Yeah. And she also gets love from the boys. Everything you say about hope and warmth brings me back to the cinematography in the movie. Movies with this kind of social subject portraying gritty reality usually are shot darkly and gloomily. But your movie is nothing like that. Does it have warm earthly colors? What was the idea behind it?
My DoP is from India. Because I studied graphic design, I love vibrant colors. So I told my DOP I wanted to use strong colors for contrast, to change this common association between poor areas and gloomy tones. And to underline, that so many things are happening there and the area is so vivid. He decided this was an interesting approach. But we separated the style of filming into three parts. The first part is before the incident happens. So it is very colorful. Then after the incident, there's a lot of movement and uneasiness. In the third, the colors start toning down and the frames are static. The third part is going to jail. So the colors are pale. And the frames are close to people. You watch the people, you feel their emotions. So, this is what we discussed with my DoP. BTW, he is brilliant. The way he uses the light impressed me. When we were shooting, what I saw on the monitor was exactly the ambient light of the scene.
So you haven't used color grading?
Only a little bit. When we started post-production, 85% shots were final, there was no need to intervene in any way. For my second project, he will join me as well. He liked this story, honestly. He taught me a lot. Explained to me how and when to do certain kinds of shots. And then sometimes when I said I wanted the color to be like this, he was suggesting some solutions or changes. It was genuine creative cooperation and exchange.
Was filming on location a challenge, because it seems you filmed in authentic ones?
This area is called Pudu, a very old wet market. Interesting and vivid place attracting everyone. So you can easily find any type of people from different social backgrounds. I prefer filming in real locations because it connects the audience with the message of my film more strongly. I am familiar with the spot, so I knew exactly what I wanted to show and in what way. Some of the shots include regular visitors or sellers, like the chicken store workers, whom we filmed during their work. There are many illegal workers there. Those who work legally keep their passports in their pockets in case of police raids, otherwise they might get arrested. The biggest challenge in filming was that… you know, the wet market is smelly. And there were lots of rats around, absolutely unbothered by our presence. The only designed set is the house. We rented an empty building and within it, we have built the house where the brothers are staying.
The brothers are very different people. The one follows a good path and is trying to be lawful, while the other is a bit of a rascal. But in the end, it's the good person that suffers. Why?
I think the older brother sacrificed himself. He felt the younger had a future, and then he can move on. In his life, he always wanted to protect him and make sure he was doing well. One critic from Taiwan wrote in the context of the movie “You may think the people who stay are in a better position. But no, people who stay are suffering more”. So Adik can live, but he lost his brother and he would be aware of his sacrifice for his whole life and would bear the guilt.
Listening to all those positive messages, I wonder what is goodness for you. I asked the same question to the other director whom I talked to and whose movie was dark and gloomy.
I think it is easy and simple, just to love yourself and others. I always say that you have to love yourself and care about yourself, only then you can love other people. If you don't love yourself, how can you afford to share love with others? Your heart should be very kind and tender. This is what my parents taught me when I was growing up. They also taught me to treat other people like my own family, even if they are not treating me well.
And I think that you can feel this message while watching your movie.
I experience so much emotion toward all living creatures. I see a stray cat beside the road, and I cry. Someone is feeding the cat, I cry as well. These moments are so touching. People and little creatures give themselves mutual love and care. At our house, there are five cats. We love animals very much.
And I am not indifferent as well (laughter). You have said you wanted to deliver all these important messages with your movie. It did so well during the festivals. What's the feeling when a movie that is important to you because of its message reaches so many people?
I feel overwhelmed and happy because it is very difficult to find funding for this kind of project in Malaysia. If you want to make a social film, no one is interested. They eagerly invest in commercial movies: love stories, comedies, horrors, etc. In the beginning, it is always tough for me, because it is very hard to get enough money to kick off a project. Thus, I find it very rewarding when I gain the festival appreciation and so much love from the international audience. It was worth fighting for and not to lose faith in my film. You just can't give up at the first stage. I‘ve always told myself I have to give my best to get my chance, even if there is only a 50 % probability of achieving the goal. Almost everyone tried to discourage me, I heard a lot of “Don't do that”. But in the end, my efforts and stubbornness paid off. And all that happened is a blessing.
