works with Bulan, singing to him and recalling memories from the past, but he can't keep the secret forever.
“Bulan” review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative
A short yet sentimental experience, Syamsul Bahari's “Bulan” conveys one period of time in a young boy's life that carries great significance. Following up shortly after the loss of his grandfather, the young boy must come to grips with the gap left and gets solace in spending time with the Hercules beetle they both took care of together. What works well about this premise is how it touches on the strong connection while also convincing the audience of the symbolic importance of Bulan — insects are seldom the focus of sentimentality. Consequently, the production manages to evoke emotions from an unlikely source and encapsulate a strong relationship between a child and his grandpa.
Visually, the film is competently shot, with Camille Pasquier excelling at capturing the world from the eyes of a child. It does lack flair, but given the focus on the emotions of Izwan, it is complementary to the narrative. Comparatively, the sound design follows the same tone in being rather muted and personal.
The performances from the child actors, Hermie Latiff & Danish Arian are commendable while showing the inexperience of age. However, they are more pronounced than any of the other actors that appear. Generally speaking, unless a young actor gives a stand-out performance, these kinds of acting roles will be serviceable at best, which is the case with “Bulan”.
While it does not feel that Syamsul Bahari has much to say in his short film, the end result is still touching without any greater messaging or deeper analysis — perhaps best described as a slice-of-life. As such, the production is touching enough to warrant a viewing but its simplicity will probably limit its longevity among short film fans.
