The empowerment of simple stories fuels the cinematic movement of director Tunku Mona Riza, whose features pack a familiar yet cathartic punch. Following up on the success of “Redha” (2016), which explores the intricacies of autism, the alum of the New York Film Academy once again delivers a candid story diving into the private chambers of familial disharmony.
Set against the backdrop of the Malay Peninsula’s wettest town, Taiping, a tempestuous drama begins to brew in the “Choo” household. In the beginning, there is all smiles around the dining table. The matriarch, Aileen (Susan Lankester with perhaps her greatest onscreen performance) lovingly makes mooncakes, a detailed and careful endeavor, much like how she raises her three children: the rebellious fire cat, Alex (Wilson Lee), only daughter, Ruby (Pauline Tan), and of course the pride of the family, Dr. Isaac Choo (Fabian Loo).
After a lunchtime squabble in Cantonese and English tongues (a risqué move by Tunku, who is the first person of Malay descent to direct a Chinese-language movie), the truth slowly comes to light: the siblings are unhappy with Daddy Choo (Kin Wah Chew), who rules over the family with an iron fist. But we find out that he is nowhere to be found amidst the merriment of the Moon Cake Festivities.
The head Choo is finding his joy elsewhere- “rain-betting” with his friends; a tradition where locals bet on the probability of rainfall, a serious business involving froggish fengshui trinkets and divine intervention. One slowly begins to realise that “Rain Town” is not just a narrative of family conflict but also a tourism piece for the cobbled streets and old-school sights and sounds of rustic Taiping.
Back to the drama, it all begins because of Mr. Choo Kam Wah, the patriarch of the family who stubbornly dictates the lives of his children. Everything revolves around him and his ideals. Kam Wah speaks and fathers all around Asia echo after him. It is an age-old tale that starts to gain traction when everything goes awfully wrong within the family. There is nothing unique about this yarn, and yet, it is still strangely entrancing.
Perhaps the film’s triumph card is the layered performances of its talented cast, with their fully realized and relatable characters. It will not only make you laugh but also cry. And cry you will, for some of the scenarios verge on the tail end of sappiness and do go overboard with pulpable episodes of grief and sorrow.
Yet, against comforting and warm lightning and vibrant golden hour hues, the movie paces along at a digestible pace, with some exceptional transitions including a standout moment of a birds-eye view of the city in its showery splendour. These all add a mellow touch to some tense heart-to-heart moments within the Choo Household (and there is many to go around in this emotional rollercoaster)
Ultimately, ‘Rain Town’ is a clash of the old and new in an ode to change. A cautionary tale of customary folly. One that choose the predictable narratives to get the point across, because after all, the simple stories are what in Tunku Mona Riza’s voice, “bear substantial weight for those directly affected”. And this one will affect you in one way or another.
